Matthew 7:21-23
“Not
all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to me
as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is
whether they obey my Father in heaven. At the Judgment many will tell
me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about you and used your name to cast out
demons and to do many other great miracles.’ But I will reply, ‘You
have never been mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil.’
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
A
friend posted an aerial photo on Facebook of the home of a well-known
televangelist. Her caption was, “Room for a refugee or two? Too far out
of your comfort zone? I just can't relate to you, Mr. XYZ.” I get it…I
truly do. It’s hard for us to believe those who want to tell us what
God’s word says to those who are struggling, hurting and downtrodden,
while they live in “McMansions” and fly around the country on luxury
jets – all while calling on us to “give until it hurts” at the altars of
their churches.
Please open your heart and mind to what I am about to say. This is not for us to judge.
We don’t have to listen to these people or follow their teachings. We
do not have to attend the churches in which they lead. But we cannot
condemn them or make any judgments about how they conduct their own
lives. There are two reasons for this that come to mind, and I will try
to explain both of them.
The first is a no-brainer…Jesus tells
us not to judge others. It’s scriptural, and that should be all that we
need to know. But there is another thing to consider...we do not know
how God might be using this person. Almost two decades ago, I found
myself compelled to watch the teaching/preaching of a certain
televangelist. I began to study his sermons…to dig deeply into my Bible
and to discover what God had to say to me. I started watching other
televangelists and Bible scholars and reading their books and
commentaries.
I learned a lot about my relationship with God
and what the scriptures have to say…I was reawakened to the power and
presence of the Holy Spirit in my life. I was also prayerfully cautious
to sift through what these people were saying and find God’s truth. I
did not buy what they were “selling” hook, line and sinker. And yes, I
was disappointed when some of them began to take an ugly
turn…to ask for millions of dollars for new jets…to be arrested for
domestic violence…to be investigated by the federal government for
alleged violations of “possible misuse of donations.”
But here’s
the thing…God used these people to speak to me – and to countless
others. And while they may have taken a wrong turn, haven’t we all?
Except for His grace, couldn’t others criticize us just as much for our
own hypocritical words and actions?
So what does this all mean
for us as faith-filled Christians? Are we to turn a blind eye to
hypocrites and those who claim the name of Jesus to support their own
selfish desires and agendas? For me, the answer is that we must let God
do the judging. And just as importantly, we must make sure that our
own thoughts, words and actions are above board at all times. We must
not fall into the devil’s trap of saying and doing one thing while
acting in another manner. We must be certain that we are about the
LORD’s business…and busy minding that instead of someone else’s.
We
must be careful about who we follow and remember that we are all mere
mortals…sinful, vulnerable, and capable of falling into the traps of the
devil at any given moment. We must make sure that we are truly “Godly”
in our daily living…and not merely giving others the appearance that we
are “religious.”
It’s time to check our words and actions to
see where we are truly showing up for Jesus…and where we are simply
making a show. I pray that God will use you and me to further His
kingdom…in spite of our own sins and shortcomings…and that He will grant
us wisdom and restraint to always reflect His teachings - and not our
own agendas. I also pray that God will grant me humility…that I may let
Him make the judgment on others - and render their verdict as He deems
appropriate.
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label being religious. Show all posts
Showing posts with label being religious. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2014
James 1:27
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Several years ago, a friend shared an audiobook with me… So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey, by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. This is the fictional story of a disillusioned pastor named Jake who has several encounters with a stranger who strongly resembles the mannerisms of the apostle John. A review of this book on Amazon.com says in part…” Facing his own disappointment with Christianity, Jake must forsake the habits that have made his faith rote and rediscover the love that captured his heart when he first believed.”
Critics have claimed that this book just fuels the fire for bashing “institutional church”, which one person described as a place where “church members are hopelessly ignorant, able to recite chapter and verse but knowing nothing of the heart of Scripture.” In one chapter, “Pastor Jake” is reminded of his childhood and “competitions” to learn Bible verses and earn “Gold Stars”…and the pressure and guilt he felt when he didn’t perform well in this endeavor. This really struck a chord with me.
When I was a child, my church held an annual fundraiser for overseas missions. A big map was hung above the choir loft, and every time someone donated a certain amount of money to this mission fund, a red bulb was lit on this map. I so wanted my family to be able to light one of those bulbs. But coming from a household of five whose budget was limited, this never happened. And somewhere in my subconscious, I think I felt less valuable as a Christian witness - not because my family could not afford to contribute - but because we somehow didn’t fit in with those who did. Now understand, a LOT of families in our church never gave enough to light a bulb…and this truly had nothing to do with how well we served others in God’s name. Plain and simple, it was a “religious” competition…”hot air” that truly was not about overseas missions as much as creating an image of “group participation”. In actuality, this only divided the “haves” from the “have-nots” – even within the church body.
To this day, I feel a tad uneasy when I receive solicitations in the mail for legitimate donations… St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – even my own church and its ministries. How does one choose? Where does one draw the line? Are you a “bad Christian” if you donate to one cause and not another? If you are serving and giving to the best of your ability - yet you continue to be asked by church leaders and charitable organizations to give more - does this mean you are not serving God well…or doing enough? Is serving God about getting the “Gold Star”…or are we serving out of a heart for the “homeless and loveless” in the world? Are we giving our money, time and talent to make a name for ourselves and soothe our conscience (or shush those who berate us)…or are we earnestly seeking God’s will for our lives and ministering to others according to His will?
