Petrified Religion

[Bruderhof News]

Check out this article at Bruderhof.com:
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Petrified Religion - Blumhardt Takes a Blowtorch to Self-Satisfied Christianity
by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt

Blumhardt digs into self-centered religion with a vengeance. If you plan to
fly to heaven with the Savior and laugh at those left behind, you'd better read
this...

Read the rest of this article at:
http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm
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[Ryan Talbert from Montana]

An excellent sentiment, and continually more appropriate as the years progress.
It seems that many Christians forget that we are to be as Christ. This is
approached by very practical means with our hands in the mud helping our fellow
man....

Ryan Talbert from Montana, United States
Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm
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[Malissa Haslam]

I am reading the book Jesus Against Christianity by Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer which
alludes to some of these same ideas. It is very refreshing to know that other
people are writing about thoughts I've had for years--why does the church not
"get it?" Jesus plainly stated what he had come to do in Luke 4:18-19 albeit
it is a rare Christian church/individual that truly "heals the brokenhearted,
releases the captives, gives sight to the blind, frees the downtrodden from
the oppressors, etc." Churches/we are too caught up in programs and numbers.
Is it any wonder that we go "unblessed?" I have very much appreciated the Advent
Daily Digs although I can't say that I've always "enjoyed" them. It's very good
that you make us think and ponder this hard work of living the Christian life.

Malissa Haslam

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm
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[k.d. szatko]

it touched my heart. i call my self a seeker of truth, sometimes i feel alone
in this world walking a different speed .after reading this i felt like it came
from my inner feelings the truth i seek. can you tell me were to find other
people with the same thoughts. i have gone to too many churches and have left
sometimes ran !!

k.d. szatko

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm
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[Lynda]

In the course of my seeking I found Plough and Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
and Action in Waiting ... I am coming to suspect that Christ has a lot more
fun when His members are dancing than when they are marching.

Lynda from Norwich, United Kingdom

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm
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[Tom Brown]

Petrified Religion, there's a lot of that going around and it's spreading like
the plague. Well stated.

Tom Brown from Florida, United States

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm
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[Deborah Daniels]

... I have experienced first-hand the apathy and smugness of self-satisfied
christians, and it is amazing that I have kept my inner spiritual flame alive.
To paraphrase Mae West,"religion is a great institution, I just don't like instituti

[Earl Card]

Sorry, but I'm not sure what the point is in this article.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Danny Zeek]

That was really good.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Bruderhof]

Danny Zeek wrote:

> That was really good.
>
> Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

Nothing is more dangerous to the advancement of God's kingdom than
religion. But this is what Christianity has become. Do you not know that it
is possible to kill Christ with such Christianity! After all, what is more
important - Christianity or Christ? And I'll say even more: we can kill
Christ with the Bible! Which is greater: the Bible or Christ? Yes, we can
even kill Christ with our prayer. When we approach God with our prayers
full of self-love and self-satisfaction, when the aim of our prayers is to
make our world great, our prayers are in vain.

[Mulumbi]

Good reading materials. Please keep me posted.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Georgia]

I liked this article, but would have liked to hear of doing good works, always thinking of others. Always uniting, getting along with your own familes, parents, siblings, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, etc.
Giving to the homeless.
JOY
Jesus
Others
Yourself

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Timon Kosgei]

Excellent sentiments. A very good message to all of us that religions strive as much as possible to divide us in the society. What we fail to understand however is that at the end of the day, what matters, and whom we are all seeking is Christ who died in the cross,and not the religions of the world or denominations.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Ben Oates from Kentucky]

I need to know whether God hears the prayer of non-believers in Christ.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Eleanor Nelson]

I believe in prayer and the He has always answered my prayers. I believe going to church is a "Sprititual Up-lifting" that everyone needs at the beginning of the week. The world is a stressful place and when you put God First everything "falls into place" Love faith patience and hope, with the trust in God will always pull you through.
Now, please tell me what you think about people who believe in re-incarnation..I find it nowhere in the Bible

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Bruderhof]

Given the number of people who've been "saved" these days, you'd think the
world was becoming a brighter place. It could be, too, if more people would
stop worrying about religion and lose themselves in service to God and each
other. People like Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (1842-1919), the maverick
German pastor and religious socialist who wrote the piece below.

