Once upon a time, there was a man that went about his life bitter at the world and most everyone in it. Life simply wasn't going like he had expected it. He didn't begin life that way though. In his youth, things were different. Life then was filled with lots of friends, great hopes and high expectation of that which was to come. After high school there would be college and everything that went with that. Then perhaps a wife and kids, a house with a white picket fence, vacations in Florida and living happily ever after. Little to say, plans deviated from the original intent. Leaving college without anything to show for it and no family became the reality. A life of pleasure seeking, addictions and the resulting guilt was the end product. Loneliness and emptiness emanated from the deep seeded guilt that constantly accused his conscience. The never ending misery effectively drove him to a realization that something had to change. The mundane life of work, and after some alcohol to drown the sorrows, wasn't cutting it.
The man found himself driving by the many church buildings and wonder if there might be relief to be found inside. The man needed peace in his soul but how to find it he didn't know. Long endless nights were spent with his head on his pillow, desperately thinking of something to do to alleviate the never ending guilt and the consciousness of death and the judgment to follow. Thoughts began to mount of who God was and what he required. As he would drive down the lonely roads, men on the radio station kept telling him that there was a certain doctor that could help him. The name they gave was Dr. Religion. This doctor had much experience dealing with guilty sinners, they claimed. Rumour had it, this doctor just makes everyone feel all good inside. That sounded really good to the man. His family doctor was named Dr. Law and he wanted absolutely nothing to do with that man. Dr. Law just kept telling him he needed a major operation and he wasn't having any of that. He didn't need some huge operation, he simply needed a shot of something to ease this guilt.
So he drove down to the nearest building with a steeple where apparently Dr. Religion resided, and told him his problems. "Oh", said Dr. Religion, "This happens all the time. We have just the cure for guilty sinners. Just repeat this prayer and after, sign here and here, then fill out this church membership card."
"That's all there is to it?", the man replied with incredulity.
"Oh no", Dr. Religion said, "We have a very complex regiment you must follow. First, you must come back here every Sunday and Wednesday to get your shot. Sunday is a double dose. Next, read over this long list of rules and things for you to do to please God, and after a month of baptism classes we can get you right in the water to seal the deal".
Well that sounded alright to the man and he left feeling much better. There did seem to be a lot to do to please this god of religion, but whatever it took to ease this guilt and escape the fires of hell.
Week after week he went back for another shot from Dr. Religion. He would have highs and lows throughout the week, but after a session with the nice doctor, he would feel better. He was instructed to really read his bible, pray all the time and work on trying to forgive himself. Every week the doctor would really emphasize the need to get a broken and humble spirit, and never to forget to maintain good works to please God. As well Dr. Religion informed him that he could live his best life now and that the answer to all his problems was in himself. He just needed to love himself and know that God had a great life of wealth, health and prosperity in store for him.
At the end of the day the man would lie in bed wondering what it would be like to really know God. At the end of the day the emptiness of it all would still overwhelm him. He concluded that the shot that Dr. Religion was giving him wasn't truly satisfying. What he did in that building wasn't satisfying. That prayer he prayed asking Jesus into his heart, wasn't satisfying. That baptism into the pool wasn't satisfying. That church membership wasn't satisfying. What he needed was peace with God and he couldn't for the life of him figure out what to do! He did everything that Dr. Religion said to do but it wasn't enough!
Part 2 coming soon...
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