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RELIGIOUSNESS

I have always thought of religiousness as a very good imitation of Christianity by which many are deceived, both those who have not had a real transaction with our Lord Jesus and therefore do not know him as their Saviour and Lord and, sadly, those who have had such an experience but are not living in the gain of this “new life”.

From the beginning the Devil set out to deceive. Just as in the Garden of Eden, he creeps and slithers into everything close to the heart of God and spoils and corrupts it if he can and very often by joining in. If he could encourage an order of things that attaches to itself the name of Christ but effectively leaves him out, then that is what he would do. He is a highjacker and he has set out to deceive and highjack Christianity from the beginning.

Unbelievers , who have not, nor will not, take that step in submission to Christ, gain some comfort by trying to lead good lives, attending Church, giving to charity and involving themselves in other activities that quieten the conscience and which, in their own way, are commendable, but none of which address the issue of their eternal destiny.

Such persons might even claim to be Christians pointing to the life they lead or may tell you that they are so because they believe in God.

Tragically, many who have put their trust in Jesus, either because they become entangled in sin, become lukewarm or, as a result of the lack of sound teaching and leadership, fall into a condition in which their new life in Christ is little understood or enjoyed, then settle into a pattern of things, very often involving ceremony and symbolism, (of words without power and an outward form of things), which is the product of the mind of religious man rather than that of the mind and liberty of the Spirit.

Some revert to the idea of being still under law instead of under grace and view Christianity as system of 'do's and dont's' and still haven't grasped the deliverance that the Gospel brings.

Others may fail to understand the freedom they have before God in the worship or service of God and prayer and clothe themselves with a form of what outwardly appears to be reverential behaviour but which in fact keeps them in a state of bondage.

Others, living a life not in keeping with Christianity and the teaching of Scripture will find it leads to spiritual lifelessness and interrupts their communion with Divine Persons.

In all these things, and in many other areas of Christian experience, there are, alas, very few places for folk to turn to in order to find a way through into the sunshine of God's truth and love and all the joy, liberty and freedom that it brings. The whole ecclesiastical system, in the context of Christendom, is against them.

There are so many ways in which religiousness manifests itself that we could go on for page after page but it is not very edifying. You can make a religion out of anything. To give an example, some promote a form of worship which is very charismatic to the point of virtually imposing it on others, yet if such a form of worship does not have its spring and source in the Spirit, is not spontaneous but is rather a conception or opinion insisted upon to the point that others feel obliged to follow, (or become fearful of not following), that too is religiousness.

Within this somewhat gloomy picture, however, there are, thankfully, beacons of light both individually and in many gatherings of God's people.

In today's dictionary, religion is described (interestingly) as a system of faith and Christianity as just one of many religions, whereas the truth is that Christianity deals with the very essence of life both now and eternally and what distinguishes it from all else is the truth as to the person of Jesus, in his person, none less than the Son of God. It is Jesus as the Son of God that is is the test for every person and in that way, God himself, comes into the very heart of the matter and every living person has to confront that. God was revealed as a man, in the person of Jesus, in the likeness of men and for every man (all mankind ) and that raises questions and issues with every member of the human race that have to be answered and resolved.

I repeat, religion (not 'true religion' as referred to in James 1. v 27) but in the way it is viewed by most today in a universal setting, is a brilliant imitation of the real thing, (Christianity), and as such, is the Devil's masterpiece.

Millions are kept in ignorance by religion, even in bondage. Millions more are being deceived into thinking there is another way to approach God other than through Jesus and even many who have been saved through faith in his blood, settle for something far less than the blessings they could enjoy, getting bogged down in a system of error in which sectarianism, clericalism and compromise are generally prevalent.

It is not all bad news. In some parts of the world Christianity is flourishing against a background of atheism and persecution from extremists and governments of other persuasions. We need to pray, not only for those Christians physical safety but that they may not, in time, find themselves, shepherded into “Ecclesiastical shape!” and lose the thrill and liberty of belonging to and being part of Christ.

