Religion or Christianity

Our experience is life teaches us many things, but as a Christian, experiences teach us to grow in the Lord. They are used to increase our faith, teach us patience, how to forgive and they teach us to want to walk closer with our Lord in fellowship. There are times when our Lord lets us go through the darkest tunnel trusting in Him when there seems for the moment no hope. This is God's way of teaching us to use our faith, increase our faith and to wait on Him. God takes us through the darkest tunnel to show us the brightest light. When the light comes, it is then we see God's handiwork and His Glory.

This is a very crucial time in the history of the world. It is a time of war, unrest, ungodliness on the part of some believers and a time when Satan is working extra hard with religious soothsayers and charismatic people who will tell us anything we want to hear so that we may feel comfortable. The Bible warns us to beware of these people. One of Satan's biggest weapons to send people into the pits of hell is religion. If you are religious then there is no way you can be a Christian. The devil knows more about religion than anyone does.

Religion is controlling, makes you want to harm, kill and steal all in the name of some god. The devil wants people to believe but nothing more. He wants to deceive, so as long as you believe that Christ existed and nothing more, people feel comfortable in there religion but this is not what Christianity is about. Christianity is about a personnel relationship with Jesus Christ and acceptance of Him as Lord and Saviour. When we accept Christ things get tougher, but Jesus said it would be tough and not easy. The Bible says that we will be crucified daily for His sake. Remember this if nothing else… the devil never bothers anybody he already has. If he bothers us daily then we know we are serving the one and only God of salvation and eternal life. As believers, we must stand firm, hold fast to our convictions and our faith and be bold in our commitment to the Lord. The so-called religious theologians as they are called are constantly putting across their worldly views in trying to bring Christ down to an earthly level as a human only… married, and the garbage just goes on and on all in the name of religion. This is Satan trying to discredit Christianity in the name of religion.

Religion starts wars, religion destroys, tares apart, brings division, it kills and is full of greed and wants to keep on killing and supposedly in the name of some god. If there is only one message in all of this about religion it is… 'religion wants to fight, Christianity wants peace'. Not my God the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! True Christianity (our God) brings love, peace, joy, people together and it brings life. Eternal life in Christ.

I often am often quoted talking about the language of God. I feel there are other ways to tell if a person is born again other than their commitment, convictions and conduct. A lot of those that are not children of God act pretty good. A religious person whom has never made a commitement to Christ will use religious terminology like God, a superior being, creator. Religious people state they believe in God, they don't say they believe in the Lord. What is the difference? The difference is simple. The born again Christian has made Jesus the Lord of their life. This is straight God language friends. We haven given ourselves in total commitment to Christ and made Him Saviour and Lord of our lives. Lord is His position and it is the highest position one can hold. Christ is over all, and has dominion and authority over all and should have in our lives.

Another word that is not used by the religious people is the term Christ. To use the term Christ is to acknowledge that Jesus is the anointed one of God. If He was not anointed, then He was not appointed and therefore He would not have authority. The Christian acknowledges what the Bible says, that Jesus is the Christ… the Son of the living God. This is the statement that Christianity is built and it says it all.

This now brings us to more God language. Christians use terms like, the Lord spoke to me, God is leading me in this direction, I felt the presence of God's spirit on me, I was studying my bible when God gave me a message, I was praying when God gave spoke to me. I want to share with you what God said to me today while studying my Bible. You notice the word study, not reading. These are two different actions. We are told in scripture to… "Study and show ourselves approved onto God…" One key word that stands out the most in my mind is… 'Praise the Lord'. Notice the two key words, praise and Lord. Only a Christian can use these words.

A religious person does not study their Bible or know and feel the presence of God's Holy Spirit. They say they do not read the Bible because they do not understand it. What is the truth? They do not have any desire to read the Bible, they do not understand because Christ is not their Saviour and the Spirit of God does not have any part of them… Why? Because they are not spiritually born… for that which if born of water is flesh and that which is born of the spirit (born again) is spirit. So spiritual things such as understanding God's word must be spiritually discerned. Another sign that a person is only religious is by using the phrase 'O God'. Some say oh it is a prayer. When I hear this, I know exactly where they are. Jesus himself told us that the name of God is Hallowed… it is to be used with reverence for His name is Holy. I have more respect than to use my heavenly Fathers name in disrespect. In fact, I would not use my earthly fathers name like this. I have had conversation with people who are so religious yet they do not know what we are talking about. For example the seven 'I Am' sayings, know nothing about salvation, what baptism means, prophecy, healing just to name a few.

I have always called a spade a spade especially when it comes to Scripture and the Lord I serve. As Christians we are "ambassadors in bonds…" therefore an ambassador is a representative that is given great responsibility. We represent Christ so let's be bold about it. I don't believe the world would be in the shape it is in if we Christians stood up more for what we believe. We have to call things as they are. We need more John the Baptists.

Your friend in Christ,

Glenn