Beware of christian religion

Holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. (2 Tim. 3:5 NAS)

Christian religion is ruining the Body of Christ and God’s precious sons and daughters. Christianity, as God designed it, is not a religion but a living relationship with a living God. Religion is basically man recognizing a deity and works hard to create ways to please that being. When Christianity becomes a religion, Christian religion is born.

The scripture above gives us the core of Christian religion. It is form without substance. The form is the visible outward activities of the Christian life, such as prayer, bible study, church attendance, “working for God” etc. One trait of Christian religion is legalism, which is engaging in the “things of Christianity”, without the life in them. It is bible study without ever coming to know God intimately or becoming transformed. It is praying or giving to try to “please God” rather than relate to Him. It is being spiritually active spiritually lifeless at the same time. Jesus said it this way to the Church in Sardis “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). This message was not to unbelievers, but to believers.

Your key to escaping Christian religion is seeking to know and be intimate with God, and never making the activities of Christianity your end.When Christ is your focus, then Bible study and prayer, and church meetings will make sense, otherwise, they can easily become empty and boring routines. Keep your hunger and desire for God Himself always aflame.

MEDITATE-Christian religion

Meditate on the scriptures above in the light of today’s devotional. Do not allow the act of meditation itself become a mere religion to you, where it is done but has no more power or life to it.

PRAY

Sincerely ask the Father to keep you from the snare of Christian religion. When you start doing things because you have to as a Christian, that is a red flag. When you pray, because “Christians are supposed to pray”, that is a clear indication that prayer is becoming form to you. Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to see any aspect of your Christian life that religion has slowly taken over.

ACT NOW!

God’s Word only helps you when you act on it. God wants you to have abundant life daily until it overflows. Start today by memorizing the scripture above, and thinking over it. Start your inner search by the Spirit to locate areas that religion has taken over your Christian life and you are probably not aware of. Ask the Spirit to ignite your hunger and zeal for Christ Himself. A lack of hunger for God in itself is a danger sign indicating a cold and callous spiritual life. If you sincerely do not sense a desire in your heart for God, do not wait another day. Start by recognizing that God has put His hunger in you as His child. That hunger dies out when you do not feed it but blossoms as you provide fuel for it to grow. Our deliverance from religion in Christianity comes when Christ, and not the church or Christian activities, becomes that one and the only reason we have always said He was.

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