Did I get your attention? I will say it again, no religion please. So many people misunderstand Christianity. Some unbelievers think it is another religion full of rules and boredom. Some Christians think it's all about how much they serve in the church, how many Bible studies they're in, what kind of music they listen to or how much knowledge of the Bible they have. Neither of these opinions are right. Read on.
There's the non-church goer. He's made a few mistakes in his life and has heard things about God. He wants to try church out but he smokes, drinks, plays poker on Friday nights and lives with his girlfriend. He thinks that before anyone will accept him in a church he needs to stop doing those things... the "sinful" things. He may be right about one thing- but it isn't that he needs to change his lifestyle, before he enters the church. But people in the church may not accept him the way he is. The horrible part about scenario, it happens all the time. There are so many people who are condemned, not accepted, shunned, judged by the "Christians" in the church. What a shame. Until God opened my eyes in the last year to this, I too condemned others, which is even more pathetic because I used to be the smoking, drinking, living with my boyfriend, party girl- I know how it feels to be on the other side. But even now, as a believer, I need to watch who I judge. In 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 Paul writes, "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside." Even with those within the church, who call themselves followers of Jesus, should not be judged by someone who sees the "speck in someone else's eye but has a plank in their own." Matthew 7:1-5 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." By the word judge, God doesn't mean to form a negative opinion of someone based on your perspective. It means to hold your brother or sister accountable for their actions based on their profession of faith. If someone claims to follow Jesus, but lives in intentional sin, they need to be called out of their sin into repentance. The only way to be right with God is through faith in Jesus and repentance of sin. Anyone within a church who wouldn't accept the "outsider" is doing the opposite of what Jesus would do. And aren't we, by calling ourselves "Christians", people that are to follow His example? Why then, must we act foolish and evil by condemning the ones that Jesus came to love, serve and save. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this, Jesus said, ”For it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners." (Mark 2:17 NIV) Who are we to think we are better than the tax collectors and sinners? It is not us who saved ourselves, but Jesus who saved us- the same Jesus that wants to save the people we are so quick to reject. No wonder why this smoking, drinking, poker playing guy doesn't want to go to a church! The place that supposedly worships the Jesus he needs, tells him he's not wanted. What then does that tell the world about Christ? Definitely the wrong image of who He truly is! The reason the non-church goer assumes he needs to stop sinning before he will be accepted by Jesus is because of how the many "Christians" judge him. The reason the non-believer thinks Christianity is just another religion, is because of the rules "Christians" have placed on Christianity. Those rules did not come from Scripture. In fact, there are examples of Jesus admonishing the religious Pharisees, and scribes. Just in case you don't know, Pharisees were religious leaders and priests that were held in very high esteem by the common man. Scribes were professional interpreters of the Scriptures. Here are a couple examples:
Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single convert, and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started. 33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? "
Mark 7:1-13
1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and,‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thusmaking void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
These scribes and Pharisees are the same religious people who handed Jesus over to be crucified.
They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. (Mark 14:53-65)
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. (Mark 15:1)
Jesus wants a relationship with us. He doesn't want us to practice "good things" and worship Him in vain. He doesn't want us to go to church Sunday but show no love to people around us through out the week. The amount of hours you serve at your church, how often you share the gospel with people, the christian music you listen to, the hours you spend reading your Bible, the amount of answers right you got on a Bible quiz, makes Him love you no more or no less. It doesn't give you a ticket to heaven. It's not about how religious you are- as you can see by the examples given. It is not about the things YOU do. It is about what HE DID on the cross. The minute you think it's about you and what you do or how holy you are- you are totally mistaken- and unfortunately, that thinking does not lead to eternal life with Jesus in heaven. "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not on your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9). If you are feeling convicted, it is a good thing. That means the Holy Spirit is revealing your wrong thinking, so that it can be changed into right thinking. It took me years of hearing these things before I ever realized I was one of these people who tried to earn God's approval. I still fall into religious thinking sometimes, which is why it is so good to stay in Scripture to read truth. Even churches through their teaching- practice religion, religious traditions and condemnation to "sinners". We are all sinners by nature- it is by believing in Jesus that we can be free and seen as blameless in God's sight. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24) True Christianity is a faith and relationship with Jesus through grace and forgiveness. We should be showing grace and forgiveness to unbelievers, just like Jesus did. Jesus says, "For if you forgive the people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15) There are many people who live by good works and fail to have a personal relationship with Jesus. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you;depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)
How much does Jesus hate our religiousness? I think it's been clear. If you are still hesitant, I encourage you to study it some more! If you are feeling convicted of religiousness in your life- REPENT!
