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It's a strong statement to say that Jesus hates religion. I believe it is an accurate statement, but maybe it would be more correct to say, Jesus was not real impressed with "religious groups." He especially was not impressed with religious groups claiming to represent Him, but falling way short of what He was all about. In fact, He spoke His harshest words to such groups. The only religion He has kind words for was "pure" relgion. He defined pure religion as "undefiled before God the Father." He said that this type of religion took care of "the fatherless and widows."
In Christ's time, he came across many groups claiming to represent Him, when in fact they were not of Him. Listen to what He had to say. He called them "vipers," and "a brood of hypocrits." He said that they were making the rest of the world "twice the canidates for hell" than they aready were. He said, "with their lips they worship Me, but their hearts are far from Me." They offered the world a false view of who He is and why He came. He said that He did not "come into the world to condemn it, but rather to redeem it." "I came to seek and to save the lost." Christ offered His all. Religion, as practiced by so many, holds back. Christ loves unconditionally. Religion adds conditions and has it's own agenda. Christ's only agenda is to make our life worth living, to give us fulness.
It seems that religion makes us worse, and not better. Most of the wars going on in the world are "religious wars." I am not trying to be offensive here, just an observation. I happen to be a Christian, one who claims to follow Christ and His teachings. I say that cautiously, as I am aware that so many Christians have hurt the cause of Christ with our careless words and crass lifestyles. Jesus claimed to offer "abundant life," but the lives I see so many Christians living seem to be anything but abundant. It seems a lot of Christians either are under such heavy bondage to their "religion," or are so "free" that they do as they please without any regard to how it impacts others. Then again, this seems to be true of every other religion or "group," or "gang."
Wikipedia defines religion this way: The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communial faith and group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction. So, any group or gang is a religion, sharing communial "faith" and group rituals and communication stemming from "shared" conviction
Christ Himself came that we might have life, and that it might be an "abundant life." Relgion seems to have gotten in the way. Is it any wonder that Christ hates religious practices that push you away rather than drawing you to Him. Christ commented on those claiming to be about and for Him in His day this way: "I have come unto My own, (those claiming to be a religion about me) and my own have not received Me."
Don't find a religion to save you and to somehow make sense of everything. It is not religion, but Christ Himself that offers us the hope of being made right and seeing what it is that He sees in us worth dying for. He says, "if I have set you free, you are free indeed!" I'm here if you want to talk about this.
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Posted by Imhere on 2008-05-12 11:51:55 | Rating: | Views: 149
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I agree whole heartedly. Religion is a man made interpretation. I live in a state which the majority has a warper interpretation of God, Christ and how Grace is determined. I have been here long enough to sometimes forget that other people believe what is the truth, not mans idea of how Christ can suit him. God is not a magic genie in a bottle that we wish upon.
Thank you for your post!
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Posted by dawnmarie
on 2008-05-13 20:02:20
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I completely agree. That is why i do not go to a church for the most part. 99% of the time the people are too worked up in the politics of religion even to the minutest degree. And to be honest, 99% of "Religion" is politics. A way to control people by using their blind faith in what they say that counteracts their common sense. Don get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having complete faith in a higher beeing such as God and Christ...but many people believe that they have their faith in christ and yet they listen to their minister who "preaches christs word" but not their own hearts and the actual words of christ. For example, many people in most churches have their secretary, the head minister, the choir instructor etc. And it seems that everyone strives to be the "top dog' or of some importance in church---like that somehow makes them closer to christ.
When it comes to thing like this they have completely lost the whole reason as to why they are there-to worship, pray, enjoy themselves. Not to one-up the other. Not to be a big shot. Why cannot people just be happy going in and sitting down and just reading like everyone else? I have found that if people have no way of being successful in the "REAL WORLD" then they turn to their climb of social status and importance in the organized religion. in the church.
Televising has not helped this in any way. It has created a word where people prefer to be dictated to as opposed to reading themselves and deriving what the really feel...they are too oblivious or lazy to realize that mabie they are fed what people WANT them to be fed and believe. Not what is the truth.
This is why i read, research what i see, and i do not go to church. Too many people have their goals set for something different than just following chirst, they are too busy trying to achieve their own goals in his name as opposed to actually living by him.
ok, i am off my rant now. i hope you enjoyed it...
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Posted by PsychoLainey
on 2008-05-16 11:14:33
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