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These reflections about the rules and regulations of religion have stirred a whole bunch offeelings within me as I come to see more clearly the enormous cost of this blatant rip-off that cheats people and robs them of an authentic and genuine relationship with the living God.
Even as I write that last paragraph it occurs to me that behind the deception of false religion is one who is the ultimate deceiver - Satan himself. Jesus called Satan for what he is - a thief. "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness". (John 10:10 NLT)
Satan uses many ways to steal a full and meaningful life from people - a life lived in a love relationship with the Lord God. One of the most effective ways is via religion. And it's not a new tactic. As I've already noted, Jesus certainly did not hold back in His condemnation of man-made systems of belief and behaviour.
Obviously the Apostle Paul was a fierce opponent of religion in the sense of it being a system of rules and regulations that depends upon human endeavour to find acceptance with God. Paul was one who lived the early part of his life passionately committed to fulfilling those laws that he believed would win God's approval. Philippians 3 details the degree to which he went to be a good, religious man.
The whole of his letter to the Galatian believers challenges the requirements of religion and promotes the freedom of grace. This letter was written to a company of Christians who started their new life by accepting the reality of God's grace but then, as time passed, allowed the liberty of grace to be corrupted by the slavery of laws, rules and regulations.
I kid myself if I think the same dynamic can't happen to me! I am still prone to defect from grace to law. The thief is always trying to rob me of my freedom in Christ by tempting me to believe that there is still something/s that I need to do and by dressing up those requirements in religious language and action.
Lord, you have set me free from the laws that bring sin and death. Praise be to your Name. You have brought me into your Kingdom by your grace. Praise to you, Lord. May your grace lead me every day. Amen.
