Why I Am No Longer a Roman Catholic: Part 5 – Mary

Mary, the mother of Jesus, has an exalted place in Roman Catholic theology. How did this come to be? Is it biblical or an example of misguided church tradition veering into something unbiblical that is perhaps more pagan than Christian?

Years ago I had an opportunity to make my first trip to Mexico and vividly remember visiting the cathedral in Taxco. It was a massive stone edifice, impressive on the outside and full of gold on the inside. I noted the gold that covered the altar wall, the multitudes of statues of the saints, and, as I walked down the center aisle, looking down and to my left into an open stone crypt that held a wax dummy of a crucified and dead Jesus. (For a Biblical Christian, this was extremely odd, since we worship a risen Savior, not a dead one.) The biggest impression that visit left with me was the incredible influence and power the Roman Catholic Church had in Mexico. For the first time in my life I saw Roman Catholicism in its “raw” form, which is very different from how it presents itself in the United States.

I also remember driving through the countryside and noting the multitudes of roadside shrines which contained statues of Mary, specifically ones dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, in honor of an appearance she purportedly made to a young peasant named Juan Diego in 1531 in what is now Mexico City. (You can read more about this by clicking here.) Whoever this being was that appeared to Juan, “she” requested that a church be erected in her honor, which is now the most visited Catholic shrine in the world. This being told Juan not to fear because she was his mother. In order to prove her authenticity she supposedly healed Juan’s uncle who was near death and imprinted an image of herself on his cloak. On the right is a photo of the how “Mary” supposedly. This image is located in that shrine. 

This is not the only time Jesus’ mother is reported to have appeared to someone in a very special way. On February 11, 1858, the Virgin purportedly appeared to a young peasant girl name Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. On the eighteenth time she appeared to Bernadette, “Mary” declared that she was the “Immaculate Conception.” The Catholic Church later officially adopted this declaration as an official infallibly correct doctrine, which holds that Mary was conceived and born without any stain of original sin, just like Jesus. No explanation was given as to how that could have taken place or why it is not mentioned in the Bible.

Mary was also supposed to have appeared to three young children in Fatima, Portugal in 1916 and 1917. The children described the apparition as a lady “more brilliant than the sun.” It was here that the Catholic Church’s devotion to praying the Rosary escalated after the apparition said that a daily praying of the Rosary was a key to personal and world peace. The Rosary is a string of beads that helps the one praying to repeat prayers is a particular order. The most repeated prayer is called the “Hail, Mary,” which directly asks Mary to intercede or advocate with us before God. Here are the words.

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

The apparition also said the following:

Jesus wishes to use you to make me better known and loved. He wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. No, my child [you will not be alone], and would that make you suffer? Do not be disheartened. My Immaculate Heart will never abandon you, but will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.

There are around 500 examples of Mary appearing to people in special ways. Jesus’ mother has come to be known by many titles that are sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church, which include the following heretical names: “Mother of the Church” (Lourdes), Mother of God, Immaculate Mary, and Queen of Heaven.

And now for an application. As I mentioned earlier in this article, one of the names given to Mary is Queen of Heaven. The prophet Jeremiah mentions a pagan deity with the same name (Jeremiah 44:25), which probably was a reference to Ishtar, a goddess of fertility from which the word Easter is derived. (Syncretism shows its ugly face again.) In fact, this title of Queen of Heaven has been given to female goddesses throughout the world: Athor (Egypt), Virgo Deipara (Tibet and China), Hestia (Greece), and Juno (Rome). It is very troubling that by elevating Mary to an unbiblical status and naming her after a pagan goddess, the Roman Catholic Church has facilitated a form of goddess worship.

My home church in Greensboro when growing up was called Our Lady of Grace. Her image show rays of grace descending downward from her hands, illustrating how Mary has been transformed by the Catholic Church’s doctrine and tradition from being the one who received amazing grace and favor to being the one through whom grace flows to people, something reserved to our Lord Jesus.

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:16–17 (NASB95) —

Mary was indeed a most favored woman whom God chose to conceive and give birth to the supernatural/human Son of God who was both God and man. Jesus’ divine side came from the Holy Spirit, but his human side came from Mary. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception makes Mary out to be every bit as sinless and divine as her amazing Son, something that is unbiblical and illogical and which is a cornerstone of her arising to the status of Queen of Heaven. If Mary were indeed sinless, then she, too, would have been fathered directly by God, but this is not so. Mary was specially favored but very much a human, according to the Bible’s portrayal. According to Scripture, she and Joseph had other children after Jesus’ birth, one of whom (James) became the head of the church in Jerusalem.

And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:24–25 (NASB95) —

“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” Matthew 13:55–56 (NASB95) —

The Catholic Church, however, insists that she remained a virgin for the rest of her life.

The non-biblical doctrine of Mary’s Assumption, that is, that she was taken bodily into heaven, is also foundational to her eventual status as the Queen of Heaven. Adding these additional doctrines to church tradition is a clear example of adding to the words of the Bible, something expressly forbidden in the Scripture. (Deuteronomy 4:2 and Proverbs 30:6) The prophet Isaiah also wrote:

To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. Isaiah 8:20 (ESV)

Paul also warns that Satan is able to disguise himself as an “angel of light,” (2 Corinthians 11:14)  if need be, in order to deceive. Paul also wrote that the church would eventually be attacked by what he called “doctrines of demons.”

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 1 Timothy 4:1 (NLT)

Therefore, if any doctrine does not agree with what is written in the Bible, it means that it does not come from God.

This goes back to the basic question as to the authority of Scripture versus the authority of church dogma and tradition. One or the other must reign supreme. We cannot have it both ways.

As Queen of Heaven and as Christ’s mother, Mary is supposed to have enormous powers of influence with her Son even today. Church members are encouraged to pray to her as a type of mediator between God and them.

It is important to remember that Jesus specifically told us to pray directly to our heavenly Father.

At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.  John 16:23 (NLT)

In other words, Jesus said, “You don’t even need to go through me any longer. You can go directly to Abba!”

The concept of using Mary as an intermediary in prayer if totally foreign to the Bible and another example of layering church tradition on top of Bible truth and coming up with falsehood.

The amazing truth of Christianity is that Jesus opened the way for us to have direct access to Father God, to whom belongs all the glory and honor and devotion. When Jesus died, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom, something that only God could do, giving all believers direct access to God’s presence.

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; Hebrews 10:19-23 (NASB)

Why would anyone want to be part of a religious system that places intermediaries between us and Father God, as if God somehow were not happy with us and would not listen to our prayers? I have no problem with there being saints in heaven, including Mary, who care about us and who perhaps even pray for us, but the Bible never says anything about them having a mediatorial prayer function. The only person having such a function is our Lord Jesus.

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:34 (ESV) 

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25 (ESV) 

(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One, 1 John 2:1 (NET1) 

Placing Mary and the other saints in Christ’s place distracts and detracts from Jesus’ role as our Supreme Advocate and Intercessor.

And besides this, we have another advocate right here on earth, who indwells every believer. His name is the Holy Spirit.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.  John 14:16-17 (NLT) 

I believe the devil would rather a person turn to Mary than directly to God. In so doing, they are likely, though unwittingly, turning to a pagan deity called the Queen of Heaven, which is sad, terrible, and dangerous.

Why would anyone choose a lesser advocate (a priest, Mary, or the saints) over the greater One? Why would anyone prefer to have heavenly humans plead their case instead of God Himself? I believe the answer lies in a paucity of biblical understanding and a lack of relationship with God through the new birth which is a result of Roman Catholic teaching and practice. God is seen as distant and difficult to approach, and church members can never be quite sure if they are good enough to please Him and remain in His good graces. They feel that they need someone on the “inside” working for them to gain God’s favor. How sad is that?

Jesus came to give all believers great favor with God, not just Mary. Jesus came to make us all beloved and favored sons and daughters.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16 (NLT)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him Ephesians 1:3–9 (NASB95) —

Whereas Biblical Christianity provides believers with assurance of being accepted and loved by God through faith in Christ, Roman Catholic teaching leaves its followers stranded on a performance treadmill, trying to stay on God’s good side by keeping church rules and rites, using priests as earthly mediators of grace and absolution from sin, and praying to Mary and the saints instead of directly to God the Father – all without having any final assurance of salvation. I well remember what that was like; but, when I was born again through faith in Christ, I left all that behind. Now I turn to Christ for forgiveness. I am no longer under the performance-based “keeping of the Law” to earn God’s favor. I have been given the gift of right standing with God through Christ.

