Heart in Bloom

“Not Letting Religion get in our Way of our Faith, Love, and Action:

Is it possible that too much religion can be a bad thing? Actually, it can if it is not put into practice by showing God’s love in our lives by how we treat other people.

Religion can be a touchy subject, just like politics. That is why many people try to avoid talking about these subjects entirely.

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles and refuse to let the world corrupt us. Our Savior Jesus condemned the religion of the scribes and the Pharisees of his day, calling them “hypocrites” (Matthew 23:13-29). That is because they based their religion strictly on their outward acts.

Jesus looked into their hearts and didn’t see love but a self-righteous attitude. That is because they believed they could perfectly keep the commandments to the letter of the law without the help of God, and they certainly didn’t need anyone to save them from their sins.

Jesus told them their religious actions didn’t come from the heart and weren’t done with love, but they rejected Christ’s message of love and forgiveness. When one of the two thieves were also being crucified, he asked to be remembered by the Savior when he came into his kingdom. Jesus didn’t ask the thief about his religious belief or even condemn him for his sinful deeds. It was the thief’s faith that saved him. (Luke 23:42-45)

What is the power of religion? – It’s the same power that God imparts to all who love and trust in Him. It’s the power that Jesus displayed showing love to all he encountered and dying on the cross, because of that love for humankind. So we can’t let religion get in the way of what God is doing for us.

The main theme of the entire word of God is what God has done, what He is doing, and what He is willing to do for us. Jesus became the revelation of that action, and our main task and duty is to live in obedience to God’s action revealed in Jesus.

The problem with religion is that it can make people feel self-important and less able to be humble enough to serve others in any significant way. The New Testament book of Hebrews, begins in Chapter 1, emphasizing salvation, which can help us to get on the right track in regards to our faith and our religion. There is some evidence that the people to whom Hebrews was first addressed were all wrapped up in religion and angels. They thought this was what they were supposed to do as Christians, but they weren’t applying their religious belief in their every day lives. That’s why Paul used the name “Jesus” more times in Hebrews than any other New Testament book. It’s more personal than spiritually exalted names like “Christ” and “Lord”.

The inspired words of this book brings the encounter all believers have with heaven down here to earth, where it was used by Jesus, and should be experienced by each of us too. “If we can only keep our steadfast unto the end; for we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence,” writes Paul in Hebrews 3:14.

God didn’t put angels in charge of this business of salvation that we’re dealing with here (Hebrews 2:5-6). Yes, God has left us in charge of many things here on earth, and He expects us to do our best to make things better for everyone, not just for ourselves. By following Jesus, we can begin our journey of faith. Those who trusted in Jesus for their salvation and practiced their religion by showing love to all people. This is religion pure and simple, showing our love for God by loving His children.

Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this:

To visit the fatherless and widows, in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).”