Permission

I was listening to a podcast about high demand churches.  In one church, you were not allowed to do certain things... no drinking, no dancing, no smoking, no coffee, no tea, etc.

The results of such prohibitions is that members of the church end up living false lives.  They go to church and pretend they agree with the rules, and then break them during the week.  This creates a painful sense of incongruence that is often accompanied by fits of guilt and shame.

I thank God that in the United Methodist Church, I have permission to be myself.

I believe that Jesus gave people permission to be themselves.

That is a very freeing thought.  True spirituality gives you the permission to be yourself.  It should not be any other way.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.