The Truth In Print Vol. 18 Issue 9, Oct. 2012
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
If
you are going to use the word “religion” then use it
scripturally to use it correctly. The following brief article appeared in the
Yuma Sun as the church’s article for September 2012. Notice the varying usages
of the word in the article.
Using the Word “Religion” Correctly
You
will hear, “You know there is really no such thing as religion in the Bible.”
That’s as false as one saying you can love Jesus but religion is non-essential.
Some falsely present Jesus as being greater than religion, but the religion
Christ gave is His love, holiness, discipline and just nature.
1. The Jew’s religion has been taken out of
the way and nailed to the Cross (cf. Gal. 1:13-14, 23, 3:22-29; Col. 2:13-17).
The “sects” (heresies) of the Jew’s religion – the Pharisees and Sadducees –
promoted false religion (cf. Acts 26:4-5).
2. Man made religion is “after the
commandments and doctrines of men” (Col. 2:20-23). Jesus hates these religions,
called them Human Traditions, and taught against hypocrites who bound them as
God’s word (Cf. Matt. 15:3-19). Peter warned against damnable heresies that
would be brought in among us (cf. 2 Pet. 2:1). An example of Human Tradition
today is the so called Sinner’s Prayer. Jesus commanded belief, repentance and
baptism for the remission of sins (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38, 41).
3. Jesus gave us “pure religion and undefiled
before God and the Father” (James 1:27). This religion is practiced by obeying
His Word (context, James 1:21-27). The doer of His Word will be blessed by God
(Ja. 1:23-25). It involves keeping oneself unspotted
from the world -- it does the opposite of deceive, corrupt and destroy!
(Ja.1:27). God’s grace has a law that one is to obey (Titus 2:11-12; Col. 1:6).
Jesus didn’t hate the “religion” He gave!
Hypocrites claim to love Jesus but hate His religion (Jo. 14:15). Friends of
Jesus don’t distance themselves from the necessity of doing the Word (Jo.
15:14; 12:48-50).
A Poem: “Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus”
There
is a popular poem being passed about. It’s author,
Jefferson Bethke, was interviewed by Huckabee recently. When asked what he was saying, he
explained to Huckabee that he is referring to the
kind of religion practiced by the Pharisees in this poem. In his own
explanations of this poem he states that it displays the difference between
Jesus and false religion.
Space only allows verse one:
Verse 1
What if I told you Jesus came to abolish
religion
What if I told you voting republican really
wasn’t his mission
What if I told you republican doesn’t
automatically mean Christian
And just because you call some people blind
Doesn’t
automatically give you vision
Reply: We know that Jesus established His
religion — the faith once delivered to the saints (cf. Jude 3). When speaking
of “false religion” then say so plainly! Anyone knows
that being either Republican or Democrat does not automatically makes one a
Christian. His poem says that Jesus called hypocrites fools because of their
religion. Jesus did call the hypocrites
fools and blind, and often (cf. Matt. 23). Jesus’ sayings are His religion (cf.
Jo. 12:48).
Word Performance
This
kind of poem is categorized as “word performance” in the so called “christian” entertainment ministry industry. Some refer to
such as “performance poems” or “sloganeering.” Huckabee
was impressed — he said he’s had tens of millions of video views on the web.
The feel good feeling abounds — a good looking author, talented, said to have a
fresh original bold approach. One who is said to be attracting those college age
skeptical of religion. He has a book deal with a book coming out next year.
This young man speaks often of grace and says he’s addicted to it. His own
description of himself is: “I love Jesus, I’m addicted to grace, and I’m just a
messed up dude trying to make Him famous.” Performances from young men with
good looks can become big hits in the performance entertainment industry. It
looks like he’s arrived and is one of their latest stars. He says that grace is
just everywhere about him right now. One thing stands out. Everywhere he’s
describing himself he’s seeking donations from anyone everywhere — do it on
line — do it one time, one a month, twice a month, mail it in to support his
ministry. There’s no scripture in this poem. When you preach the word people
can open their Bibles and see the context — errors can be easily detected (cf.
2 Tim. 4:1-4).
A Doctrinal Point
One
statement that caught my eye was in verse 2. Concerning religion it says: “Why
does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor.” In studying the local
church as a collective body, the pattern for “benevolence” is for needy saints
(cf. Acts 4:35, 6:1-4; I Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 9:1-5). It is not the work of the
local church to do general charitable work in the community! Furthermore,
contributions came from “members” themselves (Acts 4:34-35). They didn’t go out
into the community and solicit funds. Individuals do have the responsibility of
helping all men (cf. Ja. 1:27; Gal. 6:10).
