Refusing to be Short Changed

Revelation: Refusing to be Short Changed

Luke 10:25-37; Colossian 2:8; Luke 12:1

Let us continue last week’s theme.  The story in Luke 10:25-37 exposes a religious Spirit and a way to overcome it. Being religious can be worse than being an outright non-religious sinner. Karl Marx was not completely wrong when he alleged that religion is opium to people. If not checked, it blinds people to earthly opportunity to serve and be significant. Religion shortchanges by giving less than the real quest of the heart, which is life in Christ.

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself (Luke 10:25-27).

Religion is a form of godliness that denies Gods power (2 Timothy 3:5).  Zoe is the power that eliminates religion. Zoe is a spiritual living relationship with God. It is full life, which comes from being led by the Spirit. It is living by spiritual insight not traditional rules.  To experience eternal life (Zoe) requires that you love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, your entire mind and your neighbor as yourself. This requirement is impossible to fulfill apart from Christ. The religious lawyer however did not question how it could be achieved, instead he was keen to know how to identify his neighbor. He most likely expected the neighbor to be a fellow Jew. Jesus goes on to illustrate who the neighbor was and how religion pathetically fails to love him/her.  One’s neighbor is anyone in need. Unlike religion, life in Christ constantly looks out to touch and bring in new people to Christ, the answer.  It looks out to meet a need even if someone is of different background.

We live in a world where many are half-dead without Christ. A person without Christ is half-dead because if not reached in time  he/she will perish (John 3:16). It will take more than religion to rescue the half dead. It takes the life of our Lord Jesus Christ – the Good Samaritan. Jesus came to multiply good Samaritans. He saved us so he can save the half dead in our circles of interaction with people.

When the man attacked by robbers lay half-dead, two religious people a priest and a Levi passed by and did not help. Possibly, they thought he was already dead and touching a dead person would defile them. Possibly, they thought they did not need to be involved in the predicament of a stranger. Possibly, they were in a hurry to do service in the temple. Or to a prayer meeting. Could it also be that they feared being implicated in the man’s misfortune. Or feared that the robbers were still somewhere near and helping would endanger them. Whatever their reason they thought more of themselves and their religion more than a needy person. The Good Samaritan could also find reasons to pass by but decided to show love. He risked his life and testimony, and  it cost him time, convenience and money. He went beyond the minimum requirement by committing to paying the full bill and beyond (blank cheque). If your Christian service is centered on self and the already churched that is religion. Is it possible you can also fall in love with your own church people and programs and miss the church purpose, which is to be a source of help and hope to a needy world. We are called to press into God and press out to the community.

More indicators of a religious spirit:

Whenever the following tendencies are present, a religious spirit is operating. It must be repented from and resisted. It can wear pentecostal, mainline, or any other Christian garbs.

Religion is a spirit/mindset that substitutes religious traditions, rules and activities for the power of the Holy Spirit. It is holding on to and even dying for a form missing its function. What use is it to dress a corpse to kill when it is lifeless.

Religion is a righteousness centered on man. Religion is man doing his thing in the name of seeking or serving God. It is of man, for man by man. Man’s effort apart from God to save and preserve himself. Gen 3:13  It is man pleasing. It is looking at outward performance. God looks at the heart and intentions.  Often people do things in the eyes of God they would not dare do in front of people. They are more  are  afraid of people than God. Religion is man reaching to God. Life comes when God reaches down to humanity. Zoe is looking to Jesus. Zoe is that which is of God. In every Christian enterprise, organization or movement there is an element of life and of religion.

Religion is sticking to the way things have always been done even if its no longer effective. It is Saul’s armor. It is Nehushtan (2Ki 18:4). Religion is mechanical and inflexible. It is cold formalities. Life in Christ is progressive. Religion glories in what God has done in the past disregarding the present and future work of God. It is idolatry. It operates on outright error, or partial truth. Life in Christ puts truth first before miracles, appearances etc Jesus is truth – God’s property. The truth about your future, health, forgiveness and freedom, situation, children, spouse, finances, protection, provision.  Religion settles in a city/ past revelation but life in Christ seeks for a city.

Religion accommodates giants. Life in Christ overcomes them. Satan will let you worship as long as you live in sin, doubt and touch no one’s life for God.  Religion builds a golden calf on the ground. Life in Christ seeks God on the mountain.

Religion manipulates, intimidates, conforms and controls people. Life in Christ transforms from inside and is liberating. Religion locks you up, life in Christ moves you up.

Religion is legalistic and perfectionist. It condemns and accepts people because of outward performance. Its primary mission is to tear down the wrong instead of building the right. It does not tolerate mistakes of others. It is full of spiritual pride that sees other believers as less spiritual. Looking down on others and gossiping. Religion focuses on the negative and is blind to the good. Religion fails to meet its own standard of righteousness. So it leads to hypocrisy as the religious pretend they are meeting the standard. Life in Christ relies on Christ’s righteousness and power. Life in Christ is based on the undeserved favor (grace) of God through trust in the provision of the death and resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8).

The ministry of Christ our Lord was to seek and save the lost by preaching good news, forgiving sin, healing sickness, restoring hope and exposing the religious spirit.  Read Luke 5:21, 27; 6:1,2; 11:37f.; 13:14; 15:1,2  16:5; James 1:26

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa