RELIGION VS RELATIONSHIP

 If you're a person who loves Jesus and regularly reads the Bible, you may have been told that you are "religious". For most people, it may feel like a compliment. However, when used in certain contexts, the word "religious" can have a very negative connotation. That's why I don't like to have that label put on me. 

To me, religion is something that zealots practice. I think of the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus's day. They were anything but the example of humility and faith that God desired of His people. In fact, they were the direct opposite. Jesus told them that they were of their father, THE DEVIL. And that's what I think of when I hear the word "religious". I think of legalism. I think of condemnation, judgement, and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, an innocent Man who died because of religiosity of the worst kind. 

What is religion? 

I would say it is a form of godliness but denying the power. It's like dry cracker dust. It's dead men's bones inside of whited sepulchers. It's the opposite of love and compassion. Maybe we could call it narcissism. Narcissism is a personality disorder. Something against nature, or against natural order. A disorder. Not only does narcissism hurt everyone who comes into contact with the narcissist but it hurts the narcissist. 

Briefly, a narcissist has little or no empathy (the opposite of Jesus's example) and is motivated to take control over everyone and everything in their environment either by manipulation, force, violence, or dominance. The outcome is deception, more violence, confusion, fear, and destruction. That's just putting it in a nutshell. And that's exactly what the scribes and Pharisees were up to. So, what did Jesus tell them?

"WOE." That's what He said. I guess He just couldn't do the subject justice, so He rolled it all into one word. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees." Then he told them what they were guilty of. The list is LONG and you can read it in Matthew chapter 23. Here's a sampling:

Matthew 23:3 - 7, "3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi."

That's a snap-shot of religion. That's what I picture when someone calls me "religious". It creates a vomiting urge in my throat and I feel insulted to the lowest degree of what Christianity is supposed to stand for. 

Why? Because in the same breath that a person might say that to me, I know that they're thinking and quite often will say in the very next breath that "religion is the cause of most of the world's wars down throughout history", which, by the way, is simply not true. Most wars have been caused by greed. Be that as it may; if religion has caused wars, I don't want to be associated with any of their wars. I do not believe in any particular organized religion --chief of which is the Roman Catholic Church. 

I could be wrong but I do believe that the two main religions on this planet today are: Islam and Catholicism. Ironically, the Pope has been very busy uniting the two into one "religion" called Chrislam.

With the adoption this week by the 7th World Religions Congress of the Human Fraternity document created by Pope Francis and Mohamed bin Zayed, Chrislam is now the official One World Religion.

It’s official, Chrislam has now been codified and ratified, with the approval at the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, of the Human Fraternity document created by Pope Francis of the Vatican, and financed and promoted by Mohamed bin Zayed of the UAE. Question – Guess who they forgot to invite to the festivities? Answer – Jesus Christ, His Name appears nowhere and is never mentioned. 

It seems, however, that the word "religion" continues to be applied to people such as myself who believe strongly in Jesus Christ, salvation by faith alone, and in the Triune God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If one were to apply the word "religion" to someone like myself, it would be a religion of FAITH. 

"For by grace are we saved through FAITH and that NOT OF OURSELVES, it is a GIFT of God, NOT of works, lest any man/woman should boast." 

We are NOT saved by our deeds. Sorry but our deeds will never be good enough to bring about our salvation. Neither are we saved by taking "Holy Mass" which is quite unholy. Yes, Mass in unholy, unscriptural, unnecessary for salvation, and meant only to glorify the priests and hierarchy of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Mass is nothing like what Jesus celebrated with His disciples the night of His arrest. 

What do you think Jesus would say if He entered a Catholic Church during Mass? Here's what I believe He would say:

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves."

Read it and weep if you have any of these traits, or if you happen to be a devout Catholic. If so, repent. Turn your back on hypocracy and empty religion and turn your eyes upon Jesus Christ, the Messiah and be washed in the Blood of the Lamb! 

To REPENT means to turn away from the false gods and false doctrines and to make a complete 180 toward the TRUTH. Only then will your eyes be opened to the glory of God and all the blessings He has in store for you. Don't be deceived by religiosity, self-righteousness, and MAN-MADE RELIGION which seeks to destroy your soul and SEND YOU TO HELL.

Jesus Christ has been vastly misrepresented by the religious system and religion of this day just as He was misrepresented by the religious system of His day. 

Read the Word of God for yourself and ask God Himself to show you Himself IN HIS WORD. Allow His Word to come alive in you so that you no longer need to depend on man/woman or man's religion or anyone but God. And these three are One: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's Representative ON THE EARTH Who is ever and always with you once you receive Jesus as your Saviour. He will answer your questions, direct you, protect you, and lead you one step at a time all the way to Heaven. 

Remember: "THE MAJORITY IS ALWAYS WRONG." Jesus said in Matthew 7:13 & 14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

If you find the gate and the narrow way which leads to LIFE, you are in the MINORITY. And you are safe from the broad way that leads to DESTRUCTION. BE OF THE FEW. GIVE YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST. If you haven't already done so, you will be very glad that you did. You will have made the correct decision --possibly for the first time in your life. Ask me how I know!