Promoting “The Sinner’s Prayer”
Many
today view the work of businesses built by individuals separately from the
local church as “kingdom ministries.” Just about everything is called either “christian” or a “ministry” today. One so called “ministry”
that the author himself said he was involved with is “Grateful Apparel,” which
gives part of the proceeds to help house the homeless. On its website you can
purchase what some call Jesus and Grace Apparel. If you look there you will
find The Sinner’s Prayer where one is told to say that they are praying for
forgiveness, repenting, and confessing belief in Christ and His resurrection.
The prayer has one asking God to come into their life while confessing with
their mouth “I am Born Again and Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus Name,
Amen.” Listen! That’s not what Jesus commanded in Mark 16:16. It is not the
answer that the Holy Spirit through Peter gave when the apostles were asked,
“What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37-38). That is certainly not what they did in Acts
2:41 upon being told to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins.
His poem speaks against “man made invention.” The Sinner’s Prayer “is” a man
made invention. Nowhere were people told to pray under the New Covenant to
receive initial forgiveness!
The advice that goes with The Sinner’s Prayer here is get yourself
a Bible and find yourself a church where you can worship. I really
haven’t seen a particular “church” in his ministries. It is the old Billy
Graham approach isn’t it? Now that you are saved go out and find yourself a
church. There is simply no understanding in such of what the local church is
that Christ gave — its organization, worship and work.
A Few Statements From the Poem
about Religion:
1. “See the problem with religion, is it
never gets to the core” (Verse 3).
a. Reply: He’s speaking of false religion.
Actually he gets his ideas from places where the religion of Christ does get to
the core. Laodicea was rotten to the core and Jesus said so (Rev. 3:16-19).
They were told to repent for becoming wretched, miserable, poor spiritually,
blind and naked. If they did not repent He would vomit them out of His mouth!
Jesus wasn’t too legalistic or restrictive there was He being Himself the Lord
God? Was Jesus guilty of taking away their freedom?
2. “Now I ain’t judgin, I’m just saying quit putting on a fake look — Cause
there’s a problem” (verse 4).
a.
Reply: He is judging! When you tell a hypocrite that he has fake outward
appearance and the inside is rotten you are judging. In verse 4 he gives
several instances of judging by going back to his own past life — things like going to church on
Sunday and on Saturday being faded and wasted. Jesus’ religion says when you
judge you are to “judge righteous judgment” (Jo. 4:24).
3. “Because if grace is water, then the
church should be an ocean — It’s not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital
for the broken“ (verse 5).
a.
Reply: All have sinned and need forgiveness through Christ (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).
Jesus did pay the price for sin that no man could pay (I Jo. 2:1-2l Heb. 9:12;
I Cor. 6:20). The
purpose of obeying Christ in baptism for the remission of sins is
to rise and walk in newness of life (cf. Rom. 6:1-6). You have “put off” the
old man with his sinful deeds and “put on” the new man created after the image
of Christ (Col. 2:11-12, 3:1-11; Eph. 4:17-24).
Scriptural preaching of the Word includes
reproofs and rebukes along with exhorting (2 Tim. 4:1-5). Each member of a local church has the
responsibility to issue warnings to the unruly (I Th. 5:14). Thus, truth
thought to be negative by those who hate Jesus’ religion is actually positive
and saves souls (cp. Pr. 9:8; Eccl. 7:5).
The local church is to practice “withdrawal”
for the protection of the body to keep members from being corrupted by those
refusing to repent of sin (I Cor. 5:1-13).
The
other purpose of withdrawal is to shame the unrepentant member (2 Th. 3:6, 14).
Without preaching that has application through reproofs, rebukes and
exhortations people do think the church is a museum — bad people show up — get
a quick emotional high — and go right back out to their worldly lifestyles.
They come and get a slap on the back with “It’s so good to see you!” When
members are “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for
the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27), then the church will not be filled with
hypocrites who still walk in drunkenness, fornication, adultery, lying and the
other works of the flesh.
4. The author ends with a summation on how
Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums; Jesus and religion are two
different clans, he says (verse 6). He includes a statement on grace: “Religion
is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man — Which is why
salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own — Not based on my merits
but Jesus’s obedience alone” —He took what we all
deserved, I guess that’s why you call it grace ... So for religion, no I hate
it, in fact I literally resent it— Because when Jesus said it is finished, I
believe he meant it” (verse 7).
Conclusion:
Remember, Jesus gave us His religion! The whole of the New Testament
teaching is the religion of Jesus (cf. Acts 20:20,27).
Jesus gave one religion (cf. Eph. 4:4-6; Jude 3). In Jesus’ religion God’s
grace came with Christ’s law and the necessity of obedience. His grace teaches
us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and live godly in this world (Titus
2:11-12).
By
Bob Lovelace
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