Spiritual but not Religious?

Are people afraid of “organized religion” or are they just ignorant of it?

I am “Facebook friends” with a guy that is quite inspirational in his work and is doing great things as an entrepreneur and he is supporting some wonderful charities.

The other day he shared a list of good ideas on how we should live our lives. As I read the list of 11 ideas / commandments / recommendations / suggestions I found myself thinking “where I have heard this?”

Here they are along with what I believe to be the true source for each idea. Let go of grudges. (Ephesians 4:31 “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.”)

Forgive people. (Matthew 6:14 “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.”)

Release yourself from any negative emotions and energies that may exist within you. (Philippians 4:6 “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”)

You are beautifully designed to experience joy and happiness at all times. (Psalms 139: 14 “I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.” But I don’t think we were designed for happiness at all and I think the ultimate goal is joy, but not “at all times.” Was Edison happy or joyful when the thousands of lightbulb tests failed? Were the Wright brothers happy and joyful as they crashed plane after plane? Was Viktor Frankl happy and joyful in the Auschwitz concentration camp, where his wife, mother, and brother were killed? Sometimes, to find joy in our lives and to find meaning in our lives, we must endure great hardships. But I digress.

Life is designed to operate from love, not fear. (1 Corinthians 16: 14 “Your every act should be done with love.” and 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.”)

Negativity only exists within fear. (James 1:6 “But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.”)

Once you let go of fear and release any and all negative constraints on your life, you truly open your world and your heart to all the joy and happiness available to you. (Matthew 14:31 “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?””)

Love people for who they are and the path they are on. (Colossians 3:14 “And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.”)

Accept them unconditionally. (Mark 12:31 “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”)

Operate from love. (1 Corinthians 16:14 “Your every act should be done with love.”)

It’s much more useful. (1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.”)

We all need role models.

People we can look up to.

People we can access.

People that have a similar background to us and people who have overcome challenges similar to us. (It’s why the Catholic Church has so many saints.)

So by all means have earthly coaches and mentors and accountability partners and mastermind groups to help you grow.

Just keep in mind the true source of all power, wisdom, knowledge, and courage.

If you’re wondering who that might be, just ask.

Now go sell something.