Blumhardt's witness influenced theological giants like Dietrich Bonhoeffer
and Karl Barth, but his books (mostly collected sermons and devotions) can
hardly be characterized as theology -- they are too blunt, too earthy, too
real. Burning away the trappings of modern piety like so much chaff, his
"active expectation" of God's kingdom leads us away from ourselves and
toward our fellow human beings. Blumhardt's Christ is not the bringer of a
new religion (nor a political power-seeker), but a Savior whose humanity
brings hope to the despondent, and whose compassionate hands reach down
into the darkest places.

> http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Greasy]

Nowadays, unfortunately, many things are done with the idea that the more
spiritual and otherworldly we are, the better. But it is just the other way
round. The more we learn to seek truth and to act on it as far as possible
in the situation in which God has placed us, even if that be in the dirt,
the better it is. For the Savior does not want to come as an idea but as a
reality, wherever people live and struggle (Matt. 18:20). It is here that
we must make way for him and how can we do this except by acting in
accordance with his nature? And his nature is simple, true, and genuine.

[Evon DaGama Reddy]

Jesus said, And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (Jn 8:32). When we participate and experience this truth, we make it our life story. Your theology should become your biography. We learn to mesh our beliefs into everyday reality. Although it sounds simple, it actually is one of life?s greatest challenges. We seldom understand that God is not just asking us to be spiritually committed to him. He wants our total commitment?every fiber of our being. We use every dimension of our being when we work, so we worship him as we work.

Our identity in Christ is once and for all established when we put our faith in him & think about our significance in Christ. We develop this sense of identity and security in Christ as we spend time with him in prayer, offer our conscious praise to him and give him credit for all we are and have. The more of his Word, the Bible, we put into our lives, the more aware we become that he is our prime motivator. When we simply take God at his word, we find he is utterly trustworthy and creates opportunities for his Spirit to be manifested in our lives and work.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Sajitha Mathew]

Ifound it very touching and true. I think people should follow such advice. Please keep on sending me such beautiful articles.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Cullen W Schippe]

Blumhardt is pointing out a smugness in some manifestations of contemporary Christianity that is not found in the Gospels. That smugness--"I am right and you are wrong, ha, ha!"--is the antithesis of evangelization. That smugness is a form of idolatry in that it supplants God with a handcrafted calf of gold--a religious institution that demands mindless loyalty and the suspension of reason. From the earliest moments of Christianity, there has been a temptation to use Jesus as a key to power and control over others. The invitation to "come and see" is replaced with threats and bullying. The people who are huddled in the back rows of the banquet hall of Christian churches do not hear from religious leaders, bishops, or even popes, "Friend, come up higher!" Were Jesus to visit the halls of Christendom, he would not recognize much beyond the words. And I have reason to believe that the way his words are used to separate, judge, humiliate, and control might cause him once again to "fashion a whip of cords." Blumhardt holds up the mirror of conscience for all of us who would go blithely on genuflecting toward the idol and thereby miss the fact that the hungry, the thirsty, those in all sorts of prisons, and the poor are the shrines in which the Lord dwells.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Lisa Vaughan]

Bravo! This is something with which I have struggled since childhood. Thank you for the reaffirmation and also the kick in the pants. Faith without deeds is indeed dead.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[A.M.]

I am also in turmoil over the church and its teachings. It has offended and betrayed many with its statements and financial support toward voting certain ways. After much heartache and grief (which I am still trying to get through), I have come to realize that religion and theology are not God. This has been brought to my attention by many spiritual readings and insight from many who have felt this way. Although the church is necessary to bring people together to worship God, its laws and statements that offend many are not to be interpreted as Gods laws. God is unexplainable because He is beyond human comprehension and those who claim to say that they know are only hoping that they are right. Most laws and interpretation are man-made. I love my God who embraces all and He will be the one who will judge my actions and my beliefs, NOT THE CHURCH. I will still try to find a church where I am comfortable to worship God. I am stepping back at the moment because I am overwhelmed with all of the teachings. I believe God is with me and is OK with me making this decision and will guide me to where I need to be.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Chewey]

