(2) RELIGION ? – OR – NOTHING ?

Part Two—The Boat/The Swamp

If your religion was gone . . .

If your ‘name brand’ religion was gone . . .

If your religion crashed today . . .

If your religion already crashed on the rocks in the storms of your life . . .

If your church denomination crashed . . .

If the perfectly designed cruise ship (theologically ‘sound’) with all the finest, complex furnishings (of theology) of your church denomination—if that ship and everything it held securely—if that ship and everything in it sank in the swamp (you didn’t know you were in a swamp, safe on your cruise) and was gone, . . .

If the ‘modest’ boat (simple theology) of your non-denomination with its avoidance of the complex cruise luxuries (complicated theology) of denominations—if that boat was in a swamp (surprise) and got swamped, and was gone, . . .

If the BIGGEST, OLDEST, MOST LUXURIOUS cruise ship in the world (passengers literally ‘sold’ on theology forever), offering every amenity and trinkets for souvenirs (and salvation) that money can buy, with detailed ‘activities’ (rituals) for everyone (tight ship participation essential part of ticket price), guaranteed safe passage like the Titanic—if your CATHOLICISM CRUISE is actually in a swamp and gets swamped, and is gone, . . .

THEN,

You only have a life raft.
The life raft is strong.
It is the Bible.
Just the Bible is left.
NOW that the Bible is all you have—
You read it.
The Bible is all you need.
The Bible tells you all you need to know.
The Bible tells you all you need to understand.
The Bible tells you all you need—to tell someone else all they need.
The Bible tells you all you need—to tell someone else that they need Jesus.
– – –
The religion way to heaven ?
X – Beautiful religious BOAT ?
X – Best cruise money can buy ?
X – Best theology money can buy ?
X – What a way to go ?

RELIGION – – – NOTHING !

THE BIBLE – – – EVERYTHING !

(1) RELIGION ? – OR – NOTHING ?

Part One—The Tablecloth/The Crash

If your religion was gone . . .

If your ‘name brand’ religion was gone . . .

If your religion crashed today . . .

If your religion already crashed on the rocks in the storms of your life . . .

If your church denomination crashed . . .

If the perfectly designed tablecloth (symbolic theology), with all the complex, perfectly arranged table settings (of theology) of your church denomination—if that tablecloth and everything it held securely–if that was yanked off the table and gone, . . .

If the tablecloth of your non-denomination with its avoidance of the complex theological table settings of denominations—if all that was yanked off the table and gone, . . .

If the PERFECTLY EMBROIDERED TABLECLOTH (literal and otherwise) with all the powerful, complex, PERFECTLY ARRANGED TABLE SETTINGS (literal and ritual) of your Catholicism—if all that, held so securely and worshiped so sincerely—if all that was yanked off the table and gone, . . .
– – –
If all that religion (on the table) you have depended on gets gone, . . .

THEN,

Just the table is left.
The table is solid.
It is the Bible.
Just the Bible is left.
NOW that the Bible is all you have—
You read it.
The Bible is all you need.
The Bible tells you all you need to know.
The Bible tells you all you need to understand.
The Bible tells you all you need—to tell someone else all they need.
The Bible tells you all you need—to tell someone else that they need Jesus.
– – –
The religion way to heaven ?
X – Fine church ‘dining’ ?
X – Immaculate theology ?
X – Beautiful religious arrangement ?
X – Perfect spread ?

RELIGION – – – NOTHING !

THE BIBLE – – – EVERYTHING !