A Religious Fanatic

I was recently called a religious fanatic.  That there is believing that there is a God and all, but then there are people like me.  I had to think about that one for awhile - am I really a religious fanatic?  If others think I am, what does that mean for me?  I've come to this conclusion...

Romans 1:16-18
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written.  The righteousness shall live by faith.  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."

If sharing the power of God in my life, and living my faith out makes me a religious fanatic, then yes;  I AM A RELIGIOUS FANATIC!  And I am proud of it!  Although, I would prefer to label myself as a sinner redeemed by God's grace and no longer willing to hide it!  I no longer live to worry about what others might think about me, what they might say about me, or how they judge me.  Living my faith does not make me a judgmental, no fun, boring, Bible thumping, crazy person.  I do not walk around judging others and thinking that I am holier than all of them, which makes me superior.  If anyone thinks that, then you don't know anything about me, and have never taken the time to talk to me.  There is a difference between "being religious" and living in God's grace and forgiveness.  But no matter how you label it, view it, accept it or reject it...it does not change the truth.  You can live and die saying the sky is red, but it doesn't change the fact that it is blue.  You can live and die claiming that the Gospel isn't true, but it doesn't change the truth that is true.

I am a sinner, you are a sinner.  Every person is born already a sinner.  God's wrath will be poured out on all unrepentant sinners that do not claim and live with Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  If you do not believe, you will go to hell...and you will not have friends there.  There are no relationships in hell, it is an eternity of pain, misery and "the gnashing of teeth".  Because of our sin, we all deserve to go to hell.  That is the just punishment for our sin.  But God made a way to save us from that punishment.  He sent his only Son, he came to earth and lived a perfect life.  He lived without any sin, and that allowed him to be the unblemished sacrifice that can atone for our sins!  Jesus came, lived and then died for us.  God poured out the wrath that we deserve - on HIS SON - so that we may have eternal life.  Our sins held him on that cross, and He took it all for you and me.  And then, He was raised on the third day.  Satan was defeated, Jesus has overcome it all, even death.  By his death, we can now have eternal life.  The catch is that you have to choose to accept his free gift of life.  Choose to accept it and live, choose to reject it and die.  He's not going to force you, while it grieves Him, He will let you choose to suppress the truth and live a life of sin and unrighteousness.  But that doesn't change the truth.  God loves you and died for you.  God is a God of mercy, grace, love and forgiveness.  It is not possible for you to have done "too much" for God to forgive.  He is waiting for you to turn to Him.  But don't live as maybe someday I'll be ready to 'be religious', but right now I just want to have fun...  Psalm 95:7-8 "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" for 1 Thess. 5:2 "the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night".  Right now it is not too late to accept the gift, but one day, it will be too late and you will suffer for eternity the full wrath of the righteous God.  I am not a pastor, I am not a theologian, so please, talk to your pastor, to me, or someone else, just please, do not harden your hearts one more day!  I've been saved, and that means I share it for His glory.  What you think & feel about that, is between you and God, not between you and me.

In Christ's Love,
A Proud God Fanatic
Kari