No Religion, Too

A kerfuffle over Cee Lo Green (no, I had never heard of him before) singing John Lennon's "Imagine" became MSNBC news because Cee Lo changed three words in one line (MSNBC eventually removed the article, so I had to remove the link to it):

Instead of singing "Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too," Green instead sang, "Nothing to kill or die for, and all religion’s true."

Green was also criticized for his display of wealth:

He was also criticized by some for singing the song, which includes the lyrics "imagine no posessions" [sic] and "no need for greed or hunger" while dressed in a full-length fur coat and jewels.

If wealthy possessions were to delete the message, it never would have rolled off Lennon’s pen. (And, if the editor had done what he is paid to do, I would not have to add [sic] !)

Later in the article, the song is described as "an enduring hymn of solace and promise," but I find no promise in this song, especially when the end result would require that my religious belief had to cease.  Lennon penned a desire that I (along with billions of others in the world) would give up believing in God.

I see no promise in this song.  It is based on a frame of mind – and our minds are all different.  Lennon saw promise in a lack of possessions – yet he possessed millions.  He did not live as he imagined.

I see promise elsewhere, and accept it:

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13 KJV)

That promise came from God, to those who obey the will of God.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35-36 KJV)

Peter wrote of the promise, too:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

But, I like John’s even better:

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (1 John 2:25 KJV)

Trade that for John Lennon’s imagination?