Religiosity

Have you ever talked to anyone that was full of religion?  They seem to have a hard time getting excited about the things of the Lord.  When you share your testimony with them they seem to be unenthusiastic about it and, sort of, put off by what you are saying.  Your excitement and enthusiasm are not equally shared and you walk away kind of feeling let down spiritually, like there was a barrier between you and that person.  Their actions and remarks seemed like water being thrown on your faith, enthusiasm and joy.  This has happened to me on several occasions; in and out of a church setting.  Don’t get me wrong this is not always the case, there are many people that have religion but they lack relationship and, some of them look like Christians, but are deceived.

There are some verses in the Bible that speak of this, in 2 Timothy 3:1-8 it says this, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith.”

Paul is speaking about the last days, which started after Jesus’ resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and ending when Jesus returns to take His Bride, the church, with Him.  In many places of the world, it is easy to be a Christian; you can go to church, prayer meetings and Christian fellowships without any, or very little, persecution.  

There are many Christians that conform to the world, to their shame, and there are those in the church that think they are Christians but they are not.  I wonder how many people think because they were brought up in the church where their parents went that they are automatically Christians; let me set you straight, just because you are related doesn’t make you a Christian unless you are related to the Lord.  There are many people that go to a church building on Sunday, but you would never know they went to church, because the rest of the week they resemble everyone else with their words and their actions.  These people may know Christian doctrine and traditions, so they may look good on the outside, but if they lack love belief and worship, all the rest means nothing.

In Timothy’s time there were false teachers just as there are today, that are drawing some young Christians away who are trying to learn and are eager to know the truth, but ignorance can make them vulnerable to deception.  Believers should be studying to know the truth, finding out what God’s will is for their lives and putting the things they learn into practice, not just studying for the sake of knowledge.  Believers should always study to find out the truth, so they will not be deceived by error.

Jesus said this in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

If you are reading this and realize that you fit the religious person category and are being convicted, you can repeat this prayer if you would like to, “Dear Lord, I know that you are not looking for religiosity in a person, please forgive me.  I don’t want to be just a religious person any more trying to get to heaven by my own merits, I want a personal relationship with you.  I am sorry for all my sins, please forgive me and be my Lord and Savior.  I thank you for your grace, mercy and love, please help me to honor you the rest of my life, in Jesus’ name, I pray these things.  Amen”

The Lord hears the prayer of the humble and contrite heart, so if that is you, I believe the Lord will answer your prayer and you will become a brand new person in Christ, praise the Lord!  Then get a Bible and start studying, also find a church where the pastor preaches the truth and start growing.  May the Lord bless you and yours and have a super day!!