Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Day 297 - The Ugliest Religion in the World

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 262
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

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ANNOUNCING: Volume 2 of My Weakness for His Strength is now in print!  Available at ALMI.  May I encourage you to get one soon!




When something or someone tries to be anything it/he/she is never intended to be: UGLY is the result!  Michael gives us just how “ugly” Christianity IS as a “religion.”


DAY 297

The Ugliest Religion in the World


I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. --John 15:5

What, exactly, is the most ugly religion in the world? I have come in contact with countless religions, and I believe that I have found the absolute worst one. Christianity! That is right, Christianity! Why? Every other religion is created to be a religion, centering in laws, sites, chants, and ceremonies, things that signify the very nature of a religion. However, Christianity centers on and in Jesus. Christianity centers on a relationship with the Founder, who is not a teacher of new rules but is the Son of God, who was raised from the dead, actually living in and through the followers. When reduced to a list of behaviors to be imitated, Christianity is just too high of an ideal to attain. Since no one can imitate Jesus, the religious have to come up with a set of laws that they can imitate to exalt themselves over others. Take Jesus out of it and Christianity becomes ugly, if not out-and-out goofy. The religious cannot emphasize Jesus, else in so doing they hold up a model they are not able to imitate. Therefore, they hold up everything else that appears spiritual. Things I have heard during my travels are nearly unbelievable. “Wear a white shirt when you preach. White allows the Holy Spirit to get out of you easier!” “Jesus said to love your neighbor. That is why I am right to have an affair with my neighbor.” “The color red is never to be worn by a Christian; it is evil.” “A woman is never to enter the sanctuary in anything other than a dress.” “Command God to give you wealth and health in the name of Jesus. He has to obey you.” I could go on and on, but to what end? Christianity as a religion is undeniably ugly. By bringing Jesus back to the center where He belongs, letting Him live through us and lifting Him up without fear, no religion on earth can comparably measure up to Christianity. The world would be so uncomfortable by the contrast that they would have to rid themselves of us, just as they did Jesus.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory


One of the most hilarious activities I have observed in over 30 years of pastoring is this: the great number of Believers who are constantly talking about “lifting up Jesus,” but NEVER DO SO in their ordinary speech, day-to-day life, or “spiritual teaching.”  They have one focus: self/flesh.  How sad.  Their “do-do” religion just plain stinks.

Isn’t it interesting that exactly what Michael points out in his last statement is the exact thing that is happening in too many churches (forget the world!) by bringing the world into the church, and leaving out Jesus.  Worldly Believers are uncomfortable with Jesus.



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www .leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

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