The reason used most often for not "being religious", is people want freedom from a bunch of rules, people telling them how to live their life. They want to do what they want, when they want, with whoever they want. And they don't want anybody to tell them they're wrong. They want "freedom".

What could be wrong with that?

Obviously, the person who says that feels that way about religion. The things they want the freedom to do are things that religious people "aren't allowed to do". So when you break it all down, they want the freedom to SIN.

Why do religious people hate sin? Because God said not to? How did God decide what was sin and what wasn't? To take away our fun?

God never intended to give us a long list of "fun" things that we are not allowed to do. He never made up rules so we can't have fun. So what makes a sin against The Law?

Sin is something that causes pain, that destroys lives. God doesn't want us to sin because of the bad things that happen.

Pick a sin. In some way, it hurts or destroys your life or someone else's. That is where God draws the line.

If you have read The Opponent already, you know sin starts out very small. "One drink after work hurt, all the guys will be there", "one trip to the casino, that's not a big deal", "just a joint now and then, that doesn't turn you into a druggie", "we're just friends, we just talk about things", "this one little time, it aint hurting anybody and nobody will find out", "everyone else is doing it, and they're all right"

Yet when you talk to an alcoholic, a drug addict, a problem gambler, a marital cheater, anyone addicted to something bad, they will tell you it all started out very small. They never saw it coming. This is how Satan grabs you. Everybody knows somebody who has had an addiction that ruined their lives. "Addiction" is Satan using your weaknesses to tempt you. Any sin results in addiction.

Prov 5:22 The sins of the wicked are a trap. They get caught in the net of their own sin.

Prov 11:6 Evil people are trapped in their own sins while honest people are happy and free

An addict isn't free, he's a prisoner of whatever he's addicted to. The porn addict is a prisoner of pornography. The alcoholic is a prisoner of drinking. They can't walk away. They're caught in the net of their own sin.

"But it won't happen to me, I can control myself." That's what almost every addict says.

So obviously, to experience TRUE FREEDOM, you cannot be imprisoned by a sin. You cannot crave a sin. If you do, it is in control of you.

True Freedom comes from being able to walk away from sin's traps. To be dead to sin. We don't need that junk anymore. "How can you be happy without sin?" Compare the excitement of a Bible believing and following church to the depression and loneliness of a group of addicts, or a broken family torn apart by someone's sin, a funeral of a life ended too soon. Satan doesn't want you to see this when he tempts you, you won't buy into anything if you see the bad side. "Oh come on, just a little bit won't hurt. Nobody will know...."

Rom 6:11  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 6:11-14 For sin will not have mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

True Freedom comes from being saved, and from making the change. True Freedom comes from having Jesus in the driver's seat. Freedom from addictions, broken families, financial problems, sicknesses, legal problems, hurting others, and all the other consequences of sin. That is true freedom!!!