PERIOD

What is religion? Dictionary.com gives the definition: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects. This definition insists that any set of beliefs and practices agreed on by a group of people, whether truthful or not, constitutes a religion. In this sense, yes, there are many religions, more than can really be accounted for. The way I see it, there is only one true doctrine. I want to make it known that I don’t despise, hate, or condemn all people who believe otherwise or practice different things. That is not my place or character to do such a thing. I just know in my heart and by visible signs and personal experiences that this doctrine is true.
Human beings were engineered to worship, revere, and praise. This is why most of us seek spirituality through various practices, looking for something to fill that void we are created to have and to satisfy the desire to know the unknown. In most cases, we fill this void with tangible things like money, men/women, cars, clothes, and people; also with intangible things such as love, lust, addictions, and etc. All these things are easily carried by the wind and are never permanent. So we find ourselves constantly on a search for substance but can never find it. Some people, however, have found substance. I’ve found my substance in God. The higher power that created me with this void, has filled it, creating such a peace that is indescribable.
I believe the scriptures saying that there is One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism and that no man’s unbelief could make God’s word a lie. There was a point in time where every individual in the world knew that the earth was flat. Their belief did not reshape the earth and it continued to remain in its created state. The population then discovered the truth of its form. I know many people have trouble believing that the bible is true because of a scholarly view that the bible was inspired and created by men. There are many prophecies in the bible that are impossible for man to have inspired. In Matthew chapter 24 the disciples asked Jesus, “What shall be the sign of thy coming”. Among other things, Jesus describes that there will be earthquakes in divers places. Over the past few years there has been an increase in devastating and deadly earthquakes in places such as Chile, China, Haiti and others that have occurred recently. In Mark, chapter 16, it says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues”. I was at a youth retreat and while everyone was praising God, I couldn’t help but notice something strange. She was pacing and violently jerking her head forward and her face looked angry. Her voice was deeper than normal and, like all of us, she was speaking in a different language, but the sound and tone she was speaking in sounded evil. Not too long after, minister after minister came surrounding her to cast out the spirit that possessed her. They succeeded. On this same retreat, in that same day, one of the brothers dislocated his shoulder playing basketball. Obviously he was in great pain and his arm lost function and mobility. That night, during high praise, his arm came out of the sling and lifted in the air, accompanying his other arm in praising God. He testified that God told him to lift up his hands. After obeying God’s instruction, his shoulder was completely healed. And for the most exciting and inexpressible truth, speaking in another, God given, language, which is a sign that confirms that we have His seal of salvation. I will not describe how God performs this because I don’t believe that you will understand. Just know that I, along with many others, share this experience that was initially witnessed in the first church on the day of Pentecost described in the book of Acts.
Christianity isn’t about “religion” or tradition. It is a life style of a people who place God in the forefront: loving Him, striving to be sanctified and righteous by obeying His word, and being watchful of His coming. That is the goal, proving our faith through obedience in order to make it into heaven. Thus, I know this doctrine is real even just on the basis of my own experiences. The words are lifting off of each page and are present in our world today. For a society who wants to have proof, here it is. The saying goes, I’d rather live a life in Christ, die, and find out there is no God, than to life a life without God, die, and find out that God does exist.

- Cairesse Grimes