April 04-B, 2023

**A Tree in Summer, Oil Paint Rendered**

The difference between good and bad religion
is the position each takes on the question,
"Whose side is God on?"

Bad religion declares,
"God is on our side
when we love and obey God."

Good religion declares,
"Whose side is a rainbow on?
God is a rainbow
to be relished and enjoyed
for the sake of the wonder of God alone!"

Getting and keeping God on our side
is the essence of bad religion,
and all the participants 
in bad religion
compete with one another 
for the prize of the glories
of eternal life
with different lists 
of ways to please God
and make God happy.

Good religion thinks it is ridiculous
that a rainbow could be delighted
or seething with rage
and goes about its business
of being rainbow-like
in the lives of others
for the joy of doing it
and the satisfaction of having done it alone.

Bad religion and good religion
have as much to say/reveal about their adherents
as they do about God,
disclosing what they think matters most,
and what they will do to celebrate it
and live in its service.

Our religion is a mirror
reflecting our heart and our spirit
for all who have eyes to see.

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Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters and five granddaughters within about twenty minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything. View more posts