Finally some common sense dealing with Christianity and Religion. Its not a "sin" or bad thing to have your own belief system, in fact that is a good thing as it creates discussion amongst us. The Bible is of course one of the greatest Books ever written but can be,has been, and will continue to be interpreted in many different ways. We are every single one of us unique and special. Its a sad and pathetic situation when a person of the cloth in any religion uses the pulpit and/or his/her position of authority and trust to preach hate, how one should vote, that because someone is different they should either be shunned, assassinated, put away, discriminated against, pay money to be saved so that one may go to heaven (youre kidding right?) or any of the other unconstructive things that are preached about. Wars large and small have been and will continue to be fought in his name. I cannot in any way imagine or believe that God would create such beauty only to wish to have it destroyed in his name. Mr. Blumhardt seems to have been a good and honest man worth listening too. I am looking forward to receiving my "morning" words of wisdom.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Aideen O'Connor]

I agree with the above on "Against spiritual complacency", but have a question and a comment.
I love to go to Mass and Communion and say the Rosary. I receive peace in my heart and strength to get on with life - one day at a time.
Is there space for this in the above excerpt?

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Lyn Vaughn]

Ben Oates from Kentucky wrote, "I need to know whether God hears the prayer of non-believers in Christ." That question was answered for me when I read this prayer: "Oh Lord. If I have any reward in this life, give it to my enemies. If I have any reward in the next life, give it to my friends. Thou alone, oh Lord, are enough for me." The prayer was written by a Sufi Muslim saint named "Rabia", a woman who lived several hundred years ago. I know by all the grace God has given me that Rabia is with God. You can hear and feel the Holy Spirit (who is God, who is Christ) in her words -- even in translation. So, yes, God hears all true prayers. Whenever a prayer is offered with love and devotion, it sails right past every alter and falls at the feet of God.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Carol Crocker]

I have never really understood how I could have such a belief in God and yet not in religion. Thank you for your insight. I think that what youre saying makes so much sense. When I heard this past week that the Pope is not allowing gay priests in the church, well, I just about had a copper caniption! How in the world can they justify this decision making? Would God recommend this? I think not! Some of the things happening today just blow my mind and I have major depression. No wonder, I suppose.
So much individual and global pain,
So many atrocities!
Please keep up clarifying the mazes to me. Thank you.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Claire]

I heartly agree with this article by C.F. Blumhardt. As sincere followers of Jesus me have much practical work to do and a limited lifespan. This article reminds me of a poem ,"A Psalm of Life" by Henry W. Longfellow
-but to act, that each tomorrow find us farther than today.
-Act-act in the living present heart within, and God oerhead.
Let us then, be up and doing, with a heart for any fate, still achieving, still pursuing. Learn to labor and to wait.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Susan]

Sad but true. The kind of religion hes referring to nearly destroyed my Faith, but its slowly coming back with my choice to separate from it all for a year and to choose just the simple things of Christ again. What a relief that has been, and it has allowed Life to return to my spirit.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Gregory Pearce]

I would venture to say that any religion or ideology is counterproductive when placed at the top of a hierarchial structure to which people are only subjects.

Spirituality is intrinsically part of every human being. In as much as we are able to incarnate truth, Biblical or otherwise, to this extent we are enriched.

Even better, once we are enriched - wise is the person who realizes that when we are blessed by God, it is because He has someone else in mind.

Complacency might be simply defined and us doing nothing with what he have, especially in the help of others.