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. Romans 5:1-2 (NLT) 

I do not have to go through others to ask God to help me out. Instead, I do as Jesus commanded and ask my Heavenly Father for what I need.

Mankind is religious by nature, and, without revelation from the Holy Spirit, we will always seek to build our own system of salvation. It started with Cain who offered his own idea of a good sacrifice instead of what God wanted. It found further expression at Babel when the inhabitants tried to erect a building to reach to the heavens. It now exists in the Catholic Church and every other man-made religion, including legalistic Protestantism. There is only one way to be free. We must believe in Christ alone and reject every other way to heaven.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT) 

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Why I Am No Longer a Roman Catholic: Part 4 – The Mass

 

 

 

 

One of the huge disparities between what the Catholic Church teaches and practices and what the New Testament teaches relates to the priesthood and the Mass. The Catholic Church has blended Old Covenant ideas and rites with the New Covenant, an abominable form of syncretism. The priesthood and Mass are rooted in Old Covenant types, which have already been perfectly fulfilled by Christ and rendered obsolete by God.

Under the Old Covenant, the people of Israel generally had no direct access to God. Although God revealed himself to various leaders and spokesmen (for example, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and the prophets), he set up the sacrificial system as the means for his people to approach him and stay in a temporary right relationship with him. The priests acted as mediators between God and the people and offered daily sacrifices on their behalf. However, these sacrifices had no power to make the people right with God. The blood of animals could never do this, only the blood of God’s own Son.

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10:4 (NASB95) —

The purpose of the Old Covenant was to prepare God’s people for their coming Messiah.

The Law pointed out our need for God’s forgiveness and intervention through the only sacrifice that had the power to save us. Once Jesus came and fulfilled the Old Covenant and introduced the New Covenant in his blood, the Old Covenant was rendered obsolete.

But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. 7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. 8 But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the LORD. 10 But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” 13 When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:6–13 (NLT) —

Old Covenant priests were required to offer daily sacrifices, and once a year, and only once a year, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies, where God dwelled, to sprinkle blood on the Ark of the Covenant on the Day of Atonement in order to provide temporary forgiveness for himself and the people.

The sacrificial system and Day of Atonement pointed to its fulfillment when Jesus died on Calvary and subsequently rose from the dead as Lord. The introduction of the New Covenant through Christ marked a drastic and complete break with the Old Covenant.

Again we turn to the Letter to the Hebrews.

Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God. 23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. 26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. 28 The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever. Hebrews 7:22-28 (NLT)

The Old Covenant sacrificial system could never remove sin. It was a stop gap measure until the true Lamb of God would come and shed his blood. God accepted the sacrifices made under the Law, if they were made in faith, because that was the only way God had revealed up until that time.

When Christ came to fulfill all the requirements of the Law on our behalf, there was no longer any need for the “shadow” provided by what the Old Covenant required.

History informs us that some 37 years after the crucifixion of Jesus, the Temple was destroyed and the Jewish sacrificial system abolished forever. This fits perfectly with what the author of Hebrews wrote.

When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13 (NLT)

The Letter to the Hebrews explains that what Christ accomplished on the cross is a perfect and complete work which will never be repeated.

Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:11-14 (NLT)

I am convinced the old sacrificial system will never be reinstated. What would be the purpose now that Christ himself has been offered?

Now to the crux of things: the Council of Trent established the following doctrine: “If any one saith, that the sacrifice of the mass is only a sacrifice of praise and of thanksgiving; or, that it is a bare commemoration of the sacrifice consummated on the cross, but not a propitiatory sacrifice; or, that it profits him only who receives; and that it ought not to be offered for the living and the dead for sins, pains, satisfactions, and other necessities; let him be anathema.” (Trent: On the Sacrifice of the Mass: Canon 3)

By purporting to re-sacrifice Christ on the altar each time a Mass is celebrated, albeit an unbloody one, the Catholic Church not only defies the clear teaching of Scripture, but it abominably pretends to oversee or mediate that sacrifice with its own order of priests!

Propitiation is the appeasement of divine wrath providing forgiveness. If one is to follow the clear teaching of Scripture, it is impossible to embrace any teaching that says Christ is re-sacrificed over and over again in an expiatory manner.

The New Testament also clearly teaches that the Old Covenant priesthood was abolished with the coming of the perfect High Priest, Jesus the Messiah. Instead, Peter writes in his First Letter that the entire church has been made a “holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5) These spiritual sacrifices are clearly enumerated in the New Testament and include dedicating ourselves to God, praise, doing good, and generously sharing with others. (Romans 12:1-2, Hebrews 13:15-16)

Old Covenant priests stood in the gap or mediated between God and men, bringing the people’s sacrifices to God and taking God’s word and blessings to the people. The Catholic Church teaches that its priests also serve in a mediatorial role between God and the people. They are said to act as mediators of God’s grace by administering the sacraments to the people. For example, if a person wants her sins absolved, she must confess these sins to a priest, do some form of penance, and then receive absolution or cleansing from those sins from the priest. (It is also taught that absolution can be directly received from God if the contrition is “perfect,” that is, it is totally selfless, being only concerned about God’s side of things and having no thought for ourselves. I think such a form of contrition is virtually impossible.)

The Bible teaches, on the other hand, that Christ has provided access for every believer to come directly to God to receive what is needed, especially the forgiveness that was once for all provided by Christ’s perfect sacrifice on the cross.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 (NLT)

It is clear that the New Covenant radically altered all believers’ relationship with God. No longer are we dependent on a priesthood to mediate between us and God.

Instead, as Jeremiah prophesied and the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews affirms:

But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Hebrews 8:10-12 (NLT)

When I discovered the glorious promises and the astounding realities of the New Covenant, how could I ever return to a church that teaches doctrines rooted in an abolished Old Covenant system? How could I allow the imposition of a priestly class of mediators between me and God? How could I support a purported re-sacrificing of Christ in the Mass, when the Bible teaches that his sacrifice was perfect and will never be repeated? How can I go back to asking God’s forgiveness through a priest when God has already provided that through Christ and has given me direct access to his throne? I hope it is becoming increasingly clear to you, the reader, that I had no choice but to leave the Church of my youth.

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Why I Am No Longer a Roman Catholic: Part 3 – Sola Scriptura

 

 

 

 

 

How did I go from being a devout Catholic to being an evangelical Protestant? It all revolves around what the reformers called “sola scriptura.”

After my new birth experience, I had no plans to leave the Catholic Church. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Since I grew up in the church, I knew a lot about it. I had believed its teachings and followed its traditions for most of my life. I had seen it transition from using Latin during the Mass (which I had to memorize as an altar boy) to the use of the common language of the people. I had been a part of implementing other changes after the Second Vatican Council, many of which were moving in a good direction. Actually, my involvement in the church increased over the next two or three years as I helped to lead music at what were called guitar Masses, an attempt to blend the music of the Seventies with the traditional Mass. I taught children in the Catholic version of Sunday School. So then, what happened that led me to depart from the church I had known and served for most of my life?

Putting the Bible in the hands of common people fueled the movement called the Protestant Reformation more than anything else.

The Catholic Church had long kept that book in the hands of the Church hierarchy and veiled in the Latin language. When it became available to the masses thanks to the courage of translators, who sometimes gave their lives to do this service, and the wonderful timing of the introduction of the printing press, people began to read the Bible for themselves. They saw discrepancies between what the Bible teaches and Church doctrine and practice. Basically this is what happened to me as well.

One of the rallying cries of the Protestant Reformation was “sola scriptura.” This Latin phrase contains three major ideas: 1) The scriptures have the deciding authority in the church and believer’s life, 2) the scriptures are sufficient for salvation, and 3) the scriptures are clear enough to be understood by the average person.

The Roman Catholic Church taught that the authority of the bishops and Pope (the magisterium) could overrule the Scriptures. Only the bishops and Pope could properly interpret the Bible; therefore, their decisions regarding what it meant overruled what anyone else might think. They introduced extrabibical doctrines and practices, such as the Mass, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption of Mary, purgatory, holy days of obligation, and indulgences. Until the invention of the printing press, most common people were not able to read the Bible in their own language, putting them at the mercy of church teachers, who sometimes hid, twisted, or flatly contradicted the meaning.

