| Labels.I've worn a few labels in my life. Some I was proud of, some I didn't like at all (lol)...friend, husband, drinking buddy, preacher, dad, husband, heretic, lawyer, lover. You get the idea.Nobody likes being pre-judged, or post-judged either (lol). Yeah, I know I post a lot of spiritual stuff on FB and with that, comes labels and preconceptions. I really hope I don't come across as a religious nut - critical, condescending and conservative.I hope those who know me best would say I'm free, fun and loving. I do have a hunger to understand the spiritual side of life. I've never been happy or satisfied with a spiritual experience that sucks the joy, the passion and the fun out of living.The way Jesus opened is the path to abundant life, generous, passionate, unconditional love, and true freedom. That is what I want you to experience. Religion is scared you might enjoy a movie, a beer, a deep kiss or a ballgame.Jesus gives you the freedom to enjoy life to the full and in a way that doesn't hurt you, control you or hurt someone else.Paul said these radical things about his spiritual life:All things are lawful for me...To the pure all things are pure...I know and am convinced of the Lord that nothing is unclean of itself......God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.It is for freedom Christ has set us free...Yeah, I know religion wishes Jesus hadn't made 180 gallons of the best wine for a party where they'd already been drinking.Religion wishes Jesus, His apostles, Paul, Timothy and the early church hadn't drank any alcohol.Religion wishes He'd been a little tougher on the woman at the well with 5 divorces and a live-in boyfriend.Religion wishes He'd condemned the woman caught in adultery or at least made her apologize.Religion wishes He hadn't hung out with drunkards and tax collectors.Religion wishes He hadn't let a whore touch Him and kiss Him.Kids loved Jesus! What does that tell you?Maybe one of my posts will help knock the crust, the fear, the hurt, the frustration, the disappointment and death of religion off you and give you courage to rethink, to reconsider and explore your spiritual side again.Maybe one of my posts will help you see that the life Jesus came to give us is way bigger than your preacher's 12 favorite passages to preach from and way better than you thought.Pop the labels off of spirituality.Pop the labels off of Christianity.Jesus is worth reconsidering. Jesus is better than what you've heard I'm not saved because I'm good. I'm saved because He's good!My website: www.bradfreeman.comMy blog: bradcfreeman.tumblr.com/ |