Towards the end of that school year, I had a weekend experience that, as many others would say, “changed my life overnight”. I believed in a personal, spirit-activated relationship with god. There were several others on campus, and even at a “Christian college”, our activities were creating a bit of a stir.

I remember talking to one of the professors in my major field who said that he could understand our newfound fervor and feelings of empowerment. However, he said he was cautious about the ability of strong personalities to make of the events, something that was not necessarily “of the spirit”.

I have always thought about that and even during the time that I was speaking religious truth, as I had, from reading and study, discerned it to be, I was careful not to allow my personality, my persuasive powers, my whatever override the power that should be the gospels with no direct personality influence. I don't know how well I often did with that, but I firmly believed that a person’s relationship should be with the source of faith and not in the pleasing dynamics of a given personality.

Today, I look around me, and I see the influence of powerful personalities everywhere. Influences that cause the follower to follow a man more than following the master. Personalities who have become so adept at playing on the guilt, fear, desire for love and acceptance — to belong to something good and bigger than themselves — that they have become complicit in the feet of clay of these demi-god pastors and politicians.

We live in an age of stadium religion. Organizations that employ all of the tactics of a live concert to get the audience into an emotional high in preparation for the day’s sermonizer, whose message is to inspire the individual to draw closer to the organization’s web of influence, so you are controlled by the hierarchical patriarchy. They are “god’s anointed”, and the definition of your faith is not a personal relationship with the servant-savior, but to “trust and obey” what these self-appointed leaders say is your responsibility to like and dislike in your world. I believe religious truth, if such a concept actually exists, is capable of standing outside the neon lights, five-piece bands, and multiple viewing screens and exist simply and quietly as the word without all of the flash and dash. Once again, just my thoughts on this day.

The opinions expressed in this section are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or diagnosis. Sir Magazine hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is, and without warranties. Submit views to: Clamos@CBAMediaGroup.com

Towards the end of that school year, I had a weekend experience that, as many others would say, “changed my life overnight”. I believed in a personal, spirit-activated relationship with god. There were several others on campus, and even at a “Christian college”, our activities were creating a bit of a stir.

I remember talking to one of the professors in my major field who said that he could understand our newfound fervor and feelings of empowerment. However, he said he was cautious about the ability of strong personalities to make of the events, something that was not necessarily “of the spirit”.

I have always thought about that and even during the time that I was speaking religious truth, as I had, from reading and study, discerned it to be, I was careful not to allow my personality, my persuasive powers, my whatever override the power that should be the gospels with no direct personality influence. I don't know how well I often did with that, but I firmly believed that a person’s relationship should be with the source of faith and not in the pleasing dynamics of a given personality.

Today, I look around me, and I see the influence of powerful personalities everywhere. Influences that cause the follower to follow a man more than following the master. Personalities who have become so adept at playing on the guilt, fear, desire for love and acceptance — to belong to something good and bigger than themselves--that they have become complicit in the feet of clay of these demi-god pastors and politicians.

We live in an age of stadium religion. Organizations that employ all of the tactics of a live concert to get the audience into an emotional high in preparation for the day’s sermonizer, whose message is to inspire the individual to draw closer to the organization’s web of influence, so you are controlled by the hierarchical patriarchy. They are “god’s anointed”, and the definition of your faith is not a personal relationship with the servant-savior, but to “trust and obey” what these self-appointed leaders say is your responsibility to like and dislike in your world. I believe religious truth, if such a concept actually exists, is capable of standing outside the neon lights, five-piece bands, and multiple viewing screens and exist simply and quietly as the word without all of the flash and dash. Once again, just my thoughts on this day.

Opinions & editorial by: Steve Sanderson

The opinions expressed in this section are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or diagnosis. Sir Magazine hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the content, which is provided as is, and without warranties. Submit views to: Clamos@CBAMediaGroup.com

JOIN THE CLUBHOUSE