Modern religion has in many ways done a huge disservice to the God of the universe and everything He represents. Religion today has become a multi-billion dollar industry filled with a lot of hoopla, glitter, rock star preachers, concert worship styles, and a prosperity message promising a joyful life essentially free of pain. All one has to do is 'claim it' and 'name it' and it's yours.
This modern message sets people up for failure, however, because it promises things that the God of the Bible never promised. As a result of these false promises, peoples' hopes are dashed to the ground. Instead of faith, there is cynicism and distrust toward religious institutions in general. Naturally, people are asking the question, "Is God for Real?" "How can I believe such hogwash?" "All those religious people want to do is take my money." "They don't really care about me." These are the kinds of sentiments expressed from wall street to main street, from the urban community to the rural community, from the bars to the church pews.
Interestingly, the word 'religion' only appears a few times in the Bible, and when it does appear, it sometimes makes the eyebrows raise. In James 1:26-27 the Bible says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Isn't that an amazing passage of Scripture? Why didn't God say that conducting a worship service loaded with tithing, drum beating, dramatic presentations, emotional testimonies, and great charismatic preaching result in pure religion? No! Instead, He focuses on how we treat others and how we exercise self-control over our own lives!
God centers on three very important aspects of these two verses of Scripture: (1) It matters what we utter with our tongues, (2) We must look after those who can't look after themselves in difficult times, and (3) We must practice holiness - a religion that is life transformational; thus setting us apart from what 'everyone else does.' I can see how this would be acceptable religion in God's eyes!
It's time to get back to the basics folks: religion must be God-serving, not self-serving! Spread the word! And Remember .... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!
It is also important to note that God cares what we do from Monday through Saturday. Far too many churches today are splitting and going to war with each other about how to worship God on Sunday, and do not care about the lives of the members throughout the week. Paul says "to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" - Romans 12:2 Worship goes far beyond the Sunday only experience.
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