The kingdom of God is more about giving and receiving than it is about finding theological grounds to justify religious conformity.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Susan Maxwell]

I have often thought that, apart from greed for more land, the majority of wars in the world have been fought on behalf of one deity or another. More evil is wrought in the name of God than anything else. Most people have an inbuilt goodness and seek guidance in order to serve their Maker. If only they dedicated their house-cleaning, their office job, their daily travel to work/shops, etc. to God and said to themselves: "I will be excellent in what I do today for You", then what better prayer? From this it is but a short step to being excellent in ones dealings with ones fellow man. We do not need organised religions - we need to be the best that we can be in Gods name.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Joel]

Jesus did not remain on the mountain...he did not want Peter to build temples there...rather he returned from the mountain as there were actions that remained. My heart is greatly warmed through the wide acceptance of Blumhardts words demonstrated by the all of the responses to this article.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[A.S. Well]

This piece certainly rang true with me on this Monday morning. My dry experience at church this Sunday in which I came to some of these same conclusions, and also saw more clearly why the church insists on keeping the sheep as little lambs who could not possibly tolerate the powerful challenge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Why, if we all were invited to face the truth of the Gospel we would have to grow up, change, and need to leave the church as it has settled into what it is... a holding operation to maintain its existence.
I believe that people who agree with and also experience the dissatisfactions in Brother Blumhardts sermon are mature... these lambs have grown up and jumped the fence only to look back critically at the sheepfold.
At least that is the case for the church I went to on Sunday. I have, in the past, been to a very few others that deliberately try to live the invitation to Gospel Peace in light of the Beatitudes. It is an energetic challenge to everyone in those communities and they support one another inbecoming mature Christians.

The current "christian" situation has changed a bit since he first wrote this sermon. Brother Blumhardt says:
"Nowadays, unfortunately, many things are done with the idea that the more spiritual and otherworldly we are, the better. But it is just the other way round."

The pushy christian right who claims to have all the answers, putting the Bible first, and their expectation to be drawn up to the heavenly bliss of Christ at the end of the world-- which many are deliberately hastening-- are not all that interested in the "spiritual and otherworldy", they seem to be most interested in influencing the events of this world. Not what Jesus taught, is it?

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Edna Richardson]

If one allowed the content of this excellent message to control ones thinking, you would almost think there is no way I can measure up to what is required of me. Ones salvation hinges on that eternal question Jesus asked of Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" Nothing else matters - Jesus and Him crucified is the source of all my being. The Bible contains the message and yet it is written in such a way that it is not a binding document. I believe it is Gods Word for man and is to keep us on the Right Road. The church exists to provide a setting wherein we learn to love the brethren. All the while it is all about me and my acceptance of what God wants to do in my life to bring me into the Kingdom. "Straight is the gate and narrow is the Way, and few there be that find it." Each one of us must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no man comes unto the Father except through Him. When Jesus lives in our heart, we see others through His eyes and we are Christ to that person. Thank you for this excellent writing.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Robert di Grappa]

So called christians forget it was the religious faction that screamed for Jesus to be crucified. Pilate wanted him to be released. The individual who wrote the article would be considered a heretic today if he wasnt in his day. If you say anything about the bible or the rapture that is against the orthodox teaching you invite the wrath and condemnation of the organized church body. I have been condemned to hell, accused of being demon possessed, called the most rebellious and disobedient man ever,and actually told by a group of pastors to forget God as they were fairly certain he had cut me off. It is sad. It seems those people have not read where the Lord said certain ones came before him and said they prophesied in his name, visited the sick, cast out demons, and generally did many good things in his name and he replied, "Depart from me for I never knew you". I often ask this type of religious person when I have the occasion to meet them, if they know the Lord. Of course they do they reply. Well, I say it doesnt matter if you know the Lord. This really gets their righteous indignation up. I tell them it only matters if he knows you. Also, Ill ask them if they believe everthing in the bible. You bet they reply zealously. You mean to tell me everything in that book has been revealed to you? If not, how can you believe? Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. That isnt just the written word, it has to be revealed to us by the Almighty himself, personally. He has to come to us intimately, to know us if you please because that is what the word know means, an intimate contact. An example is Adam knew his wife and she conceived. When the Lord knows us we conceive life. He said, "Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, but they are that which testify of me". Of him, not a religion or a way to do things. Does not the goodness of God lead us to repentance. The seven times seven Jesus spoke of to Peter when Peter asked him how many times should I forgive my brother in a day. That is forty-nine times in a day. How much more does my heavenly Father forgive me. Paul in the last days of his ministry, after having started churches, raised people from the dead, healed people, cast out demons, etc., etc. said I count all things but dung (and we know what that is) save for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus and him crucified. Why was the Lord crucified? For me. It was my sins that put him there. What did the thief on the cross next to the Lord say. I deserve to be here, remember me when you come into your kingdom. What a beautiful response from the Lord. "Today you will be with me in paradise". I could go on and on, but I will end by saying thanks for publishing that mans letter.
Sincerely,
Robert di Grappa