Sola scriptura meant that the people could turn directly to the Bible without going through the mediation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Secondly, the Bible teaches that we are saved simply by believing what the Bible teaches, especially regarding faith in our Lord. Over the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church introduced several other “necessary” ingredients, which kept people dependent on the church as the mediator between them and God. This “adding” to the gospel is clearly condemned in the Bible.

Sola scriptura meant that people no longer needed to use the church to get to God. He was directly accessible to them.

Thirdly, even though some scriptures are difficult to understand, even for trained interpreters, the general meaning and teaching of the Bible can be understood by the average person, even a child.

Sola scriptura meant that ordinary people were empowered and encouraged to read, study, and understand what the Bible teaches.

People no longer had to depend on a church hierarchy to understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit could teach them.

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27 (NLT) —

One of the marks of a born again believer is a hunger to read, study, understand, and obey the teachings of the Bible.

Jesus said:

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32 (NLT) —

One of the major hurdles that every believer faces is whether or not the Word of God will have complete authority in his or her life. I personally faced this test not long after becoming a Christian, in maybe about a year. When I first was born again, all I really knew was that Jesus is God’s Son, who died for me and rose from the dead. I still had a lot of confusion about other things because I did not know what the Bible said yet. But I kept reading and studying it. I remember wrestling with the decision of whether to submit completely to its instruction and commands. Maybe for some this would be a “no brainer,” but, for a Catholic, it is a big deal. In a sense, I had to overcome what some call brainwashing.

If I were to accept the Bible as my greatest authority, I would have to reject some of the Church’s teachings and its authority in my life. Yes, this was a big deal! To walk away from the church was to turn my back on what I had been taught all my life would enable me to go to heaven. It would mean I would put all my eggs in the basket of trusting simply in what the Bible teaches and in what Jesus did for me when he died and rose again. It would mean that I would no longer depend on the Roman Catholic Church for anything. A big step… one that some are not willing to take.

Jesus warned the Jewish hierarchy of his day, the equivalent of the Roman Catholic magisterium, that they were guilty of nullifying the clear teaching of God’s Word in favor of their religious traditions. (Mark 7:13) He warned them that the scriptures cannot be altered. (John 10:35) In fact, Jesus is the divine Logos, the eternal word of God. (John 1:1, 14) To invalidate the Bible in favor of religious tradition is the worst sort of idolatry. Instead we are to trust completely the promises of God, which are sufficient to save us. Abraham is a clear example. God promised that he would have innumerable descendants when he was a childless old man. He took God at his word, and Bible says that God put him into a right relationship (justified) with him. (Genesis 15:6) Simple faith is what saves us, faith in the gospel announcement that Jesus died for our sins and rose again as Lord of Lords. (Galatians 2:16)

Jesus taught, even rejoiced in the fact, that God reveals his Word to common people.

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 “Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. Matthew 11:25–26 (NASB95) —

Jesus broke the power of the hierarchy to control access to God’s truth in his day, he did it again during the Reformation, and he is still working.

He warned the Jewish leaders that he knew what they were doing.

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. Matthew 23:13 (NLT) —

After studying the Bible and praying, I, like many others over the centuries, began to see clearly how the Roman Catholic Church had established traditions and doctrines that run contrary to God’s Word. To remain in that Church would require me to turn my back on the authority of the Bible in favor of the authority of Church tradition and the Pope, something I could not do. As Martin Luther famously said when he stood trial before the Church, “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”

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Why I Am No Longer a Roman Catholic: Part 2 – Grace vs. Legalism

In Part 1 of this series, I described my new birth experience and the realization that my new relationship with God through Christ had little or nothing to do with what I had been taught or seen modeled in the Catholic Church. This does not mean that there is no truth in the Catholic Church or that no godly people are part of that church. Quite the contrary! I learned about God, sin, and judgment there. I learned about God’s demand upon us to live according to his laws. I also met people whom I now realize likely were true born again believers. There are true believers in every church, but unfortunately there are those who are merely following the tenets of man-made religion in every church, too. Jesus called them “tares” or weeds growing among the true wheat. Even in churches which preach the true gospel, counterfeit believers are present. Most likely, they do not even know that they are false brethren. Deception runs deep, and self-deception is the worst of all.

The official teaching of the Catholic Church is that we gain entrance into the church through the sacrament of baptism and maintain a relationship with God by keeping his commandments, church laws, and through the grace brought to us through the Mass and the seven sacraments. Living in a “state of grace” is fluid, and we are always in danger of losing it by committing what are called “mortal” sins. When this happens, the only way back into God’s good graces is through what is called “perfect contrition” (which is pretty much impossible to attain) or by confessing our sins to a priest and receiving absolution from him. One can never be completely sure of his or her final destiny, because that depends upon our being in a state of grace at the time of death. We were encouraged to “make” nine First Fridays (go to Mass and receive communion on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month) so that we could be assured that we would have the opportunity to make a good confession prior to death. This is called an indulgence, which is basically a promise or guarantee from God (through the authority of the church) based upon some good work we perform. But indulgences are only the tip of the legalistic iceberg. All of salvation is performance-based in the Catholic Church.

Jesus did not secure our salvation, he only made it possible for those who keep the rules.

All sorts of laws are in place that must be kept to stay right with God, some based on the Ten Commandments and others on church tradition. This was also the case in Judaism at the time when Christ ministered. When I was very young, we were forbidden to eat meat on Fridays. Later, this rule was abandoned. (I have often wondered if those who were burning in hell because of violating this commandment were set free when the church changed its mind. Smile.) We were required to attend Mass on Sundays and other “Holy Days of Obligation,” or be condemned. Later Saturday evening was included to help people meet their Sunday requirement. Because of the Catholic Church’s performance orientation to salvation, Catholics are on a perpetual treadmill of going to confession, trying hard to remain in a state of grace by not committing mortal sins, committing mortal sins, and going to confession again. One just hopes that he will not die before he can get to confession! I remember realizing as a kid that God already knew whether or not I would die in a state of grace or not and wondering if my destiny was heaven or hell.

There was no way for me to have any assurance, and that is no way to live.

When we grow up in such as system, we think it is normal and right. By default, human beings tend toward legalism because we understand that we are fallen beings who need to get back into a right standing with God. We just do not know how to get there. We think it is by earning our way back, but that is impossible. The only way is for us to be forgiven, not just temporarily, but once and for all. Is this even possible? The Bible says it is.

For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Hebrews 7:26–27 (NASB95) —

When I experienced the new birth and the Holy Spirit came to live in me, I began to relate to God in a more Biblical manner. The Bible promises that the Spirit will guide us into God’s truth. (John 16:13) The main way he does this is by giving us understanding of the Bible. Prior to my coming to Christ, a young man shared the gospel with my psychology class. I must have talked to him afterward because later he came by to see me in my dorm room. I cannot remember his name but I do remember what he told me. He took me to the First Letter of John and read to me the following verse.

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NLT)

He shared with me that God wants us to know that we have eternal life through Christ. This was so different from what I had been taught and experienced in the Catholic Church. How can one know something that is unknowable? The gospel is so marvelous that it seems unbelievable to someone steeped in legalism.

Now I understand there is a fundamental difference between the performance-based religion of Catholicism (and some other denominations) and the faith-based relationship provided through the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul clearly understood this difference and addressed it in his letter to the Galatians.

But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law. Would that mean Christ has led us into sin? Absolutely not! 18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. 19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Galatians 2:17-21 (NLT)

When Jesus died on the cross, the Bible teaches that those who put their faith in him died, too. (Romans 6) This is a mystery, but nevertheless true. We died to sin’s power in our lives and the power of the Law to condemn us. (Romans 7) The Law is what defines and points out our sins. God gave us the Law to show how hopelessly lost we are. Its purpose was to lead us to Christ so that by faith we might receive his right standing with God. (Galatians 3:21-29) No one can stand in his or her own righteousness. We must have our Lord’s right standing with God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) I hope you will take the time to read and think deeply about these verses of scripture. We can never earn salvation: it is a free gift, one that God never takes back. (Romans 6:23 and 11:29)

If we grow up under legalism, it is difficult to really believe how wonderful the gospel message is! Only the Holy Spirit can deliver us from the enslaving lies of legalism by leading us into all truth which will set us free.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31–32 (NASB95) —

The precursors to Catholicism were what were called the Judaizers. These supposed followers of Christ, having been heavily steeped in Judaism, could not get their heads and hearts around the radical nature of the gospel. They tried to fit the “new wine” of the Gospel into the “old wine skin” of Judaism.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough.’ ” Luke 5:37–39 (NASB95) —

It could not work then and will not work today to try to fit the unearned grace of the New Covenant into a legalistic container of man-made religion.

