Friday, January 13, 2012

Jesus v Religion... What would Jesus really do?


It was not Jesus intention to abolish religion. Jesus did deal with wrong motives in the hearts of hypocritical people. For example he taught, don't pray just to be seen, or in Luke 11:42 he said it IS right to tithe but not without neglecting justice and love....In Matthew 5:17 He says,

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites because they lived in contradiction to the belief system they said they practised.

In Matthew 23:3 Jesus told the disciples to live according to the way the scribes and Pharisees told them to.

"practise and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practise”

To judge a group of people unrighteously because you’re a Jesus follower disqualifies you from being the follower you say you are. Proverbs 11:1 says, "an unbalanced judgment is an abomination to the lord." God says, "don’t say you love me if you refuse to love your brother."

DON'T judge what Jesus is not judging, DON'T make sweeping statements... who hasn’t been caught in others' judgments, that don’t reflect your real intention.

There are a lot of great religious people who have achieved great things....and pleased the heart of Jesus.

RELIGION is a Noun... The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, or a personal God.
Synonyms: are faith - belief - creed

Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Some will try and state that in the original it means "to bind" in an attempt to make you think it's bad, but really "to bind" in the original means "to bind you to" or to connect you to something. It's a little like Paul saying I'm in chains to the gospel. Religion seems ok to me...just dont use it to mask hidden motives like strong unbalanced judgments.

Religion is not the enemy Sin is...lets stop fighting the wrong battles
Just sayin

2 comments:

  1. Come on Ash! Wisdom here! Always love reading your blogs - great mate! Tom Rawls

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  2. Tom, thanks for the encouragment mate, love YOUR work my friend. Hope we connect again soon. Ashley

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