A life lived in protest to a thing is a life still controlled by the thing it protests. This feels like freedom, but it’s an illusory freedom that can only exist in a universe where that which antagonizes you, and that you therefore protest, is still in control.

Real freedom is discovering a universe that exists outside of the thing you once protested’s control, and ultimately lies in realizing that said thing does not actually exist. One can, from the outside, be an advocate for those still inside, but their lives are no longer controlled by that system. One can even reenter the system as an alien and stranger in order to rescue those calling it home without coming back under its tyranny.

There is a massive difference between these two ways of being.

If I protest toxic religion from within its walls, my protest is more or less a way of dealing with my chains. I’m not truly free, for even my protest is a sign of my enslavement. Real freedom is realizing there is a world beyond, finding it, and then having the ability to come and go from my old world as I please, and then only with the intent of helping those still stuck inside of it.

I often look back and see that some of my most passionate cries against religion were just my enslaved groanings. I still lift up my voice, and still cry aloud against the evils of certain systems, but there is a difference within these days.

As I’ve said before, freedom comes in layers, so never settle for the layer you find yourself in.
~ Jeff Turner

Faith for walking on water starts with realizing you do not have to try to get out of the boat but understanding that all the Faith of God is already in you! In the beginning God gave us Total Dominion over the earth. If we are always trying to see whether or not it is true instead of simply believing what God already said, then we will fail. His Faith is our Faith; we do not wait for it to grow; we use it!
~ Tim Heart

Tim Heart: All the faith of God is already in you!

I urge anyone reading this to ponder it very deeply. Truth is true even if no one ‘gets it’! RJS

Buddhism says “do the eight-fold path”
Islam says “do the five pillars and live a righteous life”
Hinduism says “adhere to the four yogas”
Judaism says “live by the Law of Moses”
Mormonism says “get baptized and fulfill the church ordinances”
The Watchtower says “serve and obey Jehovah for assurance of salvation”
Roman Catholicism says “do the seven sacraments”
Protestant legalism says “make Jesus Lord of your life and promise to turn from sin”

Jesus says “DONE”. Just believe and receive….”

[If the work of Jesus is finished, why is there a need to believe and receive?
There was an urgent need for belief when the country was in imminent danger at the time of Jesus and the apostles’ preaching before the utter destruction of Jerusalem. But what is the imminent danger now?]

Simon Yap