The Old Covenant was based on our keeping the Law, something we are unable to do. The New Covenant was something altogether different. It is based on Christ’s keeping the Law on our behalf. He earned for us what was otherwise unobtainable.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 “AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:7–13 (NASB95) —

The Judaizers could not believe that they had nothing else to earn from God and insisted that it was not enough to simply believe in the Good News and trust in Christ; instead, Gentile believers had to adopt and follow the tenets of Judaism to be truly accepted by God. Circumcision became a rallying point. Uncircumcised believers were required to submit to this Old Covenant rite in order to be part of God’s covenant people. There arose a sharp division among the believers which had to be resolved by a council at Jerusalem. Thankfully those leaders came down on the side of the grace message. Peter spoke convincingly.

So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 15:6-11 (NLT)

Paul understood that Christ had come precisely because God’s people had repeatedly failed to keep God’s covenant over the years.

The New Covenant was put into place because man is so hopelessly flawed by sin that he cannot possibly satisfy the demands of God’s righteousness.

Nor are we able to do so now. For that reason, God sent his Son to keep the covenant for us. Jesus actually became the Covenant. (Isaiah 42:6)

Our New Covenant relationship to the Father is based on Christ’s perfect performance rather than our ongoing failure.

Salvation is the product of God’s keeping the demands of his righteousness on our behalf through his Son. Through faith in Christ, a new birth takes place in the human spirit whereby we are radically changed from the inside out. We become God’s children by an incarnation of Christ in each believer. The Holy Spirit takes up residence and joins himself to our spirit so that we are truly “one” with Christ, as our Lord promised would happen.

But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! John 17:22-24 (NLT)

Paul reasoned that we cannot have it both ways: we must either relate to God on the basis of grace through faith or we must try to relate to him based on our performance of the Law (his righteous requirements).

Paul told the Galatians that if they submitted to the Law in the one point of circumcision, they in effect would be placing themselves back into a performance-based relationship with God, something doomed to failure and antagonistic to the Gospel he preached.

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:2–6 (NASB95) —

There is something in the heart of man, in our inborn sin nature, that insists to trying to be “good enough” to earn our way into God’s blessing and favor.

It is extremely humbling to admit that we are hopelessly sinful and in desperate need of someone to save us. Those who cannot find it in themselves to admit their desperate need for a Savior will reject the gospel of grace and continue to try to reach God through legalism.

Paul said that such people have “zeal without knowledge.”

I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:2–4 (NLT) —

Once we are saved or brought into a right relationship with God through grace, we cannot maintain that relationship through our good performance.

Our inherent religious performance orientation is fueled by the pride and independence of the sin nature. God has to show us over and over again that we must solely rely upon what Christ did for us. There is no other way.

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Hebrews 10:11–14 (NASB95) —

Martin Luther came to just such an insight as he pored over Paul’s letter to the Romans. God gave him a flash of revelation, and he saw clearly that “the just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) The gospel offers us the lifeline of relying upon Christ and what he accomplished through his death and resurrection rather than upon our own failed efforts. Religion is man’s attempt to bridge the gap between us and God on our own terms by our own efforts. Organized religion, whatever its persuasion, is a system of trying to accomplish this.

Organized religion asks its adherents to put their faith in the organization and its methods in order to get into and remain in right relationship with God. The gospel asks us to put our trust solely in a Person and what he already accomplished for us.

I found it necessary to leave Catholicism in order to preserve my newly found freedom in grace. Paul likewise walked away from his beloved Judaism, the legalistic performance-based religion he grew up believing. He chose Christ instead, realizing that Christ had fulfilled what Judaism was designed to introduce.

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. Philippians 3:7–9 (NLT) —

He chose reality over the shadow. He was extremely adamant that there can be absolutely no co-existence between the true gospel of grace and the false gospel of performance. This is what Paul said.

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. 8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. 9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. Galatians 1:6-9 (NLT)

Once we understand and experience the true grace of God, it is impossible to remain a part of any group that teaches something contrary.

Click here to see more articles in this series.

What Psalm 23 Reveals about God and the Gospel

Psalm 23 is one of the most beautiful and most quoted passages in the Bible and reveals a lot about God and the gospel. It was inspired by the Spirit of God and written and sung by King David, who was an accomplished musician and poet. It has endured for three millennia and will continue forever because it is the unchangeable word of God. This compact psalm is packed with revelation about God’s heart and nature. Let’s take a look at it line by line. I will be using the New Living Translation for the most part.

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1 (NLT) —

Here the Spirit revealed through David that God the Lord is our shepherd, who provides, guides, and protects. David called him Yahweh-raah, the Lord my shepherd. If we know and rely upon him as our shepherd, we have everything we need. Jesus is the ultimate Good Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep. (John 10:11) He did this to bring us back to the Father by providing forgiveness for our sins, setting us free from all that enslaves us, giving us life eternal through the Holy Spirit, and making us children of God through the new birth. Ultimately we will co-rule with Christ over his creation. This is what Jesus called “abundant life.” Once we come to know Jesus as our Shepherd, life will never be the same.

Gospel Hint: If we encounter a person who feels lost, abandoned, or who generally needs a “shepherd,” we should present Christ as the One they seek. He proved his love for us at the cross and his ability to take care of us at the resurrection.

Another Old Testament compound name for God was revealed to Abraham when God tested him regarding his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. When the angel restrained his hand, Abraham saw a ram caught in the thicket that he could use in Isaac’s place. He named that place Yahweh-Jireh – the Lord who Provides. 

Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” Genesis 22:14 (NASB95) —

In the hour of his testing and obedience, God’s provision became apparent. When we truly get to know God, we find out that providing for his people is part of his nature. It is who he is. We should never doubt his kind intention to provide for our every need.

Gospel Hint: Is we find someone who is afraid that they will not have what they need, we should introduce Jesus the Good Shepherd and provider. We can always count on God to provide. If we surrender our lives to him, he graciously extends his care to us.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Psalm 23:2 (NLT) —

For sheep green meadows and peaceful streams are part of God’s provision for them, but this verse focuses more on peace and rest. Jesus promised that he will give his disciples peace that passes natural understanding. God revealed himself to Gideon as Yahweh-shalom, the Lord who is our peace, on the day he commissioned him to fight for Israel against seemingly insurmountable odds. (Judges 6:24) Peace does not depend on our circumstances, but on God’s promises and his presence in our lives. 

Jesus said that he will give us peace in the midst of the storms we encounter in life.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 (NASB95) —

Peace is one of the defining characteristics of those who know God. It is a fruit or result of God’s Spirit inhabiting and transforming us on the inside. The more we trust and rely on our Good Shepherd, the greater our peace.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95) —

Gospel Hint: When we encounter someone who is afraid, we should tell them about the Good Shepherd who relieves us of our fears and replaces them with peace that passes understanding. His perfect loves displaces or casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23:3 (NLT) —

In this case, it is a good idea to compare the New Living Translation with the more literal New American Standard Bible, which translates this verse as follows.

He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 (NASB95) —

Our strength is renewed as the Good Shepherd restores and heals our souls. When we are born again, God makes our spirits brand new, but our souls still need work. The new birth is once for all, but the restoration of the soul takes a lifetime. This is part of Jesus’ ministry as healer. Everywhere Jesus went he healed and restored people. He still does today, but now he uses his Spirit-filled people to accomplish the work. Before we can help others, we need to experience his healing and restorative work in our own lives.

One of the compound names of God in the Old Testament is Yahweh-raphah, the Lord who heals. (Exodus 15:26) Healing is part of God’s nature or character. It is not something we have to wrestle from him. It flows from his kind heart to hurting people. Healing and deliverance from demonic oppression accompanied the preaching of the gospel in Jesus’ and the apostles’ day. Nothing has changed in God’s plan. God means for people to experience his healing and restorative touch today, too. 

