The Next Religious Frontier
The prophet Jeremiah prophesied about a time when man would no longer need sacred books in order to have a relationship with God for God would write His laws in our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-33) The prophecy was restated by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews to show that the prophecy was being fulfilled in the lives of the followers of Jesus. (Hebrews 8:10-11) In fact, God’s entire law was summed up in the two commands that arise from the heart: (1) to love God with our entire being; and (2) to love our neighbor as ourselves.
During Jesus’ ministry, he also explained that a time would come when man would no longer need religious edifices or be a part of chosen groups in order to have a relationship with God. Where a person worshipped, ‘in this mountain or that mountain,’ would not matter, for God would be looking for those who worship with spirit and truth. (John 4:21-24) To help us in that endeavor, Jesus sent a helper – the Spirit of Truth – to guide us into all truth. (John 16:13) We could learn information from all men, but we would be taught by the spirit. (1 John 2:27)
That phase of worship was opened to mankind in the 1st century, but we have been slow to accept it. It has been hard for man to believe that worship could be that simple – that we do not need to belong to a certain group; that we do not need to idolize sacred writings; that love for God and neighbor fulfills all divine laws; and that everything we need to learn would be taught by the spirit. But as mankind awakens to their true identity and accepts the offer of spiritual adoption, they will be the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy.
The next religious frontier will consist of dignified men and women who know who they are, and who know where they are going. They will not be stifled and controlled by antiquated religious systems nor be bound and enslaved to long debunked superstition and error. They will finally learn religious self-governance of their own affairs without trampling on the rights of others. They will be a fearless people who are on an exciting quest for truth and understanding of their world and the universe using all tools available, whether it be in science or philosophy, without abandoning sound theology.
There is an abidingly beautiful resting place for all who seek refuge from the bitter winters of confusion now dominating the religious scene. The faiths sons of God are at the forefront of this exciting future. Recognizing our sonship with God makes it all possible.
This is the reason why we repeatedly emphasize the importance of sonship with God. Sonship is the foundation and starting point for all that true religion seeks to achieve. And it will happen as Jesus prophesied – as soon as the good news of sonship in the kingdom of the heavens is preached in all the inhabited earth, the end to sorrow, suffering, ignorance, poverty, and injustice of all kind will come. (Matthew 24:14)
We hope all who want to share in the glorious future of the sons of God will openly demonstrate their union with Christ by reenacting the Memorial or Remembrance Supper as often as they come together until we are able to have this meal with Christ in the kingdom of the heavens. (Matthew 26:29)
