Tired of Religion

"It seems that America is tired of religion, But findings say quite the opposite about a relationship with God." (religion blog at cnn)

from Wikipedia:

**The word religion is sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system, but religion differs from private belief in that is has a public aspect. Most religions have organized behaviors.

** an intimate relationship is a particularly close relationship. It can be defined by these characteristics: enduring behavioral interdependence, repeated interactions, emotional attachment and need fulfillment.

So here I am..tired of religion but madly in love with a God that calls me to everything religion does not. What do I mean....

God calls me to: pledge my allegiance to Him alone

Religion calls me to : Pledge my allegiance to a set of beliefs and a exclusive group of people

God calls me to: be faithful

Religion calls me to: be successful

God calls me to: serve the poor, homeless and unloved

Religion calls me to: a place full of people who look like me, dress like me, live like me and believe like me

God calls me to: finding Him as I am active in His kingdom

Religions call me: into a box

God calls me to: unity

Religion calls me to: division

God calls me to: selflessness

Religion calls me to: demanding my way of doing and thinking

God calls me to: living a faithful life as I was created in His image

Religion calls me to: falseness and image sensitive

What this does NOT mean:

I am anti community or belief system.

What this DOES mean?

It means God has not called me to sit quietly and inactively in a pew where I can be comfortable because every one looks and thinks like me, because it is about people not programs. It means He demands far more of me than hiding behind an image of christianity, but calls me to be real and engage in a hurting world. It means He calls me to be His hands and feet even when that takes me to people and places that are ugly.

It means He does not demand I convert the world to what I believe, but to share the light, love and hope of The Christ and allow Him to do the work of drawing people to Him and changing hearts.

I means it is way harder than I thought!