Gospel Hint: If we encounter someone who has physical, emotional, or spiritual pain or disease, we should offer to pray for them as we tell them that Jesus still heals. We never know what God may do.

Right paths and paths of righteousness are different ways of looking at the same thing. God revealed himself as our righteousness in the Old Testament.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6 (NASB95) —

When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he provided a right relationship with God or “justification” for those who put their faith and allegiance in him. By taking our sins upon himself and exchanging our sin with his right standing with God, we became righteous before God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) We are not self-righteous, but righteous in Christ. Apart from him we have nothing.

Now that we have right standing with God, he is working his righteousness into us on a daily basis. In other words, the Holy Spirit is transforming us on the inside so that we more and more think, speak, and act like Jesus. This allows us to “walk” as Jesus did in “paths of righteousness.” When we live like this it brings honor to God and blessings to us.

Gospel Hint: Sometimes we encounter people whose lives are a mess. We can introduce the Good Shepherd to them as the one who can restore them and get them on a path to blessings and success. It starts with their surrendering everything to Jesus the Lord and receiving all he has to offer, which is mainly himself.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NLT) —

Everyone eventually goes through a dark place. It can be very scary, especially if we feel all alone. One of the most repeated promises in the Bible is “Do not fear. I am with you.” (Genesis 26:24, Deuteronomy 31:8, 2 Chronicles 20:17, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 14:27, and John 6:20) God revealed himself in the Old Testament as the ever-present One, Yahweh-shammah (Ezekiel 48:35). King David knew God in this way, too, as revealed in Psalm 139. Jesus also is known as the One who is present in his name Emmanuel, God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Our Lord also promised that the Holy Spirit, his executor here on earth and our helper, will always be with us.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; John 14:16 (NASB95) —

The Spirit’s presence in our lives is our most precious gift. Nothing compares. Because Jesus died and rose again, when we put our faith and allegiance in him, God comes to live inside us forever! We will never be alone again.

Gospel Hint: Abandonment is one of our greatest fears. Many people feel rejected and alone. Ultimately this is because our sin separated us from God. Jesus fixed this problem. All who put their faith and allegiance in him never need to be alone again.

The rod and staff represent the shepherd’s commitment to protect and guide his sheep. One of God’s compound names in the Old Testament is Yahweh-Mekoddishkem – The Lord who sanctifies you. (Exodus 31:13) God is committed to transforming us into Christ’s image as we navigate this life with his help. His loving discipline is represented by the rod. God disciplines all his children because he loves them. (Hebrews 12:6)

Gospel Hint: God accepts us just as we are, but he doesn’t leave us there. Most people would like to be better people. Only God can get us there as we learn that he is committed to transforming us on the inside without condemning us for our many failures. (John 5:24, Romans 8:1)

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5 (NLT) —

God revealed himself in the Old Testament as Yahweh-nissi, the Lord our banner in battle. (Exodus 17:15) Sometimes we think that peace requires us to be delivered from the threat or presence of our enemies. God prepares a feast for us right in front of our enemies. He wants us to ignore the enemy and focus on him. The Bible teaches us the the battle is the Lord’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15) He has already defeated Satan and his evil allies. All authority in heaven and earth has already been given to our Lord Jesus. Nothing can happen to us without the permission of our Lord, and he promises to work out everything, even the bad things, for our good. (Romans 8:28)

God wants us to learn how to stand against evil. (Ephesians 6:13) We do this by understanding that we are protected by God. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6) Our enemies must go through God to get to us. This does not mean that we will never encounter tests, trials, or danger. It does mean that God is always with us as we go through these things. He is our victory. Our faith makes us overcomers in everything. (1 John 5:4)

Gospel Hint: When we talk to people who are in the midst of some kind of battle, we can show them that God promises to be with us in the battle and has already overcome the enemy. If we trust in him, he will give us peace in the midst of our struggles.

One of the most exciting things about being a follower of Christ is participating with him in liberating other people. When Jesus launched his earthly ministry, he quoted Isaiah 61:1 and said that God’s Spirit rested upon him, anointing him for ministry. (Luke 4:18) The anointing, which represents the Spirit’s power and presence operating in and through us, is what we need to effectively minister to others. God honors us by allowing us to participate with him.

God is not stingy. He overflows with blessings and has more than enough for all those who trust in him. This ties into God’s being our Shepherd and provider. As we are blessed by God, we can pass these on to others.

Gospel Hint: Many people live outside of God’s blessings because they have never surrendered their lives to Jesus. The gospel promises God’s richest blessings upon all who trust and follow Jesus.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 (NLT) —

Instead of being hounded by the curse associated with sin, Jesus opened the door for us to be pursued relentlessly by God’s goodness and mercy as long as we live. When we die, we have the promise of being with God forever.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1–3 (NLT) —

Gospel Hint: Jesus provides his followers with blessings here on earth and eternal life with him in heaven. Who would not want this?

take down the mockingbird…

A mockingbird can learn and sing up to 200 different songs, an ability it uses to mimic other birds. They are so good at what they do that it can be difficult to distinguish the fake from the real. Since the early days of Trump’s first term as president, I watched various mainstream or legacy news outlets sing the same song, their talking heads mimicking one another to the point of using exactly the same words and phraseology. In order to highlight what was going on, some put together video montages of these various news agencies saying almost exactly the same lines, day after day. It was obvious that someone or some group was giving them a script to sing to America, and it is still going on today. It’s called a narrative which is used to shape how people think. It’s also called brainwashing.

I watched former CIA director John Brennan falsely accuse President Trump of collusion with Russia. He knew it was false and he was using the news media to spread misinformation. The MSM obediently reported whatever he and other “anonymous sources” fed them. The CIA was engaging in disinformation warfare against our own country, something they routinely had done to other nations. We were in the midst of a “color revolution,” just as our country pulled off in Ukraine to replace a duly elected president with their puppet Zelensky. I told one of my liberal friends that the only possible way to account for this lock-step coordination was if the CIA was behind it, which, of course, he rejected. It was incomprehensible to him and most Americans that this could be so. It’s called Operation Mockingbird, which was begun in the late 1940s and ramped up in the 1970s. Of course, the agency denies it still exists. That is what they do. People like me who see through their subterfuge have been labeled conspiracy theorists, a term the CIA coined to discredit those who suspected JFK’s assassination was an inside job. 

Thankfully, the internet made it possible to get news that is not dictated or censored by the government. Many of these sources can be found on alternative sites such as Rumble and Telegram. The narrative pitched by the mainstream media has been completely at odds with what can be learned from non-traditional sources, forcing us to make a critical decision as to who to believe. Has our own government been gaslighting us?

We all have to decide who to believe because the big things in life require faith. God designed things so that life is mysterious and cannot be truly known apart from faith in him. Our Lord wants people to rely on him to reveal to us what is true.

Interestingly, the MSM has been caught in a lie over and over again, yet many people still rely on them to be arbiters of truth. God, conversely, only speaks truth, but many people want nothing to do with him. God wants to bless us as we trust in him and his truth, but Satan has an opposite agenda. His false narrative runs completely counter to God’s truth.

The devil’s disinformation campaign began in the Garden of Eden when he broadcast that there are no bad consequences for disobeying God. The serpent’s narrative always contradicts God’s truth and breeds death and destruction. Jesus explained that the devil…

...was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! John 8:44–45 (NLT) —

Setting the precedent for generations to come, Adam and Eve believed the devil’s lying narrative, acted on it, and reaped the deadly consequences. They failed their test, and today people across the globe are being tested regarding which narrative we will believe – God’s or Satan’s. We are being tested regarding what we will believe about the Lordship of Jesus, “Wokeness,” Covid, the “vaccine,” LGBTQ+, sex, marriage, drugs, etc.  The devil is on a rampage to overthrow God’s truth and order in the world in order to produce confusion, destruction, and death. Our public school system, the media, and our government are pushing Satan’s lies non-stop, using its “bully pulpit” to try to overwhelm the minds and hearts of the populace, especially young people. God’s truth is quieter and more difficult to find. It must be searched for by people who love the truth.

