The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of the Religious version of the Christian Faith

What are the undercurrents of the Christian Faith? Is it religion-rooted? Is it questioning leadership decisions? What are the Undercurrents of the Christian Faith?

Our faith is rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not rooted in a doctrinal statement. When Jesus lived on Earth, He never once condemned the sinners. He loved the sinners and hate the sin. He even dined with the sinners. Jesus did not come for the healthy. He came for the sick. Why have some churches become a country club for the greater-than-thou Christians? They have lost the true message of why Jesus came to Earth. Jesus came down to earth to save us from our sinful desires. He bled on the cross for our sins. He was crushed for our iniquities. He was pierced for our transgressions. By Christ's wounds, we are truly healed. (Paraphrased Isaiah 53:3-4). Our religious trauma and abuses are healed by Jesus Christ's precious blood.

If you have ever faced religious abuse, know that you are not alone. Everyone who has been a Christian has faced religious abuse in one way or another. You have to find the right church that loves God and loves others and remain true to the Biblical standards found in the Bible. This is hard to do because every church has its faults.

I have many stories about being treated as inferior by religious leaders in the IFCA movement. At my former university, the college dean advised me to change my way of speaking before pursuing a career in ministry. At my previous church, CBC, I felt inferior for not memorizing a Bible verse and perceived myself as a weak Christian. It wasn't until I attended a different church that I truly experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit and felt healed. There were times I considered leaving the Christian faith. However, even major Biblical figures like Moses, Gideon, Samson, and David had their own weaknesses.

Paul is my favorite example. Paul, who was the first convert to "The Way" on his way to Damascus (Acts 8-9), was a major proponent of Christians living in their weaknesses and turning them into Strengths.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NASB). It states,

"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself. Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake for when I am weak, then I am strong."

How often do we view our weaknesses as something that we need to get rid of? Everyday, I face weaknesses. I face unimaginable situations. I face a lot of issues that question my existence. However, I hold fast to the Word of God and prayer. I hold face to the Word of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

We face trials in this world. God has your back. Even when the religious leaders fail you, God never fails you. He is with you to the ends of the Earth. He cares for you. He loves you. He doesn't want you to sin because you have faced a horrible situation with a fellow bearer of Christ. He wants you to live for Him. (John 16:33; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7-8; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 28:19-20). God loves you even when the religious leaders fail to carry out the greatest commandment of them all, which is to love God and loves others!