If you are the smoking, drinking, poker playing unbeliever, I want to you to know that Jesus loves you- the way you are. Jesus doesn't expect you to change your ways to start believing in Him, but He loves you too much, to let you continue down the path of destruction that leads to death. When you receive Christ as your Savior, He wants ALL of you. He wants to be Lord of every part of your life. He wants you to surrender every aspect of who you are to him- your family, your job, your hopes, your future. He will deliver you from sin and you will be made holy through His blood and resurrection. He will transform you from the inside out. Only by his grace can I say that He rescued me. It is a blessing and life is so much more fulfilling and has purpose when you have faith in Jesus. Read about My Transformation. If you would like to know more about following Jesus read Receiving Christ.
~Leanne~
Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single convert, and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started. 33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? "
Mark 7:1-13
1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and,‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thusmaking void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
These scribes and Pharisees are the same religious people who handed Jesus over to be crucified.
They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’” Yet even then their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. (Mark 14:53-65)
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. (Mark 15:1)
Jesus wants a relationship with us. He doesn't want us to practice "good things" and worship Him in vain. He doesn't want us to go to church Sunday but show no love to people around us through out the week. The amount of hours you serve at your church, how often you share the gospel with people, the christian music you listen to, the hours you spend reading your Bible, the amount of answers right you got on a Bible quiz, makes Him love you no more or no less. It doesn't give you a ticket to heaven. It's not about how religious you are- as you can see by the examples given. It is not about the things YOU do. It is about what HE DID on the cross. The minute you think it's about you and what you do or how holy you are- you are totally mistaken- and unfortunately, that thinking does not lead to eternal life with Jesus in heaven. "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not on your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9). If you are feeling convicted, it is a good thing. That means the Holy Spirit is revealing your wrong thinking, so that it can be changed into right thinking. It took me years of hearing these things before I ever realized I was one of these people who tried to earn God's approval. I still fall into religious thinking sometimes, which is why it is so good to stay in Scripture to read truth. Even churches through their teaching- practice religion, religious traditions and condemnation to "sinners". We are all sinners by nature- it is by believing in Jesus that we can be free and seen as blameless in God's sight. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23-24) True Christianity is a faith and relationship with Jesus through grace and forgiveness. We should be showing grace and forgiveness to unbelievers, just like Jesus did. Jesus says, "For if you forgive the people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15) There are many people who live by good works and fail to have a personal relationship with Jesus. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you;depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:21-23)
How much does Jesus hate our religiousness? I think it's been clear. If you are still hesitant, I encourage you to study it some more! If you are feeling convicted of religiousness in your life- REPENT!
If you are the smoking, drinking, poker playing unbeliever, I want to you to know that Jesus loves you- the way you are. Jesus doesn't expect you to change your ways to start believing in Him, but He loves you too much, to let you continue down the path of destruction that leads to death. When you receive Christ as your Savior, He wants ALL of you. He wants to be Lord of every part of your life. He wants you to surrender every aspect of who you are to him- your family, your job, your hopes, your future. He will deliver you from sin and you will be made holy through His blood and resurrection. He will transform you from the inside out. Only by his grace can I say that He rescued me. It is a blessing and life is so much more fulfilling and has purpose when you have faith in Jesus. Read about My Transformation. If you would like to know more about following Jesus read Receiving Christ.
~Leanne~
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