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The foolish look on Christianity as a religion; just a single example of man’s contrivances toward pleasing his version of God. The wise, those led by the Spirit of God, encounter Christianity with a fearful and understanding heart. They know that they are approaching the Living God. And they consider their ways with great trembling; aware that they will certainly give account of their lives to the Lord Most High, Jesus.
I have pity for those who live as foolish men. I was one of them. I have pity for those who consider religion simply a contrivance of man. In one fashion they are correct. There is but one way to the Father in Heaven. While there are thousands of religions toward gods who are not gods at all. The religion of man will worship anything from a rock to a cow, from a snake to a star. But God calls us to the Holy and consuming fire of “The Faith”. This faith is not born of the mind of man. And should not be considered as part of the definition of the word “Religion” which man holds so very dearly (either with a loving embrace or with a drawling hatred).
We serve the Living God through Jesus the Christ. We are not of those who worship God through a religion. Our religion is the spawn, or child, of The Faith. It should never be the other way around. The Faith is first, as it is given and not contrived. Religion is our response to this gift. This is the sum of the dynamics of Christianity. This is how it works. Yet man would confuse the issue by reversing the blessing. They contend that religion spawns faith. They morph the truth of God in Jesus into something evil. And this should not surprise us. For the eye of the evil one sees everything as evil. While the eye of he who loves truth seeks to envision everything lovely, true, wholesome, and vividly alive.
May God grant insight into what has been said here for everyone who reads these words. Your soul is at stake in understanding this concept. We do not believe so that we can be saved. We are saved so that we will believe. Faith comes from God so that no man can boast. And it is because of that gift that we come to believe.
Words From There 
Sorry – I am sure you have used some good standard religious expressions but whether or not a religion is helpful or harmful depends on how it is lived. Since many who claim to be Christian and follow the Prince of Peace actually sanction violence (eg Iraq, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Kosovo), since the US despite an incredible number of born agains has a pathetic record in helping the poor and showing love to enemies, since each denomination acts as if thinks it alone has the truth eg Mormons, Southern Baptists, Roman Catholics etc – and since gun crime is highest in the states that have the most born agains I am still to be convinced.
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What you’re commenting on is people who view Christ as a religion, not the Living God who calls His people to a godly life. You will not find true Christians promoting any sin. You will not find them manipulating their fellow human for the sake of greedy gain. You WILL find every form of vice in those who worship God through rules made by men under the banner of Christianity. The rule of God among His faithful is not a set of rules made by men. People can call themselves anything they want. God knows His people. And His people know God.
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You win the right to speak with authority about such matters only when people are drawn to your faith by the integrity of the way you live it. As you say people can call themselves anything they like. I presume from what you say that you, for example, love your enemies ie
invite Muslims to eat with you, support medical and welfare programmes to help the poor, protest the arms trade, insist more refugees come to your country etc. Simply coming out with the standard theological words wont do it for me. Promoting sin, to me includes identifying the sin in others. Far too many tell me what is wrong with homosexuals and Muslims and claim to be led by God in so doing. Televangelists do that all the time. Speaking to strangers with authority about what God wants is above my pay grade.
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ok.
I see that you confuse the liberal and worldly concept of social justice with the Justice of God in Christ Jesus. In social justice, society marks out what is important to do and be. And just look at the list of things you’ve mentioned here. I feel sorry for the people who think they have to do all these things to be acceptable, or even honorable.
In Christ, we listen for the Lord’s leading. I’ve talked about it in my posts. Man would give us a laundary list of things to do which make us “righteous”. Jesus gives us ONE thing to do to become righteous: Believe.
By what you’ve written, I know you can’t understand what I’m saying. That’s because the Lord’s Spirit isn’t within you. You stll run under the banner of the world. And in this, you are lumped together with all the evil you have pointed at Christians for doing.
You and I likely won’t have much more of a conversation about this. It is the Lord you need to be talking to. It is Jesus, alone, who will give understanding to the heart. I won’t let you pound away at my meger brain too long. I can already tell you, you’ll easily find fault with me. Not because you’d be looking for fault in me. But because there IS fault in me.
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Even the Devils believe – and tremble Look it up – it is in the Bible.
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The devils have seen the face of the Father in Heaven. Of course they believe. But they are exempt from the salvation man has because they rebelled with a true knowledge of who God is. We live by a blind faith (in that we have never seen God’s face, nor known His true majesty). It is for this reason that we were created. It was for this reason that God sent His Son, that God’s majesty might be displayed through mercy and grace to a people who believe inspite of the horrors visited among us every day.
And if you wish to compare those who did not believe with devils, I wonder if you’ve read Hebrews where God refers to the Israelites as a people, upon whom God swore an oath, would never enter His rest because they did not combine their belief with faith.
Many believe there is a God. But few believe that this God has sent His Son on their behalf. And fewer yet put all their faith in Him alone. Most still try to earn their salvation through their own efforts. This is what you believe is true. And your belief falls in line with those who God said would never enter His rest. I urge you to consider these things.
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