Worthless Religion

Worthless Religion

Jeremiah 7:9-10 “Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, ‘We are safe’ – safe to do all these detestable things?”(NIV)

          Israel found herself in a situation that was displeasing to God. They took pleasure in doing evil rather than doing what was good. They worshiped foreign gods, committed adultery, lied, murdered the innocent, took advantage of foreigners, widows, and orphans all while going to the Lord’s house and offering sacrifices. They had no regard for following the commands of God in righteous living other than it being just mere lip service and an outward display of rituals. God was in no doubt displeased and spoke through His prophet, Jeremiah to let them know as much.

            Today’s times are no different. Many people proclaim themselves to be “Christians” as they do any and everything that is contrary to the will of God. Their Christianity is worn merely as a title rather than a lifestyle. They spend more time in the television, on the job, hanging out with friends, and other recreational things rather than with God. Many self-proclaimed Christians watch garbage on the devil’s tube, listen to ungodly lyrics, read trashy magazines, spend time with gossip, go to weekend clubs, commit adultery, fornication, smoking, drinking, homosexuality and other ungodly acts and still claim that they are serving God because they’re up under grace. They attend worship houses once or twice a week and place more value in going to church rather than being the church.

            The apostle, Paul, lets us know that just because we’re under the grace of God does not mean that we are to continue in sin. Romans 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin how can we live in it any longer?(NIV) As believers in Christ, we are no longer bound by the chains of sin, but are renewed in Christ Jesus. Just as He bore our sins and died, but rose again, we too were to be baptized and died to the old, but came up in the new. This does not mean that we will never be tempted to sin, but the sin does not master us. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (NIV)

            Religion is worthless if a Christian is not making it applicable in his/her life. God calls His children to a righteous standard of living and that standard must be adhered to in order to make it to Heaven. No, our works do not get us unto Heaven, but when we profess Christ as our risen Savior, the changes that should have taken place should manifest itself from the inside out. That means that we will no longer just carry the title of being a Christian, but we will actively live it as a lifestyle. Being a Christian means being a follower of Christ and therefore, that fruit will be made manifested for all to see. Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them….(NIV)