Why blame religion? (Christian poem)

{A poem on those who mock religion using foul and ungodly language while totally ignoring the Biblical concept of religion, the Christian religion founded by Jesus Christ. May God open the eyes of those who attend church but attack religion. May others who are true to the faith, continue to be working for God instead of hating religion.}

 

Call it a fad or a lack of vision,
Some people say they hate religion.
As if it’s a serpent red or blue,
they label it as very untrue.

Religion is not legalism by any fact,
but they think that both are same, exact!
Maybe their dictionary doesn’t say belief,
so of religion they think it means thief.

Unwitting they fight what is God ordained,
using perverse words all fickle and unrestrained.
Instead of tackling the hypocrites by name,
their own actions make them the same.

Vainly they say religion preaches to harm and hate,
even when the Bible encourages to love the reprobate.
And yet they claim Jesus is their Lord dear,
when they have only have spread foolish fear!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

James 1:26-27

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

2 Timothy 3:5

having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

 

Further reading:

1. Is Christianity a religion or relation? (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)
2. Effects and dangers of preaching an incomplete Gospel (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)
3. Legalism won’t make you righteous (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)

Hypocrisy is a blessing stealer!

There are people who profess to be Christians and yet there seems to be no blessings in their life. One wonders what is going wrong with them. A little probing gets to the root of it and this answer is not so pleasant. The answer is not out there in the world and God is not to be blamed for it either. It’s something within the person: hypocrisy!

Let me make it real to you. I used to reach to out to a young man who was looking out to get married in life. He seemed financially alright. Not too bad with the looks either. Plus he was a pleasant talker. However, he kept telling me that he didn’t get the right person to marry. Also he would fall ill very often. I would preach to him but had my doubts about his sincerity.

Later I found that he already had a girl who’d meet his mother almost everyday and even do the dishes at home. Basically this girl wanted to marry him but he kept looking out for other women instead. This guy was such a hypocrite that he’d take his family to the church services but himself skip church time. So he’d just transport them to and fro from the worship service but roam around when the church prayers were being done. Also, that he would be using illegal drugs. Obviously, I was not impressed with this behaviour of his but didn’t tell him I came to know of his hypocrisy.

I met this man later and asked him when did he last attend church. The man was puzzled by this question. He told me that he went to church recently. So I asked of him that if he meant he actually prayed over there or just walked by the premises. Immediately, he turned hostile realizing that I knew of his hypocrisy and kept away from me. I couldn’t question him about why he allowed the poor potential fiance of his to come home and clean up the house along with his mother, when he clearly had no interest in marrying her. The last time I kept track of him, I found that he lost out a lot of money on some bad financial decision and his mom had to be admitted to the hospital too. Despite my efforts to contact him, he didn’t respond to the phone. At the end, I understood that just because he clung to his hypocrisy he couldn’t actually benefit from the preaching of the Gospel. He knew what the Gospel expects from him but he didn’t want to act in the right direction.

If you desire the blessings of God in your life then make sure that you eliminate all forms of hypocrisy from your life. Never ever misuse the trust of those who love you even if you don’t love them back! Sincerity in your walk with Christ is dependant on your choice so don’t get started with blaming the economy or some bad experience as an excuse for going away from the path of righteousness. If wish to get blessings with your prayers then pray without any guile and without any perverse intent, and you’ll see the difference for sure.

Verses for reflection:

1. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (Psalm 66:18)
2. The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29)
3. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. (John 9:31)
4. What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:1-3)

Related Articles:

Forever stuck on preaching to one person? (disciplesofhope.wordpress.com)

Don’t Squander the Grace of God (theaccidentalpoet.net)

Forever stuck on preaching to one person?

All praise be to the Lord God for his mercy towards all who repent. Thanks be to Jesus Christ the high priest of our confession. O Lord guide us by your Holy Spirit to have a right understanding of people and situations in our daily life and in doing your will on earth. Amen.

 

When preaching the Gospel one may at times encounter people who reject Christ or even don’t want to repent of their sins. The basic course of action nowadays to is to pray, reflect on the Bible and attempt once again to preach the Gospel to such people. At times this does work and people do actually repent and believe in the Gospel. Praise God for that!

Now there are people who are very stubborn and just do not want to accept the Gospel no matter what. They don’t care at all. They don’t want to listen and are adamant with their sinful lifestyles.  Are we to forever to keep having a go at them with our preaching?

The answer is a NO. Because even Jesus didn’t tell his disciples to keep on preaching forever to the persistently unrepentant. In fact here’s what he said to them:

Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (Luke 10:5-12)

Nowadays, if you were to act like this towards persistent rejectors of the Gospel, you’d be said to be a very ‘unloving’ and ‘unchristian’ person. However, you can refute such malicious judgments against you by quoting the above verses and saying Jesus himself spoke them. Also, if a person is condemning you because you’ve warned the people who rejected the Gospel, you must realize that such a person has no clue about how the Gospel works. The warning is not about insulting those unbelievers but to show them that they made a wrong choice.