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

['Desanya]

Im quite agreed with what you said. More of us called christian in this generation are vividly proud. We have actually forgotten that we are saved by His grace. We intend to received more from God than watching over losing our soul which was our primary objective why we are saved.
Many of us have forgotten that we are saved to saved other.
Secondly, the word of God is mystery, it gives understanding to His beloveth. Reading the word does not mean we understand Him. He grants us understanding through His spirit into the depth of His word.
However He called both jews and gentiles Rom 9:24-26.
May God bless us through His word and show us understanding in living to His expectation through Christ Jesus.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Sr. Lita Camozzi]

It is hard to be really good because in the end
you are left with the sin of pride because of how good you are... The inclinations start so young, as a child tattled on another for running in the halls said to me, "Wosie be running but I be walking."

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Scott Lyons]

Just the antidote to todays "I am saved" hide-bound and narrow religiosity. That this "churchianity" is being used to further a particular political agenda is almost too tragic to endure. To keep the Gospel in chains or "in cement," as Pastor Blumhardt says, has become the name of the game, evidently.
What a sad comment on our aspirations. Many Christians have "missed the forest for the trees" it would seem. The short letter of James is not read or paid heed often enough, and the cogent remarks of Paul on this issue have also gone unnoticed. Jesus never once said "just get saved and everything will fall into place." He instructed us to follow Him and go about doing good, or what is the Good Samaritan about? Jesus was and remains always with the people of God, the poor and down-trodden, in short, the Church. After all, He is one of us, one with us. He, too, hungers, feels the cold, needs to be consoled, gets tossed into jail and needs a visit, needs a helping hand. And of course, this is when one of our brothers or sisters is in desperate straits.
Sadly, the "new" religiosity seems to be replacing the true Gospel Way of Jesus. After all, Jesus is our brother as well as our God. He invites us to join with Him in a life of service and sacrifice.
Let us take up our Cross and follow Him and leave the dead to bury the dead.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Ken Averill]

Spot on! Seek the Spirit in all we do. That is the message of the Christ.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Peg Oetjen]

Right on!

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Alejandro]

Thank you for this article. It confirms what I have felt along time. I have a special joy in my heart today even though I am surrounded with so much ignorance.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Mary Holm]

Something for all Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists and, especially, fundamentalists of every kind to ponder. Jesus is still dying on the cross every day and it is because of our failure to truly follow him. Peace.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[BW]

The political hierarchy of my denomination is more about exclusion than inclusion. I am afraid that they have made a religion out of select teachings while ignoring the message of love and forgiveness of God. I am grateful for these words of insight from Blumhardt.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Stuart Forsyth]

Thank you for this beautiful piece. As a Christian who still struggles with the dogma and exclusivity of religion - any religion, even Christianity, its refreshing to have it affirmed that Christ today would have been on the streets with the drug addicts and alcoholics, strugglers and stragglers and with all of us who are in pain and struggling for release, would have embraced the Jew and the Moslem and had them love. I have heard it stated and am witness to the experience "religion is for those who dont want to go to Hell, spirituality is for those who have been there. God Bless

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Beverley]

Thank you very much for these diamond-clear words, written over 100 years ago, but an incredibly timely reminder for all of us today. In times of natural, and man-made,disasters, we, and especially all those positioned with mandate to HELP, should NOT to be asking ourselves "who will make the money or use victims plights for profit and/or political advantage?" We are to live every day putting Compassion into Action helping others immediately, without pause to consider race, creed or nationality. This IS what Jesus would do, and no less.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Cinde]

