Content with Religion, or Satisfied in Christ?

    It’s one thing to be made a disciple of Christ by the sovereign grace of God.  It’s also another thing to be a participant in institutional religion.  There is a striking and vast difference between these things, but unfortunately many today confuse the two.   But the Scriptures require us to ask the question, are we truly following Christ, or are we merely propping up man’s traditions that bear His name?

     Consider this, if Jesus walked among us today, in bodily form, with His worn and calloused hands, His dusty feet, no man given title, or polished reputation, would we recognize Him as our Lord?  Or would we dismiss Him because He doesn’t fit the image we have inherited from our religious institutions?  Christ Himself once asked, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).  This is a sobering reminder to all of us that our profession does not necessarily mean we have true possession.

From Movement to Monument

    Christ’s good news of salvation in the New Testament started out with fisherman and outcasts walking the dusty roads, with vile sinners who were chosen by Christ Himself.  “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you” (John 15:16).  These believers met not in church buildings, but in homes to break bread together.  They endured severe persecution, and they did all this not because they were trying to establish a religion, but because the Spirit had quickened them to life.

    Yet, as time progressed, the message of free grace in Christ began to be buried by ritual.  By the time Christianity was fully absorbed by the Roman Empire, the simplicity of Christ had been replaced with splendor, and grace had been exchanged for law.  Bishops sat with emperors and kings, doctrines became the decree of men, and the radical gospel of God’s sovereign grace was dressed in the robes of religion.

    So what would Christ say to us if He were to bodily arrive in our churches today?  Would He be recognized?  Would He be allowed to speak?  Would He join in on our programs?  Or would He, as He did in Jerusalem, “overthrow the tables of the money changers.” (Matthew 21:12)?

Lost in Translation

    The Gospel was first spoken in the language of common men, but as it was debated and passed through councils, translators, and empires, the radical message of Christ and Him crucified for sinners was tamed and watered down.  Words were chosen to fit the politics of the day and of the ruling power.  The savior who emptied Himself in love for His people was reshaped into an image that suited rulers, politics, and religious systems.

    Yet we see in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, a reminder, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).  And when Christ is reshaped to please the systems of men, we lose the offense of the cross.  And when the cross is lost, all that is remaining is the empty religion of man.

From Family to Performance

    In the book of Acts, God’s people “continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  And all that believed were together, and had all things common” (Acts 2:42, 44).  There weren’t any stages.  There weren’t any performances.  There wasn’t a special section for the “important” people.  There were just sinners saved by grace and bound together by the Spirit.

    But in today’s religion, we see something entirely different.  Worship has become theater.  Lights, programs, and performances have taken the place of Spirit-filled fellowship.  Where is the discipleship in the Gospel?  We see devotion to religious ceremony.  But Christianity without true discipleship is an oxymoron.  It’s nothing more than Christianity without Christ.  And discipleship apart from grace is nothing more than works based righteousness dressed up in church clothes.

The Silence of the Pulpit

    Christ never avoided saying things that were hard for people to digest.  He confronted greed, hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and the abuse of power.  “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men” (Matthew 23:13).  But so many pulpits today prefer safer subjects.  They like to talk about tithing, being successful in this world, and self-help.  And they do this while ignoring the weightier and more important matters of the Gospel: sin, justice, mercy, grace, and Christ crucified.  Why?  Because the truth of God’s sovereignty offends the pride and sensibilities of men.

    Isaiah instructs us to “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).  Only Christ and His sovereign redeeming love can wash sinners clean.  And while it is true that this is the message that needs to be preached, all the precepts of Christ need to be preached as well. 

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” - Matthew 22:37

“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” - Matthew 22:39

“This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” - John 6:29

“Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” - Mark 1:15

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” - Luke 9:23

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” - John 13:34

“Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” - Luke 6:37

“Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” - Matthew 20:27

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” - John 13:14

“When thou prayest, enter into thy closet… and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” - Matthew 6:6

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…” - Matthew 6:9

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” - Matthew 6:33

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” - Mark 16:15

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” - Matthew 5:14

“He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”  - Matthew 24:13

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28

Which Jesus Do We Follow?

    There is the Christ of Scripture – the rejected rock of ages, the despised man of sorrows who had nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9:58), and then there is the Jesus of our culture – safe, tame, and useful for advancing our worldly causes.  But Paul warns us, “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whome we have not preached… ye might well bear with him” (2 Corinthians 11:4).   If the Jesus we follow never convicts us of our sin, never strips us bare of our wicked self-righteousness, never leaves us clinging only to His grace, then it’s not the true Jesus.

A Faith that is LIVED – not Performed!

    Christ didn’t come into this world to establish a club or organization.  He came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).  He came to call His disciples to daily take up their cross (Luke 9:23).  And carrying this cross is not meant to be safe or respectable.  It’s only by the power of His sovereign grace working in vessels of mercy that this can be accomplished.   “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). True discipleship isn’t about putting on your Sunday’s best and attending a church service.  But it’s about a daily walk in the light of His grace.  It’s not about trying to earn His favor but about living in the favor we’ve already secured in Christ.

My Invitation to You

    So, ask yourself this, have you confused following Christ with following church culture, or arguing doctrine with others online?  If the buildings were to fall, if the programs and church services were to cease, if the music were to stop, would your faith remain?

    Jesus promised us, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).  Grace doesn’t require a church building or pulpit.  It depends upon Christ alone.

    This isn’t about rebellion against the church; this is a remembrance of the Lord of the church.  It’s a plea to return to Christ alone and “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” – Mark 7:6

    Are you content with religion and the traditions of men, or are you clinging to Christ?