The Light

Jesus said at John 8:12

I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.

Matthew 5:16

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“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

The difference between being

religious and being Christian

By Henry Falcone

Have you ever seen wax fruit? From a distance it looks just like the real thing until you get close enough to really look at it. Even then if you were not sure if it were real enough, as soon as you pick it up or tried to bite it you would tell it was made of wax.

If I could explain the difference between being religious and a Christian it would be as comparing wax fruit with real. Real fruit has a real texture to it, a real skin, a real smell and of course a real taste and it is good if it has ripened properly. Wax fruit could have an artificial smell, but it has a wax type plastic texture, an artificial skin and it is hollow or empty on the inside.

That is what the difference is between religion a true living relationship with Jesus Christ. Religion looks good from a distance. It has all the appearances of being fruit until you get up close and personal. The closer you get to it, the more artificial it becomes including when you handle it or even try to bite into it. It is impossible for it ever to be real.

So it is with religion. Religion is based on the moral needs for men to be "good enough” to please God. They try in their own strength to be what they think they should be by going to mass, church, Bible Study or some type of "good" works. From the outside the person looks kind, generous, and devout. However, the true test is how the person is when no one is looking.

Is he kind, gentle, meek, full of goodness, faith, love, joy, peace, and patience? What kind of person is he or she when they are driving or at work, home or in the supermarket? What really comes out of that person when the pressure is on? Does the person "try" to be good enough or do enough to prove their religion? Do they try to make excuses for their short comings or blame others for their problems? All of this is wax fruit.

True Christianity is not the bumper sticker, “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven." It is much more than that. Real and genuine Christianity means to be born again after the Spirit of God. It means regeneration happens in a person’s heart where they come out of darkness into the Glorious light of Jesus Christ. In the words of the late Keith Green, "going to church makes you no more of a Christian than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger."

Christianity is not "works" it is a new life being lived in you by the Holy Spirit. It is giving up your ways and will to God with the power of the Holy Spirit working this in you. It is living your life no longer for yourself as the Apostle Paul's writes, " I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, but not I but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live I live in the faith OF the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me." True Christianity allows the life OF the Son of God to live in you and everything about you changes. It changes from living to do your will, your plans, desires, and trying to be good enough, to doing God's will for His Glory alone.

Religion allows you to keep your old life. You can live life as you please doing a few good things for God like going to church or helping someone that makes you feel good about yourself. Religion is always SELF-CENTERED and SELFISH Christianity is the absolute surrender of your life to God and is SELFLESS. True Christianity commands that you no longer live for yourselves, but for Him who saved you and purchased you with His own blood. Yes beloved reader there is a big difference between being religious and being a true Christian, the difference being compared as a wax piece of fruit against real kind.

Tennessee Football !

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I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CAN SEE THE PROBLEM, BUT OUR SOCIETY CANNOT. IF I OFFEND ANYONE BY THIS, I REALLY DON'T APOLOGIZE !

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This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School , Kingston , Tennessee by school Principal, Jody McLeod

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"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate life style," and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex.." If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...

I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology.."

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment.."

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated..

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.

Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless , as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

"However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!

The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."

Somehow, Kingston , Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten.. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER.."

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James 1:17

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

2 Corinthians 4:17

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“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Psalm 27:1

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“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”

Psalm 119:130

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

John 1:5

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“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”