Free from the Prison of Religious Bondage

One evening I was standing in my college dorm room, having made the decision not to attend the church service of the denomination I’d been raised in; yet, I was still nervous and afraid. I’d been taught for many years that not going to church was a sin and that should I die before confessing my sin, I could end up spending eternity in a place I had no desire to be. I was taking a huge risk, but I had begun attending a fellowship where I was learning about the Bible and that the Word of God is the will of God. This was the truth I’d been longing to know.

I was the kid in religion class who always raised my hand to ask questions about God and about life. The answer I heard most often was, “You’ll just have to take it on faith.” When I left home, I was faithful to attend church—not because I found answers there, but because I feared what would happen if I didn’t. That evening in that room, I was not sure what would happen to me. Perhaps I would be struck by lightning or end up with some malady as a result of not attending church. Talk about religious bondage! I was in it—deep. But the time came when I should have been in church, and I was OK. I did not die or become ill. In fact, I felt as if a great weight had been lifted from my life.

Since that night that took place several decades ago, I have never stopped fellowshipping with The Way Ministry because it teaches truth. Because of the Word of God I have learned in The Way Ministry, I am free from the prison of religious bondage, I am free to live with joy and peace, I am free to claim the promises of God, and I am free to walk in the accomplishments of my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.