Here's the thing. I do not like the word religion. I don't like being called religious. I don't like it when people act religious. Religion causes disputes, disagreements, wars, hatred, strife, and all source of mayhem in the world. So some of you might be thinking, "Okay, what are you trying to say, Little Bible Thumper?" Well, let me say I think everyone has a philosophy on life. Whether it be a person who claims to be a Buddhist, Atheist, or Christian, we have some attitude and idea of what life is about. You may be someone who believes this life is all there is; no afterlife. You may believe heaven is for people who lived a good life. You may even believe in reincarnation. If there's one idea I think each belief system holds, that is what you do today will have an effect on your future.
Buddhism promotes karma, which is getting what you give, whether it be from this life or past life. Wicca claims the Rule of Three, which is whatever energy a person puts out into the world, that energy will return to them three times, whether it is positive or negative. Islam believes whatever you do in this life will be judge in the next one. And so it goes that it seems every religion, or belief system, has the idea that our actions of this moment have consequences; therefore, there is accountability in everything we do. You may not follow any religion, but let me ask you, do you ever watch the news some days and think, "I hope he gets the chair for doing that" or "if there's a hell, that's surely where he's going." We all want justice. We all want people to be accountable for their actions for the wrong they have done to us and/or humanity. It's in our very nature that we want order.*
So here's my philosophy of life, before and after I became a Christian. Ready?
"Live each day as if it were your last."
That's it. Let me add something that entails. Live each moment as if you were going to be caught dead in it. Maybe morbid, but it's true. Someday we are going to be in the middle of something we may have been doing our whole lives, and then the shadow of death will appear, and our existence will be no more. The question then becomes what happens after we die. Death is so mysterious in that even though people claim to have died, we still are not certain what it looks like, what it feels like, or what it sounds like. In fact, we don't know why, if we don't have a belief system or philosophy to tell us.
Let me back up for a moment. I write because I just don't want whoever is reading this to think Christianity as another religion. Actually, let me put it this way-- it is a religion just like Islam, Hinduism, and such, but at its core is a philosophy that everyone can agree on. In our hearts, we have something in us that tells us that we want a better world. One where death does not rid us of the joys that can be found in it.** We want people to take responsibility for their actions and to go throughout life without harming others. But as we see, there is a repeated cycle of crimes against humanity in the world that causes chaos. Questions that are left unanswered. And hopelessness gets stronger each day in this world. You may even ask, "Well, what is a perfect world? Everyone has their own standards!" That is true, and that is why at the core of Christian beliefs God is the ultimate judge of who says what is right and what is wrong. And doesn't it make sense considering He is the one to put everything into existence, including our consciences and hearts?
Start thinking about Christianity in a different way. Not a religion with routines and rituals, but more about people living out a life that is an expression of a God who wants to manifest Himself through those who choose to believe in who He is and what He has done to justify their wrongs. He is the only one who is right in the world, and because of that, He sent his son, Jesus Christ to die to justify any wrongs in people. No more burnt offerings. No hail Marys. Just a simple faith in the One who defined every good idea in the world. By believing in what Christianity preaches, we are accepting the philosophy that we will be held accountable for what we did yesterday, today, and tomorrow. So what are we doing today to be right with the very being, the very essence of the One who is perfect?
I hope I didn't confuse you today. =)
*Romans 2:12-16
**Ecclesiastes 3:11
***Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13
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