“In The Name Of Religion”

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I have given this subject much thought since the Lord saved me on Friday the 13th of November in 1992, but the Lord put it upon my heart just this morning to write this little article. It is my prayer that this little article will serve as a real blessing and not a hindrance to any who may read it. Now, this is truly a touchy subject to some as there are those who would fight you over this subject. That is good if it is true religion. However, there are many today and indeed from the beginning of the church that do all that they do in the name of religion, while there is no true religion in it.

My good friend, J. Harold Smith has a series of sermons entitled, "Traders In The Temple". This is a very good series of sermons and I would urge anyone who could to hear them. This series of sermons is taken from the Book of Mark in chapter 11. These verses of scripture describe how that the Lord entered into the temple and cast out the money changers and the traders in the temple. It is truly so sad to think that men would use the name of the Lord to profit themselves and to do it in the name of religion.

Yes, it is truly sad, but it is so true. It was true then and it is still true today. That day that the Lord cast out those money changers, He turned His back on such so called religion. He told them, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?..." Mark 11:17. Then He went on in that same verse to say, "but ye have made it a den of thieves." The next morning as Jesus and His desciples passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. Mark 11:20.

That was truly a sad sight to see, I'm sure. But our wonderful Lord explained it to them by simply saying, "Have faith in God." What He was telling them was that religion (true religion) must not come from some denomination or organization, but that it must come from within each of His children.

Today there are many, many denominations. Each boasting to have it right. There are even many denominations that have multiple denominations within them. The Baptist for example, has what they call the Southern Baptist, and then they have what is called the Free Will Baptist, and then there are those who call themselves the Independent Baptists. There are more I'm sure, but the point is that each of these claim to be "the right way". Friends, there is but one right way and that is the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ Himself gave the answer to all this in four words. Four wonderful, powerful words. "Have faith in God".

I am indeed a member of a local church and a very good one I might add. But I cannot depend upon that church for salvation. I cannot depend upon the doctrine of any denomination for salvation. I can only depend upon the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Now, if I depend upon any other thing, I am lost. I must "Have faith in God".

If you will read (really read) the Book of Exodus, you will see that the preparation of the tabernacle was nothing less than an awesome task. Each step in this preparation was accomplished to perfection just as God had instructed. Now the tabernacle in the Old Testament was to be a place of worship, just as the Temple of the New Testament was to be a place of worship.

The church today is to be a place of worship and as the Lord Himself said, "My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer". Likewise, each of His children, within himself should be a place of worship and be a "house of prayer". Within each one he must "Have faith in God". The thought for the day in my daily Bible reading outline says, "God will dwell with those who prepare Him a habitation". This little thought is so true and it would be a good thought for each of us for every day.

Now the Lord has truly blessed me in giving me some really good teachers to learn from as I try to grow in my walk with Him and I am very thankful for each of them. But my growth is ultimately dependant upon Him. When a person wants to learn a particular trade, they would benefit the most by going to the master of that trade for instruction. So also must be our walk with the Lord. We can and should learn from those God sends us, but just as our walk with Him is a personal one, our final instruction must come from the Master.

I don't know who all will read this little article nor who might be offended by it. I sincerely hope that no one will take offense to it, because none is intended as the intention of it is to be of a help and a blessing to all. But there are those who believe that their denominations have all the answers and that they are the only ones who will be going to heaven.

As I was blessed to be able to do some visiting in the surrounding area of my church recently in hopes of inviting people to visit the church, I came across many of another denomination who, when I would mention that I was from Anchor Baptist Church, they would immediately look at me as if they were looking at the devil himself. And they would make it clear that they wanted no part in hearing anything I had to say. It is a sad fact that those people are very dependant upon their denomination.

Those people had no idea what was in my heart as I stood there before them. And yet, they shut me out purely because I said that I was from a Baptist Church. Who can know a man's heart but God? He has a few words to say to them who think they have the way. He said, "I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominal things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all day". Isaiah 65:2-5.

Depending upon the righteousness of any denomination or religion is not what God commands nor accepts. He also went on to say, "Hear the Word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His Word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed". Isaiah 65:5. There are, always have been, and always will be those who will cast you out and believe that they are holier than you in the name of religion. But true religion is not in any denomination or organization, but it is what one child of God does for God, not to earn points with God, but because of what God has already done for that person. God help us all to do all that we do for Him and not because someone has said this is the way.