THE BONDAGE OF RELIGION

Religion, as we know it today, put its adherents in spiritual bondage.  There are many man-made rules attached to religion.  They often tell you what you can or cannot do.  They tell you what to do and when to do it.  They even tell you just how to do what it is they want you to do.  Some churches go as far as to say, "If you're going to be long to THIS church then you will have to meet this criteria and do these things."  Failure to meet these standards man has set in place will put your status in this religion or church in jeopardy.  Some will even teach you if you fail to do what they tell you to do then you just aren't gong to make heaven - or at least their version of heaven.

The bondage of religion isn't anything new.  When Jesus, Himself, walked the earth His primary opposition came from established religions of the day.  The Pharisees were a religious group who added their own traditions and requirements to God's Word.  Whatever struck their fancy they would add to God's Word.  The Sadducees were the other large religious group of the day.  They were opposite of the Pharisees in that they took a good deal away from God's Word using only the Books of Moses (Genesis - Deuteronomy).  That sure does sound like religious groups of our day!  In many cases, man tends to add his own traditions and rules to God's Word.  This puts people in religious bondage.  After all, who can measure up to all those man-made rules and regulations?  On the other hand, there are those who just take out of the Bible what they don't like.  They want a religion that's easy and a discipleship that doesn't cost.

How God must grieve at all the nonsense going on in His name today.  I doubt that He even recognizes this thing we call "church" today.  We've come so far from what the New Testament church was meant to be.  We've created these organizations and adopted our own rules and regulations with regards to who can belong to our group and what they must do to maintain their status in our group.  What a sad commentary on today's church.

Religion will put you in bondage.  Religion is full of man-made ideas.  Man's take on things is so different from God's.  Religion's expectations are quite different from God's.  Make no mistake about it, God had expectations of His people - and still does.  However, God's expectations are not burdensome or unreasonable.  Have you ever noticed so many professing Christians are some of the unhappiest people around?  Where's the joy?  Is this God's plan?  Is this God's way?

There's joy in serving Jesus!  Jesus removes the burden of religious bondage.  Jesus said, "Who the Son has made free, is free indeed" (John 8:36).  Paul wrote, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty" (2 Cor 3:17).  Jesus came to set us free!  This freedom includes freedom from the bondage of religion!  Let God do His complete work in you.  Avoid the religious bondage that so many churches put on their people.  Remain in Jesus!  Remember, it's all about Jesus - or at least it's supposed to be!

Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Ray