When Jesus was here, the opposition was primarily from the religious element. Nothing has changed, although today we see that opposition manifested (in many areas of Christendom) in a much more subtle form, but all designed by the Devil, to undermine and to dilute, if not, substitute altogether, the “Faith once delivered to the Saints” (Jude v 3)

Yet we display our crosses and other symbols of Christianity don't we? We celebrate the main events in the Christian Calendar don't we? (even if they are often chronologically incorrect and the most celebrated of all, Christmas, has its roots in a pagan festival ). Why.....why do we do all that? Unlike the instructions given to Moses, where do we read of a calendar or list of events to be celebrated in the writings of Paul? Quite the reverse. We see, instead, numerous scriptures in his writings that exhort us to hold and apply these truths to our lives on a DAILY basis and to thus be inwardly formed by them. ("Our inward man is renewed day by day")

Surely all these wonderful truths are encapsulated in the gift of the Spirit and are there to be enjoyed everyday. Why not celebrate the incarnation in June, or better still, every day?

You may argue that to set aside periods of days or weeks in this way helps to focus the mind or enlighten. I have less difficulty if that is the true purpose but is that the real motivation for our annual celebrations or is it a left-over from, or perhaps the re-introduction of, the spirit of Judaism into Christianity, which we just haven't recognised as such? Do we have an inherent propensity to ritualise or is it just my imagination?

We may not, in most of our Churches, have the very conspicuous paraphernalia that we see in the high echelons of the most prominent established denominations, but are we quite free of the spirit of it all? Sit quietly on your own in your Church one day and think about it. Imagine you are showing the Lord around and explaining how the services are organised and run. Imagine how he would do it, how he would arrange things, how he would be with the children.

Why is there often such an unnatural intonation of voice introduced into prayer? Is it really reverential or just “a form of piety”?

By strange contrast, in many Churches now, the service is facilitated by the use of computer- driven audio visual systems. These facilities can be of great benefit to those with a hearing or sight impairment and in other ways too where it helps to focus attention. However, when developed to the point where it almost becomes a stage production/management tool, it is then in danger, itself, of becoming a distraction and can hardly be conducive to the functioning of the body nor the sensitive movements of the Holy Spirit among us . A careful balance needs to be struck in this area.

We have to understand it is not our Church, it is Christ's and it runs on a different power source, a different principle, not on worldly principles but on those emanating from heaven. It is the Holy Spirit's sphere and the Lord is to lead, "In the midst of the Assembly wilI I sing thy praises". (Hebrews 2. v 12). There is a rightful element of mystery about these things, "This mystery is great, I speak as to Christ and the Assembly" (Ephesians 5. v 32) and the things of the spirit can only be discerned by those having the Spirit. When will we grasp these great truths and hand our Churches back to their rightful owner.

It all sounds very negative I know but if just one person reads this and some light dawns in their soul accompanied by a realisation that what they have become accustomed to is not really what Christianity is all about, it will be a wonderful thing. Perhaps the scales will fall from many eyes.

We cannot re-run the 'Reformation' we may not even see a major spiritual revival in our lifetime, but it would be great if more believers could experience that well known scripture for themselves, "If the Truth shall set you free, ye shall be really free”

This people honour me with their lips but their heart is far from me.
Mark 7. v 6

......some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and made nothing of the rest of all the rest of men...........
(read the whole parable)
Luke 18. v 9-14

The demons even believe and tremble.
James 2. v 19

... O senseless Galatians, who has bewitched you?......
......have you received the Spirit on the principle of works of law or on the principle of faith?................
...Having begun in Spirit, are ye going to be made perfect in flesh?.........
Galatians 3. (whole chapter)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which ye have been sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4. v 30

........but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the Head, The Christ.......
Ephesians 4. v 15

Beloved, believe not every spirit but prove the spirits, if they are of God...........
Hereby ye know the Spirit of God; Every spirit confessing Jesus Christ come into flesh is of God and every spirit which does not confess Jesus Christ come in flesh is not of God .
1, John 4. v1-6

For God is one and the mediator of God and men ONE, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for us all.......
1, Timothy 2. v 5-6

See that there be no one who shall lead you astray as a prey, through philosophy or vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.....
................for in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and ye are complete in him...............
............
Colossians 2. v 8-10

But when he is come, the Spirit of Truth, he shall guide you into all the Truth.
John 16. v 13

But we speak wisdom among the perfect, but wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world, who come to nought, but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, that hidden wisdom which God had determined before the ages for our glory........
...............but we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we may know the things that have been freely given us by God, which also we speak, not in words taught by human wisdom but in those taught by the Spirit, communicating spiritual things by spiritual means. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, for they are folly to him and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned.
1, Corinthians 2. (whole chapter)