An example

Let me make it real to you, suppose a person is on board a passenger aircraft which is about to crash in five minutes and the air hostess tells him to wear a parachute. This is so he can join with the other passengers who already are with parachutes and waiting their turn for the jump to safety. But that guy is instead insisting on sleeping. Besides he is refusing to look out of the window which can show him that the aircraft is actually losing altitude too fast. So at like the last two minutes, the air hostess who too is wearing a parachute is at the aircraft door and yells ‘You sir are delusional. Pick it up now and jump or be toast!’ and then jumps off to safety. However, this guy is even more offended and goes on to bear the grim consequences of the plane crash into the rocky ground. Can’t blame the air hostess for her grief that the man still refused her wise words.

A word of caution

People can react negatively if you say you wipe off the dust of their town because they rejected the Gospel. So pick the words of the warning wisely. You can say something like, “You’ve been given a good chance to hear the Gospel. I don’t know if you’d get it again so that you are truly free from sin and have eternal life.” or  “Though you are entitled to your opinions against the Gospel, I certainly don’t agree to them. I continue to believe I’ve chosen the path of life and peace by accepting the Gospel.”

Fact: people may reject the Gospel

With that being said, one of points of the above verses mentioned in Luke 10:5-12 is that Jesus wanted his disciples to be mentally prepared to accept the fact that there will be people who’d reject the Gospel preached to them. Jesus didn’t tell them who exactly would be the rejectors of the Gospel. God knows best why at times we are not given a list of people who’d reject the Gospel. Wouldn’t that save our time? Yes but how will the scriptures be fulfilled? Our work is to preach the Gospel regardless of whether the person may or may not accept it. This is so that the world is given the testimony of salvation and only then can the end come. Here the specific verses:

But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13: 9-11)

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14)

From these verses its very clear that the Gospel must be preached to all nations as a testimony to them and then the end will come. So you cannot be indefinitely hung up on preaching to that one person who made up his or her to keep rejecting the Gospel. You could have used that time to reach out to the next person whom God leads to you to, so that person could hear the Gospel and be set free.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)

Preach but don’t be taken for a ride

There are people who are still in need of the Gospel. Spend your time preaching it to them. Some of them may reject it but others will accept it. However, you will have given more people the Gospel. In fact more than just that one person who was being used by the Devil to limit your preaching only that one. Keep this in mind the next time you encounter such a person who enjoys getting cheap and profane thrills by rejecting the Gospels and then at the end you’d know that you are not the first person who tried to preach the Gospel. Yes, such vile crooks exist. They won’t say that they have been preached over many times but they don’t bother. They will just want to see how much they can wear you out after they have mocked the Gospel.

Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the pigs, lest they shall trample upon them with their feet, and having turned, tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)

Some real life examples

I faced some situations in which people acted smart to play ignorant first and then try to attack. Here’s how it ended for two of them:

The first one, even before I’d say anything, he told me that he doesn’t want to repent and won’t trust a ‘deity’ who asks him to be pure. Somehow in my mind I realized that he seems to be aware of the Gospel’s call for repentance. He then asked me what is my reaction to what he said. I looked straight into his eyes and told him to go and live with the consequences of his decision. That was a shocker to him and he asked me if I want to try to convince him not be a sinner. He expected me to be super polite and keep saying ‘bless you’ while trying to convince him to accept the Gospel. Then since I was not bothered to preach to him, he mentioned he is aware of the Gospel but doesn’t want to accept it and has tackled many others who try to reform him. Again, I replied that it’s his choice and the consequences are his to bear. He was still astounded by my reply and I left him. This saved me from letting him have an ego trip at my expense.

The second one, at least this guy would come to speak to me and hear about the Gospel whenever he saw me. However he would not reply much. So I asked him to pray with me and he said he doesn’t have time to pray. Then I inquired how many times does he have food everyday, like is it 3 or 4 times. My intention was to get him to pray just before eating since he was not willing to pray with me. He said he doesn’t eat! So again I knew something’s not right with him and I asked if he at least eats once a day. And he again said he only smokes which make him not need food. Obviously that was a lie. Though a chronic smoker might have a reduced appetite it doesn’t mean it won’t take his need for food forever. So I let this one be stuck to his own logic. And started reaching out to others who were receptive to the Gospel.

An interesting fact

I’ve have heard and even noticed it for myself that on various social media websites, there are impious trolls who keep asking tricky questions about Christ and things of the Bible. Their idea is not to learn from Christians who may respond to their questions. It’s just to upset or confuse believers. Now, to the fact which I wanted to mention. Most of these trolls simply go to their precious little skeptic websites which they frequent and adore a lot. Lacking originality they simply copy paste those questions and then put them on social media websites usually those which have video sharing. Then come the debate sessions in form of comments between them and Christians. I simply copied those questions and did an online search which led me to the skeptic websites and also to Christian apologetic websites which already have a fitting answer those questions. Wonder why don’t these trolls visit Christian apologetic websites and get their answers from there instead. The obvious thing is that they won’t try to tackle those well versed in debates and refutations of their questions and allegations against the Gospel. Food for thought!

