God First

( Storytime )

He says his top priority now is God first. But I wonder who he prays to.

This man I know pours almost 98% of his time and attention each day into reading the Scriptures, doing his so-called religious obligations, and proudly announcing how a reformed man he has been. He stresses that he has chosen to serve God first, and the rest comes second to him. That includes his family, relatives, friends, and other obligations. Ideal, supposedly, but only as a front.

The Irony

One morning, he and his wife got into a heated argument, which blew out of proportion. He called his wife names, gaslighted her, humiliated her, and even insulted her faith. A showcase of disrespect was what he gave his wife to the point of almost hitting her; a showcase of total disrespect, not love.

This so-called godly man acted the opposite of what he called himself to be. He carelessly lied about past and present issues and the things he was supposed to fix himself. And instead of taking accountability, he placed all the blame on his wife. As each day goes by, instead of showing affection, concern, and care for his wife, he selfishly does the things he does, including vices and lack of time, with no regard for his wife’s feelings. Hence, he lost the ability to be emotionally available and connected to his wife and understand the pain he caused her.

Ironically, this man boasts about his faith and how it redeemed him. However, his so-called faith blocked his vision in seeing the faults he made that broke their family. Instead of repairing the broken pieces, though, he made himself believe he was faultless. And as his church leaders declare, he perceives everyone not following his faith as worldly and faulty. For them, everyone is a sinner except those following their so-called faith.

My Take

It brings me to say..

No. Religion does NOT save you.
No. Religion does NOT cleanse you.
No. Religion is NEVER faultless.
No. Faith is NOT a word alone.
No. The Holy Bible is NOT a prop.