Renouncing the Religious Spirit

Jesus Is Alive: The Eucharist and the De-Museumification of Jesus

What if the way you learned about Jesus made him feel like a painting on a wall — something beautiful to admire from a distance, but not alive, not present, not *now*? That's what growing up Reformed-Presbyterian looked like for me. I knew my TULIP. I could explain cessationism. But I couldn't explain why communion felt like it meant something more — or why I kept waiting for a God who seemed to have stopped speaking. Everything changed in a cathedral in Orvieto, Italy. In this teaching from John 6:51-58, I trace my journey from a hard-core Calvinist upbringing through the feast of Corpus Christi, the medieval art of Luca Signorelli, and a stunning realization: the Eucharist is not a religious tradition. It's an encounter with the living Jesus — the one seated on the throne, who is coming again. **In this teaching you'll discover:** - What "de-museumification" means and why so many Christians have a museumified Jesus - The history of the Corpus Christi miracle and why an entire Italian town was built around it - How Signorelli's frescoes in the Orvieto Duomo connect the broken body of Jesus, the martyrs, and the resurrection - Why the Cathar heresy (denial of both the Eucharist and the Resurrection) still echoes in modern Christianity - How the doctrine of cessationism developed as a *reaction* to Catholic theology — and what was lost - What John 6 means when Jesus says "my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed" - Why the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit, and the return of Jesus are inseparably linked We can't go back to the past. Christendom is dead. But Christ is not. 📖 Scripture: John 6:51-58 | 1 Corinthians 11:26 | Joel 2:28-29 --- ### For Artists Especially This teaching began in an art history class. The paintings that broke open my theology weren't in a museum — they were in a chapel, made to be *lived with*, not just viewed. That's the difference between a museumified Jesus and a living one. If you're a creative person wrestling with whether your art and your faith belong together, this is for you. Belonging House believes that art, food, and story define a culture — and that how we practice communion shapes what kind of people we become. --- ### About Belonging House International Belonging House International is a fellowship of Christian artists and creative people called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. We are here to help you grow and thrive as a Christian artist, develop in your relationship with God, experience transformation, and discover the change you can make in the world. Our videos and teachings are designed to transform your spiritual life — because your inner life determines your creative output. *Fear not. God can be trusted.* --- ### Connect & Learn More 🌐 Website: https://belonging.house 📬 Friday Email: https://belonging-house.kit.com/06983bab0b 🤝 Artist Community (Mighty Network): https://belonging-house.mn.co ☕ Support: https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or https://buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto

Pentecost: The Tower of Babel vs. The Holy Spirit

What if the deepest spiritual resistance comes not from evil, but from our own ability? In this teaching on Pentecost, we explore three ancient rebellions—Eden, the hybrid race, and the Tower of Babel—and uncover why humans are always tempted to build in their own strength instead of surrendering to God's power. Pentecost isn't just about speaking in tongues or a moment in Acts. It's about the redemption of the nations and the restoration of humanity as the Image of God. Fifty days after the Exodus, God descended on Mount Sinai in fire and wind. Fifty days after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended on 120 believers in the upper room. They became "little Mount Sinais"—living temples where God's presence burned within them.

The Ascension of Jesus was not the end, it's the Point.

Jesus ascended not to get out of here, but to fully accomplish his mission. His ascension into heaven is just as important as taking on flesh, dying on the cross, and rising from the tomb. Belonging House International is a fellowship of Christian artists and creative people who are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. We are here to help you grow and thrive as a Christian artist, develop in your relationship with God, experience transformation, and discover the change you can make in the world. Our videos and teaching are designed to transform your spiritual life. Your inner life determines your creative output. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://belonging-house.kit.com/06983bab0b You can find out more at https://belonging.house [https://belonging.house/] Fear not God can be trusted. #artists #Christian artists #thriving #discipleship #Jesus #Bible #creatives #creativity #healing #spiritual healing #prayer

Renouncing the Religious Spirit

I have crafted a prayer for the renunciation of the religious spirit. Father, I believe that Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, and that he took on the flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary. By his death and resurrection, I have been given the power to become a child of God. And I can only be a child by the power of the Holy Spirit in me. I renounce the lie that I have to do things to remain a child of God. I renounce the lie that I have to do things to make you come to me. And I renounce the lie that my works or activities, my knowledge or expertise will cause you to do things. I renounce the lie that I have to do things to shift the spiritual atmosphere, or have power over people, places, or things. Only you have this power, and I submit to your work in my life. I renounce the lie that my activities, my church membership, my political party, or my theology make me a better person than others. I know that this attitude puts me under the law of sin and death and blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for coming into agreement with the prevailing religious culture in the United States. I am guilty of the worst of all sins, Pride and all the works that flow from it. I acknowledge that the belief in my own activity opens me up to a curse, and that I am bewitched. I have allowed witchcraft to operate in my life. Forgive me for any way I have touched your glory. Father forgive me, have mercy on me a sinner. I am powerless and helpless to be a Christian in my own strength, and all my "righteousness" is a filthy rag. I am no different than the woman caught in adultery, and I ask you to forgive me that I may go and sin no more. Now I renounce the religious spirit, and any agreements I have made with pride, immorality, or witchcraft. They have to leave me now and go to Jesus. Open my eyes to see every way I have come to agree with this spiritual power and help me walk differently in the future. Help me walk softly before you. I thank you Lord, that Jesus Christ became a curse for me on the cross so that I can enter into the blessing of Abraham. I break the religious curse operating in my life and ask you to release the blessing over me. I now break the power of witchcraft and close the open door witchcraft has in my life. Thank you Lord that it is for freedom that Christ has set me free. Jesus, you promised that you would not leave me an orphan. I ask you now to release the Holy Spirit in me and unblock the flow of life and healing so that I can walk in love and know the presence of the Father in me. Amen. Belonging House International is a fellowship of Christian artists and creative people who are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. We are here to help you grow and thrive as a Christian artist, develop in your relationship with God, experience transformation, and discover the change you can make in the world. Our videos and teaching are designed to transform your spiritual life. Your inner life determines your creative output. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com [https://christjohnotto.substack.com/] You can find out more at https://belonging.house [https://belonging.house/] Fear not God can be trusted. #artists #Christian artists #thriving #discipleship #Jesus #Bible #creatives #creativity #healing #spiritual healing #prayer

The Greater Work of Letting Go

In John 14 Jesus tells us that we will do the greater works. How this happens is described in Acts, when God chooses seven men full of the Holy Spirit to become deacons. Belonging House International is a fellowship of Christian artists and creative people who are called to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth. We are here to help you grow and thrive as a Christian artist, develop in your relationship with God, experience transformation, and discover the change you can make in the world. Our videos and teaching are designed to transform your spiritual life. Your inner life determines your creative output. You can support Belonging House at https://belonginghouse.betterworld.org or buymeacoffee.com/christjohnotto. We have a Mighty Network for artists and creative people who are committed to a lifestyle of discipleship: https://belonging-house.mn.co You can get our Friday email at https://christjohnotto.substack.com [https://christjohnotto.substack.com/] You can find out more at https://belonging.house [https://belonging.house/] Fear not God can be trusted. #artists #Christian artists #thriving #discipleship #Jesus #Bible #creatives #creativity #healing #spiritual healing #prayer