Surrender?

Beware of Old Hymn References and Religious Clichés that can put you on the wrong track. Let's take "I Surrender All" as an example...

"Worldly pleasures all forsaken"... What does that even mean???... 
Good food? Good drink? Good sex? Good vacations? Family fun? Good sports? Good hobbies? A nice House? A nice Car? Having Fun with your Dog? Enjoying the warmth of the Sun on your skin? Laughter with Friends?

Should we really "Surrender All"? Did we lose a fight with a Divine Enemy or did we gain everything that pertains to Life and Godliness through Christ? Hasn't He given us all things to ENJOY within the context of His Loving Instructions and the guidance of His indwelling Spirit?

If we're talking about the Hedonistic perversion, misuse and abuse of physically enjoyable, God-given things and greed...then YES, by all means, grab hold of the GENUINE and ditch the cheap counterfeits.

If we're talking about following a Platonistic philosophy where everything in the visible realm is dirty...and cleanliness is found only in the spirit realm, then we're way off track and missing the point of God's GOOD creation and the beauty of mankind...created in the Image and Likeness of God! It is no wonder that Platonistic minded Christians believe in the absolute destruction of a dirty planet, and want to spend eternity as disembodied spirits in a faraway place!

Walking in the Spirit of Him (LOVE) Who gave us ALL His ALL is the key to living Life to the fullest. All that is His is ours...and all that is ours is His! We were born to enjoy receiving as much as giving, socializing as much as meditation, and earth as much as heaven.

That mindset will take you places where fleshly vows, resolutions, false humility, conjured up "holiness", and self-torture...in the name of "Surrender" can't!
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Blessings!
~Joe