Satan’s false narrative is his most precious commodity. It is how he rules those who do not love the truth. In God’s kingdom, truth reigns in the person of Jesus (John 14:6). This makes the lie antichrist and believing it idolatry.

There is something about the siren song of Satan’s lies that many people find exceptionally alluring. When the Israelites were at the border of Canaan the first time, twelve spies were sent to bring back a report. Only two returned with God’s faith narrative that the land was good and easily conquerable. The other ten overcame the truth with their false narrative that the inhabitants were too strong to be defeated, even with God’s help. Most of the people believed the ten, and the consequence was forty years of wandering in the desert while that entire generation, except for Joshua and Caleb, died. Believing the devil’s lies kills and destroys.

When Nehemiah returned to Israel to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls after enduring seventy long years of captivity, those who hated the Jews and God’s kingdom spread a false report that the Jews were in rebellion against the king and mocked their efforts. They did everything they could to discourage the people from building.

The devil loves to mock, falsely accuse, threaten, and intimidate those who love the truth.

More and more people now know, although it was previously apparent to those who had eyes to see, that the government manipulated and coerced Big Tech to go along with their false narrative regarding the 2020 election, Hunter’s laptop, Covid, and the mRNA “vaccine.” Hired “fact checkers” falsely debunked the truth, keeping people in the dark. Twitter was one of the chief “mockingbirds” that willingly sang the government’s scripted songs, but when Elon Musk took it over, things changed, at least for now. Truth is no longer censored there, at least not as much. Hopefully this will be the case with all of social media in the future, bringing to an end government controlled speech in the “land of the free.”

Andrew Whalen, one of the prophets I listen to, recently received a word from the Lord: “Take down the mockingbird.” Interestingly, very soon after, Elon Musk announced that Twitter was changing its name to “X,” saying: “”And soon we shall bid adieu to the Twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds.”

Is God indeed taking down the mockingbird, the government’s false narrative machine? I certainly believe we should pray to that end and do our part to spread the truth.

Matthew Desmet, a recognized Belgian professor, wrote extensively on mass formation psychosis during the Covid epidemic. He compared what was taking place to the Nazi takeover in Germany prior to WWII. He said the only way to keep things from progressing all the way into totalitarianism if for the unduped minority to speak up and tell the truth. This has been going on around the world for several years now, and at last the truth is erupting all over. I believe the majority will one day “wake up” to just how thoroughly our nation was brain washed.

God will open the eyes and hearts of many to his truth. He will heal our hearts and bring us back to him.

“Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. Matthew 13:13–16 (NASB95) —

In the meantime, when we see MSM outlets all parroting the same lines, understand that what they are saying is either a lie or a diversion from something more important that they do not want us to notice. Find alternative sources for truth and ask God to help us all to wake up. Ask the Lord to give us all a love for him and his truth and to take down the false narrative that seeks to undermine God’s authority, his Word, and his glory.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NASB95) —

Escape from Religion

 

 

 

 

Since almost everyone is religious, why would we want to escape from religion? The English word religion derives from Latin religare, which means to bind. Perhaps the reason why we might wish to escape religion is because we want to be free from its fetters. On the other hand, many people want to be religious. It is the only way they know how to navigate this mystery called life. So much of life cannot be proved. It has to be taken by faith. Even those people who deny God’s existence do so by faith, since they cannot prove their basic presupposition that God does not exist. Whether we are part of one of the major worldwide religions or a devotee of materialistic Darwinism, we are religious and accept things as being true without being able to prove them. If you believe in heaven and hell or that we cease to exist when we take our last breath, you are presupposing what you cannot prove.

God created us to relate to him by faith. We are not supposed to know everything, just Him. We are not supposed to trust in anything except Him.

If you ask the average person how to get into heaven, he or she will likely say that we need to live a good life and try not to hurt anybody. This is a simple form or religion. It accepts by faith that God exists and that he accepts us based on our adhering to a certain set of requirements. In this case, the bar is set pretty low, low enough for most of us to easily get over it.

Religion is man’s attempt to measure and feel good about our relationship with God. It is our way to gain and maintain acceptance with Him and his blessing on our lives.

The trouble is that it’s really difficult to be good enough to earn a right standing with God. That is why so many religions provide some way to address our many failures. In the various forms of the Christian religion, which is derived from Judaism, those who make a real try at living a holy life by keeping the Law and all the rules, find that it is unattainable. Sometimes we just want to take a break, relax, let our guard down, and have some fun.

By its very nature, the Christian religion is an attempt to gain and maintain a right relationship with God by living according to rules and regulations and keeping prescribed rituals. I grew up in the Roman Catholic church, which takes this to an art form. Religion can be formal, liturgical, beautiful, and reverent or it can be informal, iconoclastic, plain, and irreverent.

Regardless of what form it takes, at its heart, religion is always the same – rules, procedures, regulations, evaluations, and judgments.

Every religious system has its own way of measuring success and failure, which all goes back to the first sin. Adam and Eve were not content simply doing what God told them: they had to know good and evil for themselves. This was the beginning of religion, in which man makes the rules instead of God. We have suffered from an incurable disease called religiosis ever since. We think that if we keep our own or our group’s rules, we can feel pretty good about ourselves vis a vis God. If we fall short of the prescribed norm, we may feel condemned or we might try the opposite tactic and dismiss the rule as unimportant. One way or another we must deal with the tension of our failure to keep our adopted religious rules.

What Religion Promises to Do for Us

It takes something extremely powerful to break the average person free from the pull of their chosen religion. So, what is it about religion that makes it so attractive?

  • Religion offers to provide a way for us to be “right” with God. Religion supposedly offers a way to make that happen, which seems to be within the grasp of the ordinary person. The older the religious tradition, the greater the authority it may claim to have.
  • Religion offers a way to measure where we stand with God and how we are progressing spiritually.  Religion provides a system of rules and regulations, which give us some feedback. If we keep the rules, we receive positive feedback. We also know where we stand when we break the rules.
  • Religion offers an effective way to connect with God. Churches that are more liturgical offer an ambience, sacraments, and ritual to produce a “holy” atmosphere. Often the more liturgical the setting, the greater the desire of the attendee to have someone else, a priest perhaps, draw near to God for them. Hence, the clergy has a more noticeable and sometimes exalted role as a mediator between the average person and God.

Interestingly, some people use “going to church” as a way to shield themselves from the need to have a personal connection with God.

If they are asked about their faith, they may say, “I go to church,” as a way to deflect. In fact, they have no personal connection with God. It is all done for them by the clergy. Non-liturgical religions have their own versions of what it means to “experience” God, which is usually more subjective and personal. Personal religious experience can also fall under all kinds of rules. Many feel that being quiet in “God’s house” is a rule that must not be broken. Others have certain ways of preaching and acting out what it means when God’s Spirit “falls” on them. For others, dressing in one’s best clothes for meetings is a necessary way to show reverence and holiness. For a great many, the stage must be properly set by a time of praise and worship, in which the “anointing” is felt. Many depend on the feeling they have when “the presence of God” is there. The list goes on. All this is done to try to reach God or to measure how well we have connected with God.

  • Religion offers to be an “authority,” to tell us if we are on the right track or not. The more liturgical churches have all sorts of traditions and hierarchy that provide this service. When the “powers that be” say we are “okay,” it is supposed to give us some confidence. Even non-liturgical churches often embrace strong authority figures, who tell them what to do and not do. For evangelicals, the Bible is the highest authority,  but we often depend on other authorities to tell us how to properly interpret and apply Scripture. Many people like this sort of “fence” around their lives to keep evil out and to keep them from straying outside accepted boundaries.
  • Religion offers stability and structure to give us peace in a very precarious and confusing world. Religion offers some version of this. Old line churches, brimming with history and tradition, offer something historically stable in a world where religious fashions come and go. More recent forms, traditions, denominations, or non-denominations of church offer their own versions of stability and structure, perhaps in the form of size, popularity, old hymns, old translations of the Bible, and that “old time religion.” Some fashionable churches today provide stability to modernists by being relevant and up to date with methodology, technology, fashions, music, and phrasing. Everyone gravitates to his or her own personal “comfort zone.”

Why Religion Fails

Those of us who have seriously pursued a religious way of trying to be right with God have found that it is extremely frustrating and discouraging. The one thing we learn is that we are far more seriously affected by sin than people who are not religious know.