Ah, if only all can have the same thoughts! So much of what Christians do would truly horrify Christ! We are taught to have only one master, but what do we do? I can understand revering the saints and remember their enlightened lives, but pray to them? Ask for their protection? What? I can understand taking the Bible as a good source of spirituality, but to exclude all other writings? If we go by only the Bible, then slavery is ok, women should all shut up and wrap their heads, and stoning people to death is still legal. We have seen many using the Bible to make their argument, you can almost support any argument by misquoting the Bible! I have an Anglican friend who finished her studies at a catholic theological college. She is serving an Anglican parish and speaks of "bring tthen back to the true faith", meaning proper liturgy, proper traditions, proper everything. She will not heed to my plea that ours is not a religious practice but a faith, and as such it may not carry any given form or shape in liturgies and formalities. I was like that not so long ago, but meeting more people from different denominations and visiting communities including the Bruderhof taught me much about living a life of faith rather than practicing and participating in acts of worships on a particular day in a particular style. Surely God is above style? I often think christians ought to follow Christs footsteps in life instead of repeating what they know is right by lip service. Our lives are bought by blood/life, and salvation drawns blood/life from us too. We get so hung up with forms and practices that we forget there is only one lesson: follow Christ. Lay down our lives for others. That way, we would never wage war, we would never hurt others, we would forgive each other our many mistakes towards each other. Who says world peace is unattainable? It is as attainable as we make it. It is in our hands and no others. I wish we can break down all the walls organised religions has brought. I wish evangelists do not dangle carrots of comfort and joy to lure people to follow. I wish we are all in one mind to love and serve, with no conditions and reservations. We say we believe in Christ and his way to God. Do we really?

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Estelle Gabel]

Thank You--I never believed that the place of the Christian was outside of the trevail, in the end we should be there to share with and minister to the sick, sad, weary, and sinful--God the Father did not save his Son from pain and suffering...Why should we want to be saved-- We as Christians proclaim the redemptive value of suffering and the grace that is showered on us constantly--we are never beyond hope to God our Father--He is always calling us to share in His Life, Suffering and Death.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Maria Thomas]

Thank you. I have been steeped in religion for 28 years. I thought I was a follower of Christ. Sometimes things would come up in teachings or actions that I would question in my heart. But I always thought "they must be right" because they were the teachers in my religion. Finally my son walked away from Christianity (with tears and trepidation) and said the same things I had often thought. I realized we had led him to a religion instead of the Savior. Slowly I have changed. Slowly my husband is changing. We have good dialogue with our son and hope to bring him back to Christ. But never again to a religion. Please pray for us and our son.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Dr. Robert M. Santry]

The quintessence of the argument is this: Jesus fulfulled the law, the prophets, and the writings. Jesus brought to completion the essence of the covenant through his passion and death.
Jesus is not a founder of a new religion, He is the fulfillment of a past, present, and future religion (the covenant God made with the people of Israel).

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Ben Ng'andu]

This article could not have come at a better time time than this one in the history of mankind. In my own observation religion is used as weapon to silence people into submission to their oppresors in form of leaders, husbands, wives and so on.
The false beliefs highlighted by your article are the ones that are used by religious leaders to scare people into blind submission.
Maybe it is easier to cheat people when they are organised into a religious group.
I recommend that all religoius leaders not just read but study this article with seriousness it deserves!

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Uzor Okoro]

This is interesting, keep it up.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Franz Isler]

When we pray, we are talking to Christ. Is it possible that sometimes we can do all the talking without being circumspect and prudent with what we are saying to God? I thought there is always something wrong when we are all doing the talking, and I know I must pause in my prayers to listen also. I do not want to interrupt and be rude. I must listen to my innermost feelings and think more introspectively, for through my conscience, I know that God is communicating back to me.

We must act on what is good, not because we feel good about it, but because it is the will of Christ.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Juanita Grantham]

I enjoy reading anything with a devotional flavor, it
gets me through the day.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm

[Cheryl]

ZING.....

. ...WOW... POP...


...what an eyeopener.

Responding to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/bl/PetrifiedReligion.htm