Prior to the arrival of Christianity, most religious beliefs were centred on appeasing the gods. Mortals are frequently portrayed as little more than the playthings of the gods. Gods can whisk them away from danger just as easily as they can throw them into it. There were no obvious reasons for the gods’ actions. People’s suffering was unimportant to these gods. Because the gods could, they bullied and frustrated us. With this backdrop, you can see why people were obsessed with finding “power.” Anything that might provide a sense of security and stability. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, changed all of that.
It’s easy to overlook the profound changes Jesus brought about in our relationship with the divine. The spiritual was feared before the time of Jesus. Then Jesus brought about a radical transformation. He revealed the Almighty God as a Father. The Father of all spirits. Nobody ever referred to God as Father in the Old Testament. Jesus taught us that love is greater than law. We no longer had to fear the divine; instead, each of us could now develop a personal relationship with God. You must stop viewing God as a vengeful, sadistic being who must be appeased.
You must renew your mind and reinforce the concept of God as your father. God loves you and desires the best for you. Rethink your relationship with God. John 1:12 (ESV) says, “but to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Stop thinking that your offerings and burnt sacrifices will appease your gods. Stop thinking like a forgiven sinner who now has to work hard to avoid going back to prison. Accept the central concept of Jesus’ gospel: you are a child of God.
