Danger Points # 1

#1 · June 9, 2002, 6:43 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on June 9, 2002, 6:43 pm
Posted by: abundant <abundant@...>

Danger Points # 1

Religion

We must all be careful not to fall into the trap of being “religious”. This is a nasty condition where the church or the person becomes engrossed with law and/or tradition and forgets about grace and mercy.

This trap seems so obvious, yet is so easily fell into. It starts easily, perhaps with a simple comment that takes root and grows. “You need to be baptized” becomes “you must be baptized” and then on to “You are not saved UNLESS you are baptized.”

Religion points to what man can or must do – Christianity glorifies God in all things.

Religion has done much damage to the Kingdom of God. False religions, religious wars and deceptive religious leaders are a blight in Christianity across the globe. We must be watchful for signs of this disease in our church and in our Christian life.

Jesus spoke words of warning against religion often.

Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.         So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced.” (NLT)

Luke 12:1-3 “Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and crushing each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees-- beware of their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public.   Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” (NLT)

Jesus described those bound by religion and he teaching of their religion as destroyers,

Hypocrites and unfruitful.   He also told us to watch out for them.

Paul also spoke often against the religious leaders of his day. Paul had a in-depth understanding of religious fervor and judgementalism. He was a religious zealot.

Galatians 1:11-16 “Dear brothers and sisters, I solemnly assure you that the Good News of salvation which I preach is not based on mere human reasoning or logic. For my message came by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ himself. No one else taught me. You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion-- how I violently persecuted the Christians. I did my best to get rid of them. I was one of the most religious Jews of my own age, and I tried as hard as possible to follow all the old traditions of my religion. But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else; “ (NLT)

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul had some strong labels to put on religious leaders:

Conceited                                 Ignorant                        Argumentative

Trouble makers                        Corrupt                        Greedy

1 Timothy 6:3-8 “Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life. Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich. Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (NLT)

In his letter the church at Philippi, Paul said they were mutilators and wicked.

Philippians 3:2-3 “Watch out for those dogs, those wicked men and their evil deeds, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship God in the Spirit are the only ones who are truly circumcised. We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us.” (NLT)

James had a few words about the trouble of being religious as well.

James 1:26-27 “If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” (NLT)

What is the key to all this? The Great Commandment – Love. Love God with everything He gave you and love your neighbor as yourself- Jesus said to hang every other law and prophecy on these two principles.    These are the foundation for everything the Christian, the church and our lives should be about.

Jesus Christ is our Chief Cornerstone and our goal should be to be the presence of Christ in this dark and dying world that so desperately needs Him. Let everything you do be done to His glory and honor. Serve the King as He commands you to and no for any other reason.

Develop a true and personal relationship with Him. This is vitally important. You must know Him to know it is Him who is calling you.

Seek Him above all things
Keep Jesus the main thing in your life – THE most important aspect
Through prayer, His Word and your church learn about Him

Look for His guiding work in your life and in your church.

Pray
Believe
Look for His answers

When you see His Will for your life – respond

Trust Him
Obey Him
Glorify Him

Become a faithful follower of Christ – not a man, a institution or a concept

Know Him best by experience as you follow and obey him and see His grand work accomplished through you and your church
If a task glorifies man over God be sure that it is not of God
If a task is more than you can do and you will require divine intervention to get it done, God will be glorified and His Kingdom expanded then be faithful to that work and vision until God moves you somewhere else.

Religion divides, corrupts and destroys – Jesus Christ unites, restores and sanctifies.

Posted by: abundant <abundant@...>

Danger Points # 1

Religion

We must all be careful not to fall into the trap of being “religious”. This is a nasty condition where the church or the person becomes engrossed with law and/or tradition and forgets about grace and mercy.

This trap seems so obvious, yet is so easily fell into. It starts easily, perhaps with a simple comment that takes root and grows. “You need to be baptized” becomes “you must be baptized” and then on to “You are not saved UNLESS you are baptized.”

Religion points to what man can or must do – Christianity glorifies God in all things.

Religion has done much damage to the Kingdom of God. False religions, religious wars and deceptive religious leaders are a blight in Christianity across the globe. We must be watchful for signs of this disease in our church and in our Christian life.

Jesus spoke words of warning against religion often.

Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep, but are really wolves that will tear you apart. You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You don't pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles. A healthy tree produces good fruit, and an unhealthy tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced.” (NLT)

Luke 12:1-3 “Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and crushing each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees-- beware of their hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” (NLT)

Jesus described those bound by religion and he teaching of their religion as destroyers,

Hypocrites and unfruitful. He also told us to watch out for them.

Paul also spoke often against the religious leaders of his day. Paul had a in-depth understanding of religious fervor and judgementalism. He was a religious zealot.

Galatians 1:11-16 “Dear brothers and sisters, I solemnly assure you that the Good News of salvation which I preach is not based on mere human reasoning or logic. For my message came by a direct revelation from Jesus Christ himself. No one else taught me. You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion-- how I violently persecuted the Christians. I did my best to get rid of them. I was one of the most religious Jews of my own age, and I tried as hard as possible to follow all the old traditions of my religion. But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else; “ (NLT)

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul had some strong labels to put on religious leaders:

Conceited Ignorant Argumentative

Trouble makers Corrupt Greedy

1 Timothy 6:3-8 “Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life. Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, fighting, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they don't tell the truth. To them religion is just a way to get rich. Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (NLT)

In his letter the church at Philippi, Paul said they were mutilators and wicked.

Philippians 3:2-3 “Watch out for those dogs, those wicked men and their evil deeds, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship God in the Spirit are the only ones who are truly circumcised. We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us.” (NLT)

James had a few words about the trouble of being religious as well.

James 1:26-27 “If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” (NLT)

What is the key to all this? The Great Commandment – Love. Love God with everything He gave you and love your neighbor as yourself- Jesus said to hang every other law and prophecy on these two principles. These are the foundation for everything the Christian, the church and our lives should be about.

Jesus Christ is our Chief Cornerstone and our goal should be to be the presence of Christ in this dark and dying world that so desperately needs Him. Let everything you do be done to His glory and honor. Serve the King as He commands you to and no for any other reason.

Develop a true and personal relationship with Him. This is vitally important. You must know Him to know it is Him who is calling you.
1. Seek Him above all things
2. Keep Jesus the main thing in your life – THE most important aspect
3. Through prayer, His Word and your church learn about Him
Look for His guiding work in your life and in your church.
1. Pray
2. Believe
3. Look for His answers
When you see His Will for your life – respond
1. Trust Him
2. Obey Him
3. Glorify Him
Become a faithful follower of Christ – not a man, a institution or a concept
1. Know Him best by experience as you follow and obey him and see His grand work accomplished through you and your church
2. If a task glorifies man over God be sure that it is not of God
3. If a task is more than you can do and you will require divine intervention to get it done, God will be glorified and His Kingdom expanded then be faithful to that work and vision until God moves you somewhere else.

Religion divides, corrupts and destroys – Jesus Christ unites, restores and sanctifies.