Religion cannot be made a mere appendage to life. It cannot be kept in
an outhouse like a motor bike, to be used when occasion calls. When God
comes into a life He comes to rule--and to rule everything. No doubt we
are all tempted to resent the surrender of self which is thus asked of
us. Instinctively we cry out for our own way. We want to manage our own
lives and to plan out our futures in such ways as will please us.
Because religion involves discipline and obedience, we are all apt to
turn away from it. We may have liked some of the emotions which are
associated with worship, and inspired by religious thoughts. But we
want to call no one Master--not even God. So long as that state lasts
no one will find religion a help in the battle with temptation. If we
faced the truth about ourselves many of us would find that what we
really want is to be allowed to live rather worldly and selfish lives
and then to be able to bring God in on occasion to save us from certain
particular sins which we loathe. But that cannot be.
In other words, the way of escape is to get one's whole life and one's
whole nature rightly related to God.
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