We have to try to be good to find out how bad we are at a very deep level.

It is important for us to understand the reasons why religion can never give us a right relationship with God.

  • Since we are flawed at the core of our being, any system that relies on our performance will fail.
I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die. Galatians 2:21 (NLT) 

According to the Bible, there is only one way to be in right standing with God – by fully trusting in Jesus the Messiah and what he accomplished for us on the cross and by his resurrection. Jesus had to die for us because no one is able to keep the requirements of religion, in this case the Law of Moses and all its derivatives.

Rules and regulations only point out to us how unable we are to be good enough.

...For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22  But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Galatians 3:21-22 (ESV)  
  • Religion only gives us false readings when it offers to measure how we are progressing in our relationship with God.

If a religion makes its rules too difficult, people will give up, which, by the way, is what we are supposed to do. (Galatians 3:23-24) It is only when we give up on trying to be right with God in our own strength that we can come to Jesus as spiritual paupers (Matthew 5:3) and receive what he offers freely. On the other hand, if religion makes its rules easy enough for most of us to keep them, it gives us a false sense of security. God’s Law is impossible to keep because we are so sinful at the core of our beings.

I think it is important for us to define sin in a very general way at this point, since many might object my previous statement. The Bible indicates that sin, at its root, is a defiance and betrayal of God, our Creator, coupled with a determination to live on our own terms, without reference to God or his commandments.

Simply put, sin is living independently from God.

Using this definition, even the most high minded and noble among us will be classified as sinners, which is the actual way God views us. As the prophet and apostle said, “There is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10)

Religion is our attempt to recreate Adam’s sin in the garden, when he decided he had to know for himself all about good and evil. Religion tries to create a framework in which we can know if we are good or bad, right with God or not, going to heaven or destined to hell. True Christianity, not the man-made religious variant, is God’s way to restore us to his original intent. He wants us to trust in him alone. That is why Jesus had to die.

When we relate to God by faith in Christ, there are no outward measurements by which we can confirm our right standing with God. The only anchor to which we can hold is the promise of God, and that is enough.

God wants us to be satisfied in Christ’s offering, the eternal Word of God, and in the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. That is all we need.

The apostle Paul firmly resisted any and every effort to introduce an outward measurement of righteousness. He knew this door leads down to a deadly legalistic path away from relying upon and experiencing the true grace of God.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2  Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3  I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4  You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5  For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. Galatians 5:1-6 (ESV)  
  • Instead of giving us access to God’s presence, religion actually blocks the way.

The New Covenant gives us only one way to connect with God by faith, through his Son, Jesus the Messiah. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father, except through him. (John 14:6) The vehicle (actually, the Person) through whom this connection is made is the Holy Spirit. The door is wide open to those who thus approach him.

Jesus said:

Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:52 (ESV)  

The reason many people resort to religion as a means to experience God’s presence is because they have never experienced the reality of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Once we experience God in this way, it becomes crystal clear that religion has nothing to do with it.

  • Religious authorities almost always will let us down. 

By nature, all man-centered authority, religious or otherwise, tends toward establishing and maintaining power for itself. The religious authorities of Jesus’ day were the chief architects of his crucifixion. Despite their knowledge of the scriptures, their desire to preserve their own position and privilege pushed them to deny Jesus’ claim that he was and is God’s promised Messiah. Because they prioritized maintaining their own authority, they refused to submit to God’s. This leads us to the inescapable conclusion, which was confirmed by Christ himself, that any religious leader that accrues power and prestige to himself or herself should be avoided.

Religious authorities which do not bow the knee to Christ become architects of legalism and propagators of death.

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25  And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26  But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. Luke 22:24-26 (ESV)  
  • Religion cannot provide the peace and security that only comes directly from God.

Religion will always fail in this regard because religious rules and laws work exactly opposite to their desired intent. Instead of helping us, they excite rebellion in us.

Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” 8  But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9  At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10  and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead. 11  Sin took advantage of those commands and deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 12  But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good. 13  But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. Romans 7:7-13 (NLT)  

Self-effort is always a frustrating exercise in futility. Those with the strongest wills are the last to be convinced. They may rise to the top of the religious establishment and end up being harsh taskmasters, venting their frustration on others who fail to measure up to the level they have attained.

Faith alone connects us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the only One who was able to live in perfect obedience to God. Unless we come to him, we will never know the meaning of true security, peace, and rest. Jesus told his listeners that he would give them rest, if they would come to him. The offer still stands. The rest he spoke of comes from faith in his what he accomplished on the cross. We rest because Jesus already won our salvation. He lived the perfect life, so that we do not have to try and fail.

So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10  For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. Hebrews 4:9-10 (NLT) 

Escape from Religion

Jesus came to offer something very different. One day he invited his listeners to make their escape from the tyranny of religion by coming to him.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

How does a person leave religion and “come” to Christ in order to find rest? What does it mean to rest in the way Jesus meant it?

Religion is a man-made system, but true faith opens the door into a divinely orchestrated relationship with God. Religion kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:6) Religion puts people in bondage, but following Christ sets people free. (Gal.5:1) Being a follower of Christ means we are experiencing a relationship with a real, living person. His indwelling Spirit transforms us internally and helps us to live according to our Lord’s teachings. Jesus invites people to run from religion into the glorious freedom and responsibility of being his followers. (Romans 8:1-2)

Following Christ allows a person to pass through the portal of faith into an amazing new world of freedom in the Spirit.

This happens when we are “born again” or “born from above.” Until the Spirit does this in us, we will be merely religious people, who are on the outside looking in, having little or no understanding of the spiritual dynamic of true Christianity.

In this new experience called following Christ, we learn to accept that Christ did for us what we could never do for ourselves.

He paid off our enormous debt to God (because of sin), and gave us a free gift of being in a right relationship with his heavenly Father. We don’t have to earn it or be good enough to maintain it. All Jesus expects us to do is believe in his promises and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, who internally motivates and empowers us, something totally foreign to religious people.

When we fail, and we surely will, we will not be condemned. (John 5:24 and Romans 8:1) Instead the Spirit helps us to our feet again and encourages us to keep going.

In this brave new world of faith, we have no external measurements of our religious performance because they are no longer needed.

We do not measure ourselves or our progress, since Christ totally fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law of God for us. (Romans 10:4) Instead we fix our gaze upon the Perfect One and trust him to transform us more and more into his glorious image. Trying to “be good” drops off our radar screen.

Focusing on Jesus changes us from the inside out, often without our even being aware. Relationship replaces religion. We make our escape.

Accepting Responsibility

For those of us who have grown weary of the religious treadmill, it’s time to make a break. If we are tired of feeling frustrated, it’s time to jettison false religious hopes and come to the Author of hope, the Messiah, Jesus the Lord. If we want security and peace, we must approach the One who promises that he will give us rest. If we need a permanent break from unforgiving rules and harsh rulers, we are invited to come to the Shepherd who is gentle and lowly of heart and gave his life for us. If we want to be able to enjoy God’s life-giving presence, we can receive the One called “the Resurrection and the Life.” We have the opportunity to invite God’s life-giving Spirit to take charge of our lives. If we do these things, we will end up being happy, fulfilled, and passionate for God, something religion can never give us.

But Christ’s victory on the cross does not end with our escape. Rather, Jesus sets us free so we can fulfill our destiny. Our greatest privilege as born again followers of Christ is to partner with God in the great adventure of being Great Co-Missionaries.

God wants his mission to become our overwhelming purpose in life. Freedom is not for its own sake. It is so we can join God in his glorious enterprise.

Jesus was the Sent One. He sends us as his representatives to a frustrated religious world. We have the message of freedom, the gospel.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21 (ESV) 

Prayer

Jesus, I am weary of religion and I want You. I turn myself over to you. I repent for attempting to earn my way to God, instead of relying on what you did for me. I accept that you died and rose again so that I don’t have to struggle with trying to be “good enough.” Holy Spirit, I ask you to come into my life. Empower me to live for Jesus. Teach me your truth. Make me a loving servant to others and a passionate witness for Jesus. Give me peace and joy. Father God, thank you for accepting me as your child and loving me past comprehension. Amen.

