Faith is a New Life, Not a Religion
Submitted by Stephen Winters
Faith is not about a religion, but a life to be lived. It speaks of the way that we live our lives. It involves putting aside our old life and learning to live a new kind of life.
Faith was never intended to be about religion. Rather, it was about one's relationship with God, with oneself, and with others. Faith is about one's everyday behavior, not about religious forms, rites, and rituals.
God is Love
God is love1. As children of love, we must live a life of love. One might ask, "What does that look like?" In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a we have a picture.
- Love is patient and kind.
- Love is not jealous
- Love is not boastful
- Love is not proud
- Love is not rude (unmannerly)
- Love does not demand its own way.
- Love is not irritable or easily angered
- Love keeps no record of being wronged
- Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil.
- Love always protects
- Love always trusts
- Love always hopes
- Love always perseveres
- Love never fails
Jesus also said, "Matt 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
God is Truth
God is truth. We are to speak the truth,2 in love. We are to tell the truth without selfish motives. We are to live holy lives
Anyone who knows us should know that they can believe whatever we say, because we only speak truth. What is truth?
Truth is telling anyone whatever they have a right to know or that they need to know.
Truth is checking out the facts before we answer, rather than just giving our first (often emotional) impulse.
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