Finally what else must one remember

I’d say keep Jude 1:17-25 (mentioned below) in mind and you’ll do well. Here we go:

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”  It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.  And have mercy on those who doubt;  save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.  Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,  to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Beware of those who poison your spirit

Beware of those who poison your spirit. These are people who despise wisdom. They only love deceitful pleasures of the world. They may say they love the Lord or love wisdom but their actions betray their words.

‘Are you a preacher?’ I often have heard people within church settings say that to each other when someone tells them to do good and avoid evil. This attitude is silly.

Imagine a traffic policeman asking you keep your car blinkers on at night, would you dare say the same? Suppose you are telling someone to do good and they ask you ‘are you a preacher?’ then you can ask ‘going by that logic if a preacher told you this would you actually do good?’ Even before they can answer I can tell you that either they would repent or feel offended at such a question. Don’t feel bad if they got offended. Just remind them that they offended God by trying to be legalistic when it comes to repentance.

If you are feeding a poor orphan on the road, do so freely. Not every one can adopt orphans but they can at least do a little to make the kid feel respected. Don’t give into people’s negative comments about your good works. Remember you are doing it for the glory of God and not for praises of men. So if people criticize you for being kind to the poor remind those people that when they were babies someone too had to look after them and that they didn’t become self sufficient in a day.

If you are facing problems and all your friend can do is remind you of your mistakes without offering a way out then better keep away from him. You are not a bad person if you avoid those who try to undermine your desire to live expecting a breakthrough from God above. These may say they are Christians but in reality are functional atheists. Keep away from such kind.

The Bible warns us about people who show themselves as religious but deny that by their behavior. We are advised to keep away from them.”having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”(2 Tim 3:5)

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that I am with good people who encourage me in all that is good. Keep me away from those who want to poison my spirit. Let my spirit be free to love and serve you. Give me the will power to say NO to all who try to undermine your will for my life. Keep me free from all complainers against God, people of profane speech and those who discourage and promote gossip. I break all my soul ties with any such people in the name of Jesus so that I’m always mindful of Christ. Amen and amen.

Jesus – the Lord of vengeance

Often we think of Jesus as merciful and rightfully so. Because he took upon himself the sins of the world. He is the Son of God who gives us real salvation.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)

However there’s another side to this. Jesus is also the Lord of vengeance. Because where there is injustice there follow the judgements from God. For though God is merciful he is also holy. Due his holiness God won’t forever stay his sword of judgement. Jesus is not  trigger happy. He does give time for people to repent but if they keep ignoring the call to holiness then he can and will execute justice.

Let’s read Nahum 1: 2-6 which says;

The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

The above verses do show the strong vengeance of God. Notice this wrath is directed to the enemies of God. These verses also show God is slow to anger. Jesus will always do things as per God’s will. So when he is asked by God to judge the wicked you know well that he won’t refuse his Father in heaven.

Happy are those whom God lavishes his love on! The love of God and the wrath of God are both very intense in their workings.  God’s love and mercy made Noah and his family escape the Lord’s judgement by flood on the rest of the world. The love which comes from Christ changed Saul the murderer of Christian’s into Paul the Apostle who then led many to Jesus. While the wrath of God brought down death and worms on Herod who tried to exalt himself a human to the level of being called a god. God’s anger cast down the rebellious angels including Satan from heaven to hell, who all have a limited time before the Final Judgement.

Don’t just limit this as a warning to the church as the warning is for the whole world. Jesus is coming again to judge the world because they have loved the darkness and despised the light. He will take account of every wicked thing that ungodly men and women have spoken against God and heaven.

Here’s what Revelation 19:11-21 says about Jesus;

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Here are a few verses on the Lord’s vengeance on sinners :

– For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the bloodshed on it, and will no more cover its slain. (Isaiah 26:21)

– For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. (Psalm 75:8)

– For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” (Hebrews 10:30)

Now take heart if you have sinned but are willing to forsake your wicked ways. Because Jesus takes away the sins of those who repent and believe in the Gospel. For he came to take on himself the just wrath of God for our sins. Those with faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ have nothing to fear. It’s those who refuse to leave sin and unbelief who are to fear the Lord Jesus at the Final Judgment. Now a word of warning for all Christians; the Lord knows who really believes in Him and those who don’t trust but are hypocrites. So value the righteousness of Jesus and keep trusting in him and never waste your time in pleasing the world.

Remember that those who abide in Christ are safe from God’s judgment including the Final Judgment which is an eternal one. Those who believe in the Lord Jesus are not appointed for wrath from God.

Here are a few scriptures to reflect on:

– Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)

– Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)

– If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (John 15:6)

– For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

– By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

I now end this reflection on Jesus our Lord, with the following verses:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3–5)