Its not about the religion

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Matthew 15.11 observes it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.

Which is easier, not to smoke or drink alcohol or not to think or speak evil of others?

Regrettably religion has had the propensity to focus on the former rather than the latter.

When God lived with us in Jesus He made clear that what we eat or drink means little but what we say means a great deal for our words reveal our hearts and whether they are pure or corrupt.

While the Bible has always condemned drunkenness it has never condemned alcohol. The first covenant God made with people condemned murder but the second covenant condemns speaking evil of others.

All of us have thought and spoken words against other people, thus all of us are guilty of violating God’s commands and so all of us are in need of forgiveness. Jesus is willing to forgive all of us if we will humbly ask Him to do so.

The important focus for those of us wishing to please God is not to be concerned with external rules and regulations that have nothing to do with the condition of our hearts.

God is focusing on our thoughts, feelings and motivations – it is these things He will judge and these things He wishes to heal for all of us have broken hearts. Jesus observed that when we get the inside right the outside will take care of itself.

Religion is an external reflection of an internal relationship.

The Christian, like God, should focus on the relationship and not the religion both in judging self and others.

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