Worry about Money and the Fear of Abandonment

Many of us worry about money. Will we have enough? What if I lose my job? I just retired from being the lead pastor at our church, which means an end to my salary. We managed to put aside some savings over the years, and we have social security, as long as that is solvent, but will it be enough? I recently asked one of my physicians who is in his sixties when he plans to retire. I am sure he is well off, but he still has some things to pay for before he feels as if he can retire. How much is enough? Maybe you grew up having little and fear that lack could come your way again. Where does this fear about having enough money come from? Is there anything we can do to get free?

I remember one time many years ago when our church finances took a dip. Even though I know all the scriptures about God being my source, I worried a bit. Knowing that such fears are usually based on lies we believe at a heart level, I asked the Lord to show me why I was worried. Instantly he gave me a surprising answer. I saw a picture in my mind of a young child being hugged by an older man. Instantly I realized that my worry about the dip in our church finances was based on the lie that such a downturn meant that God was not pleased with me/us. From the vision, I understood immediately that his affection for me had nothing to do with finances and would not change, which of course is biblical. That day I was delivered to a great extent from worrying about money. We have always had enough, even more than enough.

Recently I read the following verses which reminded me of the vision God gave me years ago.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5–6 (NASB95) —

Relying on money instead of God is rooted in the fear that God will abandon us, which he promises us he will never ever do.

One of his compound names in the Old Testament is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides. God revealed this name to Abraham when he provided a ram to sacrifice in place of his son, Isaac. At the place of his testing, Abraham discovered God’s provision.

If we keep our focus on and faith in God, he will always provide. It is not merely something he does: it is who he is.

Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:13–14 (NASB95) —  

God is more committed to provide for us than we can imagine. To believe otherwise is an insult to his character. So, the next time we are tempted to worry about having enough money, let us remember who God is. He is our faithful provider who promises to never ever abandon us. We can take that to the bank.

The Effect of God’s Kindness Is Peace

 

 

 

 

One of the most important effects or fruit of the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives is peace. Peace is the direct result of God’s showing loving kindness to us through Christ.

Peace with God is the root of all other forms of real peace. It is a treasure freely given to all of God’s born again children that came at an incalculable cost to God.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, suffered and died on the cross and rose again to make our peace with God a reality. Our Lord’s peace was ripped from him during those horrible hours so that the peace God gives to us can never be snatched away.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 (NLT) 

Paul wrote:

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 (NLT) 

The technical term for being made right with God is justification, through which we were given Christ’s very own righteousness. When Jesus died on the cross, the Bible says that he actually “became sin.” He was completely identified with our sin so that we might be likewise one with his righteousness. Not surprisingly, theologians call this identification.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) 

Some Bible readers imagine this is merely a poetic way of saying that Christ substituted for us by dying in our place. Substitution is another tremendous truth connected with our salvation, but that is not what Paul is writing about here. This verse refers to something much deeper, something C.S. Lewis called “deep magic” in his Chronicles of Narnia. It is the secret wisdom God used to rescue us from the Prince of Darkness.

No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8  But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (NLT) 

Abba Father caused all our sins to fall upon his Son (Isaiah 53:6) so that we will never have to carry them again or suffer their consequences – the terror of separation from God forever. There is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22), but the effect of righteousness is peace.

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. Isaiah 32:17 (ESV) 

Because God unleashed the fullness of his wrath against sin upon his Son, we will never have to face it. He was appointed to wrath so that we are forever released from that appointment. (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

Isaiah beautifully wrote about this wonderful truth of the New Covenant.

Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. 10  For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the LORD, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:9-10 (NLT) 

Paul said it another way in his letter to the church in Rome.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32  Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33  Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34  Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. 35  Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39 (NLT) 

What an amazing peace producing promise! God’s kindness toward us is eternal, which sparks the desire in us to love him back and willingly serve him with all our hearts. Generosity elicits gratefulness in the heart of the recipient.

Here is one of the most beautiful verses in the Bible.

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT) 

Jesus endured death for us. When he died, we died. When he rose again, we rose with him to life eternal. This is essentially the message of Romans Chapter Six. This is why Paul could write.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) 

The reason we can experience victory over sin is because it no longer has the power to condemn us or rule us. Paul wrote in another place that the strength behind sin is the Law. (1 Corinthians 15:56) As long as we are subject to condemnation, sin has power over us. Because Jesus took our condemnation, sin lost its power to rule over us.

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:14 (NLT) 

So, not only did Jesus provide us with everlasting peace, he also delivered us from the power of sin by taking our condemnation upon himself. How glorious!

Encounters with God’s Kindness

 

Our sin produces inside us an expectation of an encounter with God’s judgment. The Bible tells us that…

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

Our sin “earns” death; so, anything less than that is an encounter with God’s kindness.

Every time we come face to face with God’s kindness instead of his judgment, it reminds us that Jesus absorbed God’s wrath for our sake to make this possible.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, Romans 3:23-25 (NLT) 

Since God is not bound by time but exists outside of it, he sees the entire panorama of history – past present, and future – all at once. It is all the same to him.

What Christ accomplished on the cross happened at a certain point in history but its effect is eternal.

The benefits go backward in time to cover those who lived and trusted God before Christ and forward to cover all those who would be born and believe the gospel after him. His sacrifice was accomplished once for all time.

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28  so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28 (NLT) 

This means that even though we deserve to face an awful encounter with God’s wrath, we now can expect a meeting with the kindest Person we will ever know who delights to show us mercy.

Here are a few biblical examples of those who encountered God’s kindness instead of his wrath.

  1. Adam and Eve betrayed their Creator in spite of being warned that their disobedience would result in death. In the midst of being judged for their sin, God made Eve a most wonderful promise that one of her descendants would defeat Satan, which was fulfilled by Jesus on the cross. (Genesis 3:15)
  2. Jacob deceived his father Isaac and brother Esau to obtain the blessing normally intended for the elder son. Afterward Esau determined to kill Jacob, prompting him to flee to Haran where he married his cousins Leah and Rachel with whom he had twelve sons. Eventually God told Jacob to return to Canaan, the land of blessing, which required him to finally face up to Esau. After wrestling with his fears, he met his long estranged brother who had come with 400 armed men to do who knew what. Instead of encountering his brother’s anger, he was warmly embraced. Jacob said: “…what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!” (Genesis 33:10 (NLT))
  3. Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons, which made them jealous and full of hatred. They eventually sold him into slavery into Egypt. Later, after Joseph had been elevated to the second most powerful position in that land, Joseph’s brothers came to him to buy food. In dramatic fashion he revealed to them his true identity, which caused them to fear for their lives. Those brothers expected to encounter judgment but instead came face to face with forgiveness. The kindness Joseph extended was so unbelievable to them that after Jacob died they begged him not to punish them for their past behavior, prompting this response from Joseph. ” …Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20  You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21  No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children…”  Genesis 50:19-21 (NLT)
  4. David committed adultery with his good friend Uriah’s wife and had Uriah killed in battle after she became pregnant, both offenses being punishable by death. When Nathan the prophet confronted him about these sins, David repented, not knowing what might lie ahead in terms of judgment. Nathan announced that David would reap many negative consequences for his sin but that God chose to show mercy, saying: “…the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.” 2 Samuel 12:13 (NLT) 
  5. In John chapter 8, the woman caught in the act of adultery was hauled before our Lord expecting to be stoned to death as required in the Law of Moses. Drawing an advance upon what he would soon accomplish on the cross, he extended mercy to this woman and set her free. When all her accusers had departed, Jesus’ words have gone down in history. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” 11  “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11 (NLT) This woman expected to encounter God’s wrath at the hands of men but met face to face with his kindness and mercy.

Every single one of us is just like that woman. We have all sinned and deserve to experience God’s wrath. No one is righteous before God. (Romans 3:10) We all have a “fearful expectation of judgment.” (Hebrews 10:27)

Instead God sent his Son to encounter that wrath on our behalf so that we might come face to face with God’s smile.

The only way for us to avoid our appointment with judgment and death is to accept God’s generous offer to be reconciled to him through faith in Christ and what he did on our behalf. It seems like a “no brainer” to me.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe, I stand before you now well aware that I deserve to encounter your judgment and wrath against my sin. Thank you for sending your Son to die in my place so that I might be forgiven and reconciled to you. I receive that amazing gift right now and give my heart and life to you. Holy Spirit transform me on the inside and help me to live the rest of my life for Jesus. Thank you for being so kind. Amen.

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