Mammamel
10-18-2009, 11:48 AM
I read a post on another site the other day that brought this to the front of my thinking.
A lady declared that we all need to leave our religion at home. Hidden in a closet I suppose. Now at first this seems like a negative statement. However if you look at it biblically, she is right.
Let me explain. Webster has it wrong, God has it right,.
The Bible (God) says in Eph 4:4-6 that God created one Faith. This is the Faith that saves us. It is the Faith that Christ died on a cross for our sins, by HIS own will, and rose again. Giving all hope of salvation through grace. That is Faith, that is something that we MUST keep with us at all times. It is part and parcel of a Christian. You should sooner leave your arms at home than your Faith. Seriously. Never go anywhere with out your Faith.
In the KJV religion is mentioned several times. Usually referring to Judaism. For a Christian, religion is mentioned in James 1. True religion says James is caring for widows and orphans in their time of affliction. Religion is the action called for by Faith. The jews had religion. Lots of action, but very few had actual Faith that God would save His people as He promised. Then when He did put His plan into action, they were so caught up in the added on works of their religion they missed the truth.
That is why God focused on Faith this time around. Yet men can not leave it at that. So they built religions around Faith. You must do this you must do that. God keeps it simple, man mucks it up. Wars have been fought supposedly for Christ, yet, what did Christ tell Peter when he acted as a warrior? It was not for Christ these things have been done. It was for vain glory, empty religion.
A true Christian can be told by the things they do and say, or do not do and say. The Bible gives us traits to look for to see if one has the true Faith, or just vain religion. 1st Corinthians 14 gives us a list of what Faith through the Holy Spirit will inspire Christians to do. Fighting wars and arguing religion are not listed there.
We as Christian need to quit focusing on religion and begin focusing on Faith and showcasing the acts of it. I do not care what church you go to. Your Faith is what I am interested in. I get messages now and then that tell me I need to stop so and so or such and such from posting “as if they are a Christian” because that religion is a cult or worse. I have had these about many religions, including home churches, and churches of Christ, not just the ones everyone immediately thinks of. I submit that all religion is in error. ALL of them have things in them that add to or take away from the simple Bible set up. No one can say this or that church is doomed. Does that mean I agree with all religions? No. Frankly I do not trust any of them. The Bible is God’s word, Galatians 1 is pretty clear on what happens if another message is delivered. However that does not mean we can condemn other religions. In any Bible based religion there may be a person with true Faith. They may choose to worship in that religion for personal reasons. It is not our place to know or judge their salvation based on man made religion. We can judge sin. We can be discerning on things the Bible tells us. How a person acts and so forth. Salvation is not ours to judge.
So as to the reason for this whole post. What ever we do in word or deed we are to do as unto God. Colossians 3 is clear on this. Therefore no matter where I go, or what I do, my Faith will be there. No matter what steeple I find myself under, my Faith will be there with me. So when picking a church to attend, pray and let God lead you where he wants you.
A lady declared that we all need to leave our religion at home. Hidden in a closet I suppose. Now at first this seems like a negative statement. However if you look at it biblically, she is right.
Let me explain. Webster has it wrong, God has it right,.
The Bible (God) says in Eph 4:4-6 that God created one Faith. This is the Faith that saves us. It is the Faith that Christ died on a cross for our sins, by HIS own will, and rose again. Giving all hope of salvation through grace. That is Faith, that is something that we MUST keep with us at all times. It is part and parcel of a Christian. You should sooner leave your arms at home than your Faith. Seriously. Never go anywhere with out your Faith.
In the KJV religion is mentioned several times. Usually referring to Judaism. For a Christian, religion is mentioned in James 1. True religion says James is caring for widows and orphans in their time of affliction. Religion is the action called for by Faith. The jews had religion. Lots of action, but very few had actual Faith that God would save His people as He promised. Then when He did put His plan into action, they were so caught up in the added on works of their religion they missed the truth.
That is why God focused on Faith this time around. Yet men can not leave it at that. So they built religions around Faith. You must do this you must do that. God keeps it simple, man mucks it up. Wars have been fought supposedly for Christ, yet, what did Christ tell Peter when he acted as a warrior? It was not for Christ these things have been done. It was for vain glory, empty religion.
A true Christian can be told by the things they do and say, or do not do and say. The Bible gives us traits to look for to see if one has the true Faith, or just vain religion. 1st Corinthians 14 gives us a list of what Faith through the Holy Spirit will inspire Christians to do. Fighting wars and arguing religion are not listed there.
We as Christian need to quit focusing on religion and begin focusing on Faith and showcasing the acts of it. I do not care what church you go to. Your Faith is what I am interested in. I get messages now and then that tell me I need to stop so and so or such and such from posting “as if they are a Christian” because that religion is a cult or worse. I have had these about many religions, including home churches, and churches of Christ, not just the ones everyone immediately thinks of. I submit that all religion is in error. ALL of them have things in them that add to or take away from the simple Bible set up. No one can say this or that church is doomed. Does that mean I agree with all religions? No. Frankly I do not trust any of them. The Bible is God’s word, Galatians 1 is pretty clear on what happens if another message is delivered. However that does not mean we can condemn other religions. In any Bible based religion there may be a person with true Faith. They may choose to worship in that religion for personal reasons. It is not our place to know or judge their salvation based on man made religion. We can judge sin. We can be discerning on things the Bible tells us. How a person acts and so forth. Salvation is not ours to judge.
So as to the reason for this whole post. What ever we do in word or deed we are to do as unto God. Colossians 3 is clear on this. Therefore no matter where I go, or what I do, my Faith will be there. No matter what steeple I find myself under, my Faith will be there with me. So when picking a church to attend, pray and let God lead you where he wants you.