The problem is that we've viewed the Scripture from the perspective of 'must do', 'must perform', 'must make happen'. All along the Scripture has been intended to be viewed from the perspective of discovery of who God is and who we are and all that God has for us and intend to work in us but only in the context of relationship with Him.

- Adapted from an article in BodyLife Magazine.

Look at what Jesus says to those playing the religious/power trip...what would he say today?

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Mark 7:5-13 (niv)

⁵So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"

⁶He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
   " 'These people honor me with their lips,
      but their hearts are far from me.

⁷They worship me in vain;

their teachings are but rules taught by men. ⁸You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

⁹And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe^[c] your own traditions! ¹⁰For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,'^[d] and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.'^{[e] 11}But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), ¹²then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. ¹³Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

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I could see verse 5 being adapted to today's issues like this:

• So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of playing this music?"
• So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of wearing those non-dressy clothes?"
• So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of playing kickball with the youth?"

I'm too tired right now to come up with items that are more clever, but you get my point.

They looooooved the rules! It gave them permission to be that cop hiding behind the billboard with his radar gun..just waiting to catch people and issue them a citation. (Sorry Tobias Odom..I know your a good man!)

Lovers of religion, with it emphasis on human effort, head knowledge and appearances, will always be uncomfortable around those who aren't playing the game with them. Religion demands action/reward in everything. Ignoring grace and often reality along the way.

You can dress up a "turd" in a nice suit, put on a nice, smiley faced mask, and spray it with the best perfume/cologne around..but it's still a "turd"...and it stinks!

Religion tells you to check your honest self at the church door, sit with people for an hour long meeting -and call it fellowship, have prayer requests but only reveal your "acceptable sins" -and call it accountability, discuss grace but don't apply it as reality. The list is endless...

In contrast, a relationship with Christ will free you from wearing the masks and from having to play the power/guilt/legalistic games so prevalent in the dying, in-effective gatherings we have called church.

Our buildings will likely become filled more often when we offer the true hope of Christ. Life is hard enough, and those un-churched are seeking..but certainly not seeking more bondage. 

Goodnight,

jamie

PS- I'm definitely in heavy blog mode right now...if it keeps up, I will write a book more in depth about my personal experiences with religion. Based on responses to the last few blogs, this message resonates and relates far beyond Gibson County, Indiana. I don't feel qualified to write, but the disciples didn't seem to be qualified for much either, they just followed the calling.

¶ 5/27/2009