It matters greatly how we answer these questions. I firmly believe that God will provide for every need when we seek His will and act accordingly. If God leads us to give money or donate to a mission fund or charity, we should certainly do so. If God says, “Use your time and talents in this manner for my glory,” we should get up and get going! If God presents us with people and circumstances for which our own life experiences give us firsthand knowledge - and the ability to comfort and encourage - we should step up and out and do exactly that!
Hear me on this…God doesn’t care if you never light a bulb on a map to raise funds for missions – or earn a badge or pin for attending a certain number of Bible studies - or learning x number of scripture verses. God really could care less if we are “religious”! What matters to God is that we eagerly seek His will for our lives…that we ask Him how, when and where to share the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with others…and that we spend every waking minute honoring Him with our faith and obedience.
I have to tell you, I’m a little tired of divisive tactics and “religious” people who want to make others look or feel badly because they are not doing enough…aren’t giving enough…aren’t high-profile enough in their ministry efforts and Christian witness. God doesn’t want a show…He wants believers who have a true heart for Him and want to share His love with others. The only “medal” or recognition we should be seeking is the words…“Well done, My good and faithful servant,” when we stand before the LORD on Judgment Day. Our focus should be on loving others and meeting their needs in Jesus’ name – each and every day…and letting God have the glory and recognition.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you working hard to earn an earthly medal? Is your “religious” appearance nothing more than a “hot-air” performance? Are you genuinely God’s faithful servant? Are your ministries sincere, compassionate, heartfelt and God-sanctioned? Isn’t it time they were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Several years ago, a friend shared an audiobook with me… So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey, by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. This is the fictional story of a disillusioned pastor named Jake who has several encounters with a stranger who strongly resembles the mannerisms of the apostle John. A review of this book on Amazon.com says in part…” Facing his own disappointment with Christianity, Jake must forsake the habits that have made his faith rote and rediscover the love that captured his heart when he first believed.”
Critics have claimed that this book just fuels the fire for bashing “institutional church”, which one person described as a place where “church members are hopelessly ignorant, able to recite chapter and verse but knowing nothing of the heart of Scripture.” In one chapter, “Pastor Jake” is reminded of his childhood and “competitions” to learn Bible verses and earn “Gold Stars”…and the pressure and guilt he felt when he didn’t perform well in this endeavor. This really struck a chord with me.
When I was a child, my church held an annual fundraiser for overseas missions. A big map was hung above the choir loft, and every time someone donated a certain amount of money to this mission fund, a red bulb was lit on this map. I so wanted my family to be able to light one of those bulbs. But coming from a household of five whose budget was limited, this never happened. And somewhere in my subconscious, I think I felt less valuable as a Christian witness - not because my family could not afford to contribute - but because we somehow didn’t fit in with those who did. Now understand, a LOT of families in our church never gave enough to light a bulb…and this truly had nothing to do with how well we served others in God’s name. Plain and simple, it was a “religious” competition…”hot air” that truly was not about overseas missions as much as creating an image of “group participation”. In actuality, this only divided the “haves” from the “have-nots” – even within the church body.
To this day, I feel a tad uneasy when I receive solicitations in the mail for legitimate donations… St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – even my own church and its ministries. How does one choose? Where does one draw the line? Are you a “bad Christian” if you donate to one cause and not another? If you are serving and giving to the best of your ability - yet you continue to be asked by church leaders and charitable organizations to give more - does this mean you are not serving God well…or doing enough? Is serving God about getting the “Gold Star”…or are we serving out of a heart for the “homeless and loveless” in the world? Are we giving our money, time and talent to make a name for ourselves and soothe our conscience (or shush those who berate us)…or are we earnestly seeking God’s will for our lives and ministering to others according to His will?
It matters greatly how we answer these questions. I firmly believe that God will provide for every need when we seek His will and act accordingly. If God leads us to give money or donate to a mission fund or charity, we should certainly do so. If God says, “Use your time and talents in this manner for my glory,” we should get up and get going! If God presents us with people and circumstances for which our own life experiences give us firsthand knowledge - and the ability to comfort and encourage - we should step up and out and do exactly that!
Hear me on this…God doesn’t care if you never light a bulb on a map to raise funds for missions – or earn a badge or pin for attending a certain number of Bible studies - or learning x number of scripture verses. God really could care less if we are “religious”! What matters to God is that we eagerly seek His will for our lives…that we ask Him how, when and where to share the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with others…and that we spend every waking minute honoring Him with our faith and obedience.
I have to tell you, I’m a little tired of divisive tactics and “religious” people who want to make others look or feel badly because they are not doing enough…aren’t giving enough…aren’t high-profile enough in their ministry efforts and Christian witness. God doesn’t want a show…He wants believers who have a true heart for Him and want to share His love with others. The only “medal” or recognition we should be seeking is the words…“Well done, My good and faithful servant,” when we stand before the LORD on Judgment Day. Our focus should be on loving others and meeting their needs in Jesus’ name – each and every day…and letting God have the glory and recognition.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you working hard to earn an earthly medal? Is your “religious” appearance nothing more than a “hot-air” performance? Are you genuinely God’s faithful servant? Are your ministries sincere, compassionate, heartfelt and God-sanctioned? Isn’t it time they were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
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