RELIGION

 

RELIGION

 

 

"Judge not lest ye be judged"

 

The Bible says so clear

 

So why do so many

 

Put you down, my dear?

 

 

They say you are sinful

 

Your lifestyle needs to go

 

You must walk the pathway

 

Which they dictate, you know

 

 

Don't dare wear that earring!

 

Cut your hair!  Change your clothes!

 

Do this, but don't do that

 

On and on their list grows

 

 

Are these religious rules

 

They like to preach and shout

 

What being a Christian

 

Is really all about?

 

 

Webster says religion

 

Is man's attempt to win

 

Acceptance from his God

 

Deliverance from sin

 

 

But faith in our savior

 

Works the other way around

 

Because God so loved us

 

To the cross Christ was bound

 

 

We accept or reject

 

What Jesus did for us

 

His gift of redemption

 

Should cause joy, not a fuss

 

 

But man takes the simple

 

And complicates it so

 

Expecting perfection

 

So heaven bound we'll go

 

 

Yet Jesus left one law

 

Before He rose above

 

Not rituals or rules

 

But live a life of love

 

Reviews

[Anita B Jacques]

Hello Ellen, I agree with you a 100%. I went to Catholic school, never told that God loved me, the Nuns were telling us don't do this or don't do that, or you will go to hell. I stray from religion, my faith is much stronger since. I have a direct connection with our Maker, not water down by religion, when their priority is to feel their pockets, making changes only to benefit them, have no respect or recognition for each other. Forget that we are all children of God and brothers and sisters. Thank you so much for your beautiful poem and for sharing with us. God Bless

Your friend and sister in God...Annie

[Georgia Gypsy]

Oh you definatley hit the mark with this. So many churches i have experienced in life where they dictated every move down to what clothes were 'acceptable'...they are what my mom calls....'so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good'....not that she has room to talk...but that is a different story all together.!
Great write on this!
sorry it took me so long to get around to reading;)
-kelli

[Valentine]

How true this is..Some churches want only dressed up people to walk in their doors..But...what of the drug addict or drunkard who stumbles in and goes to the altar and gets saved..I say let Jesus clean them up...Outer dressing is not the same as what is in the heart,,Good write kiddo..love and God bless..Kathie Still very ill.

[bluessadmood]

oh that was so wonderful my friend..
the sickening business about religions as i always understood..is that when they are a means
to bring people together,they do just the opposite..they are bringing a great gap and lots of hatred
its some bad people who are interpreting these words as they liked for their own purposes
i once read that way back those at higher positions agreed that religion is a great way
to allude and fool the poor and ignorant and keep them far away to stay poor and knowing nothing
they used to play at everyone to their own wishes..it seems its the same way right now
in the 21st century..they want to keep people to their ignorance..even sending them
hating and fighting each others,again to their own malicious wishes..
how they wrong us all..but we know ..we know its never that way..
lovely write..

[emmajoy]

For all your beautiful words and stanzas, Sheila .. at the end of the day, at the end of your poem .. there remains in my heart and mind .. ' Do unto others as ..

These words can be found in virtually every good book, no matter it's title or language .. and if we remember them, then .. we live a life of love.

[Marie Anzalone]

One of my favorite quotes about Christianity nicely sume up the dilemma, I feel:

"Once every hundred years Jesus of Nazareth meets Jesus of the Christian in a garden among the hills of Lebanon. And they talk long; and each time Jesus of Nazareth goes away saying to Jesus of the Christian, “My friend, I fear we shall never, never agree."- K. Gibran

[Dusty]

What a refreshing read Ellen! Thank the Lord people still think for themselves. I was never a very religious girl, my father used to drag us to church every Sunday where I would go to the children's school and be told I was too wild and needed to be tamed. They said they would pray for me that Jesus would take me under his wing and make me a proper young lady (I wore skirts and t-shirts to church and walked everywhere barefoot until the moment I stepped up to the door. I often spoke of running through the woods or walking my dog who weighed 130 pounds. Let us say the pastors in charge of the children's section were old-fashioned and thought the only way a woman would be pure in the eyes of God is if she acted humble, calm, reserved, and submissive like women apparently should. You can imagine me, a thinker, nature girl, Miss Independent, a wild child more accustomed to being barefoot in the woods swinging from a tree while reading a book than studying the Bible at a table while calmly doing needle work- let us say I did not go over very well in the church.) But, because of that, I no longer went when we left my father, three hour sermons on words I couldn't understand was not how I wanted to spend my Easter morning. However, no matter how independent I was, I was never singled out from God. In 8th grade, seeking comfort after my friend died of Luekemia, I went to a contemporary non-denominational church and fell in love with the modern music and fresh taste of worship. They would love this poem in my church. Everything you said sums up what they have been trying to preach for the last 3 years. So, kudos to you, you have quite a mind and are using it well. I appreciate you sharing this wonderful poem with us.
keep writing! I absoultely love your style!

[Tracie Skarbo]

I agree, there are too many rules and not enough love...perhaps this is why so many have fallen off of the path of organized religion. funny though because I thing the majority still keep the faith. Great job on this one!

[:)]

lol :D

Think of how many sequels you could write to this!
I was talking yesterday to a friend where their youth pastor gets paid a butt load of money for preaching the word of god and being a good man and all.
Soo many wonderful examples as to how so many christians have gone wrong.

Fun yet honest write dear lady...

[LisetteCanWrite!]

Fantastic and powerful!.. I stopped going to church at 13.. why because two unknown men walked in clad in leather and jeans.. judged by appearance.. many whispered and made insinuations.. I asked an elder and was told we must wear our Sunday best.. after humming and hawing on it of course.. this was also where amazingly, I learned the word GAY.. I stopped going to church .. not because I was gay.. as I was not and am not.. just couldn't imagine church followers (all ages) being so harshly judgemental towards a lifestyle.. I questioned do they not want more followers?

That was 25 years ago and not enough has CHANGED or evolved... I believe at home now.. as I would not want to insult my friends and coworkers that have such a lifestyle.. they are friends and I care about their feelings! There is hypocrisy as many have mentioned on many levels.. as people are all children.. free to choose right and wrong on a personal journey.. why do we not focus on strengths rather than weaknesses? So many questions do challenge many today.. but I know deep in my heart.. only one place resides that answer.

What if Jesus came back as a gay man as the ultimate test.. would you accept his blessing or assist him if he were in need.. how many would pass that test of acceptance??? ( No need to answer.. more of a statement than a question). Your writing and comments really inspires and provokes alot of deep thoughts on such.. terribly sorry this is so long a review!