God Hates Religion...

What’s up with religiosity?
Based on the way Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, I have no choice but to believe that God hates religion. Generally speaking, the idea of religion seems to sound good but… “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12.
Too many people have the wrong idea about religion anymore. I’ve decided to compose a list of characteristics of religion:

-All preach, no practice
-It’s a routine obligation
-Following heartless rituals
-Repetition of prayers (Matthew 6:7)
-Idol worship
Oh, the devil and his trickery!! Christianity is NOT a religion…at least it shouldn’t be. In spite of this affirmation there are many Christians who are religious, even among Fundamental Baptists. Following Christ is a relationship, a relationship where we obey God’s commands even when we don’t feel like it, a relationship that grows from day to day, a relationship where God is the center of our lives.
Here are some symptoms of a religious Christian (Note: You may suffer from some or all of the symptoms listed below):

-You find it easy to point out others’ mistakes before you look at your own sick condition
-You look for any reason NOT to go to church, examples: family reunion, too cold or rainy, no time to fix my hair, homework, too tired, too busy, had a sports game, had to watch the Super Bowl, had a tummy ache or head ache, etc.
-You think you’re a good Christian because you have been baptized, you say the Lord’s Prayer, and you volunteer in the community.
-Instead of reading the Bible, you read a bunch of spiritual helps
Please don’t take me wrong. All the things listed above are good, but then again, what the Pharisees did was also good. The problem is, it was all an outward show. God works from the inside out. So if you’ve got all the makings of a genuine Christian on the outside but lack the spiritual conviction, determination, and passion on the inside, then you’ve got a heart problem.
Our dedication to God should be without conditions. Yes, that means you’ll have to tell your family that you won’t make it to the reunion on Sunday because you have to go to church. Yes, that means you should finish your homework earlier in the week or stay up late to finish it after church. Yes, you’ll have to read your Bible more than A Purpose Driven Life book. After all if God really wanted us to read spiritual helps He would have left that for us, but no, He left us His Word…the Bible.
Let us apply religiosity repellent:
· Read God’s Word everyday (and pay close attention to what He says)
· Have the attitude that says, “Wild horses couldn’t drag me from a 2-hour sermon!”
· Be a soul-winner
· Be willing to go the extra mile for God
“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.”
-Mark 7:6