Mad, Mad, Religious World
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"Eddie, there are just so many religions, so many doctrines, so many beliefs, so many ministries, so many preachers, so many books, topics, tapes, videos and Christian literature, that I just don't know who to believe, what to believe, who to trust and who has the truth."

Have you ever felt the same frustrations? Have you ever asked the same questions? Have there been times when you just said: "Oh, what's the use? Who cares? Why bother? Why believe anyone or anything?" I have personally asked myself these questions. I've gone through the same frustrations. There have been times when I just felt like throwing in the towel and just simply live my life the best way I know how without worrying about what religion is preaching, what God is doing, thinking and revealing to people.

It can be right down confusing when you log on to all of these religious internet websites or hear about all of these religious churches popping up all around the world like wild fire. Men from all sorts of religious backgrounds and religious convictions, preaching and teaching what they believe God is like, what God is revealing to the them, what God has told them, what the bible really is and isn't, and what people should do or shouldn't do in order to get God to be part of their lives and their lives being part of God's.

Everyone wants to speak for God. Everyone is out to defend God, as if God needed anyone to speak for Him, or defend Him. Every religious organizations has an opinion of God. What God is like. What God will do. What He won't do. What He has done. What He is doing. Many of these religions have claimed to have had visions of what God looks like and what He doesn't look like. They have even gone as far as to what God likes, loves and hates. "Is a Mad, Mad, Religious World" out there, and it is not getting any easier, simpler, nor better. A religious mad, mad world of tremendous legalistic convictions and confusing doctrines.

I just met up with a young lady who I had shared this great simple, non complicated non confusing Gospel of the grace and peace of God about 5 years ago, and here's what she shared with me: "Eddie, I went back to my old time Christian Church again. I enjoyed your teachings on grace, but like an addict looking for a fix, I just had to have fellowship with people. I've reached a point in my life that I really don't care who is preaching the truth. I just couldn't deal with loneliness anymore. There is no stopping religion. People are going to believe whatever it is that they want to believe regardless of the truth."

"I just want to be part of something and others. It may sound crazy, but the way I see it, the whole religious world is crazy. I am happy where I am, regardless of whether or not they are right in their teachings or wrong. Sorry if I have disappointed you "Eddie," but this is how I feel about the whole religious situation and at the end of my life, be it by grace or works, I know I'll be with God just like the rest of the people who serve other beliefs and other religions."

I can't say that I blame "Annie" for her decision and choice. I guess that after 30 years of being raised and being part of many Evangelical religious doctrines and church groups, "Annie" just had enough and decided to stay where she feels happy and comfortable. This "Mad, Mad, Religious World" can drive one up the wall. Take me for instance. I was asked to leave one church because I had recommended a single woman who had been divorced to my pastor for counseling because she was having problems with sexual urges and didn't want to sin. The pastor decided to pay her a visit at her home, and give her biblical advice.

A week later, the woman called me and told me that she felt total humiliation and embarrassment when the Pastor quoted her a few passages out the "Song of Solomon" and the book of "Proverbs" teaching how a woman can satisfy her own self by caressing her breasts, and other parts of her body, in order to avoid falling into the sin of a sexual adultery with another man outside of marriage. The Pastor, who did not bring his wife along with him, even offered to show her how to do it. When I confronted the Pastor on the situation, he immediately began to rebuke me with anger, denied the whole thing, and asked me to leave the church.

"Its a "Mad, Mad, Religious World." I then joined another charismatic Pentecostal religious church, and after being asked to teach Sunday School, three years later I questioned the Pastor on some biblical texts that he had used in his morning Sunday sermon, and he said to me: "You know Eddie, you ask too many questions and some people have told me that you don't agree with some of the things I teach. It would be nice if you find another place to worship if you aren't happy here." In other words, I got the right foot of fellowship. Anyway, word got around, and I soon found out that pastors of local churches had communicated with each other, and where told to look out for me.

Is a "Mad, Mad, Religious World." So I decided to take the Gospel, perverted that is, to the streets, kept preaching on City Buses and a few years later I visited another growing charismatic church, and the Pastor soon found out about me and never wanted to use me in any capacity of ministry work. I then left, and went on to doing what I was doing. Then I got involved with another large ministry, and was given the opportunity to counsel, minister and teach God's word. For a few years there I was being invited to speak, became the local (loco-crazy) Pastor of a Church, and it looked like things were finally looking up for me.

I had a "Jimmy Swaggart" style of preaching before young "Jimmy" was caught with his pants down. Then things weren't making too much sense to me when I found myself preaching and teaching with a bunch of well known preachers, teachers and evangelist's who all had different doctrines, beliefs, so called gifts, reputations, and you name it. I began to ask questions and take notice of all the confusion and contradiction that was being preached, as I shared with all of you in the very first paragraph of this article. Then I heard the Gospel of God's grace teaching. I then began to study the bible and all of a sudden truth began to sprung up in me.

The "Mad, Mad, Religious World" that I had been doubtful about and questioning, was as crazy as I had thought all along. Well, I want all of you to know that shortly after this eye opener of God's grace, and wonderful revelation of God's peace, I was asked once again to leave yet another religious group that had given me platform to preach alongside the religious elite. They no longer need my services because I began to question, oppose and challenge their doctrines, their leaders and many people in their organization were beginning to listen more to my newly found Gospel of Grace message than to their "Mad, Mad, Religious World" of confusion.

So here I find myself today. Having a blast. Enjoying life. Reaching people with the true Gospel of God's grace and thanking God for showing me the way out of a "Mad, Mad, Religious World." Some say that I am the one that has gone "Mad," but if there be one thing that I am "Mad" about, is this wonderful life changing, life transforming, Gospel truth and freedom of God's grace. It may not happen during my life time, but there will come a time when this Gospel of the Grace of God will soon replace the "Mad, Mad, World of religion" with a "Sound, Sound World of The Message of God's Grace and Peace." All thanks to Jesus! I am free from the "Mad, Mad Religious World" and I hope to see many others come to the same freedom.

Grace N Peace

Eddie Narvaez