Getting In Jesus’ Way

Getting in Jesus’ Way

Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-8

I heard someone say the other day, “That’s not how I use my religion.” I don’t have any idea what the person meant by that, but I do see that too often our “religion” seems to be getting in the way of really hearing from God—of a real relationship with the living God and a life of words and deeds that demonstrate that we are truly following His Word.

Religion. When Christ proclaimed His message and performed His ministry on earth, He lived in the midst of a complex religious society, not unlike today. The leaders of Jesus’ day were split into four primary groups: the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes, and the Zealots.

• The Pharisees believed that right religion consisted in strict adherence to divine laws, rituals, and traditions.

• The Sadducees focused on the present, relativists who discounted most things supernatural and modified Scripture and tradition to fit their own religious philosophy.

• The Essenes believed that right religion meant separation from the rest of society, piety for the sake of piety, and an austere lifestyle.

• The Zealots were fanatical nationalists who thought that right religion centered in radical political activism.

You will not find any mention of denominations in the New Testament. No mention of Baptists, Methodists (United or Free), Presbyterians (PCA or mainline), Episcopalians, or Catholics. These denominations arose throughout history as believers grouped together around common interests and beliefs, ways of expressing worship, in defense of scriptural truths that had been lost, and other things to which they believed the Lord called them. But to be considered a Christian denomination, their underlying foundational focus must be born out of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The central focus of Christ’s message to every person then and to every person today is that the way of His Kingdom is first, foremost, and above all else a matter of the heart—a right attitude toward God and other people.

Our faith must be shown to be relevant in the world—flowing from the inside out and reflecting a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—to have any lasting and life-changing power in the world around us.

Uncommon Key > Don’t let your “religion” get in the way of your faith. Consider meeting with Christians of different denominations for Bible study and prayer. Unite in your common bond of belief in and love for Jesus Christ.