Religion or Relationship: Which One Counts?

I was chatting with a friend of my wife’s recently. Someone that has had some less than desired experiences with a certain man made religion. Details are far, far from important. But the conclusion we both came to, much before this conversation with the aid of the electronic highway, was that man made/constructed religion, organized religion or man centered systems are not biblically based.Most of them have so many rules, and you must do the best you can to achieve heaven. The problem is that all men are sinful and fallible. In other words, not perfect. Men/women have the full capabilities of making mistakes, saying things that are completely unbiblical and even evil. Many times without noticing it.

Why would I bring up such a topic? Why would this have any value in any kind of writing? Well, how many people do you know that are Catholics, followers of Joel Osteen, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, William Branham, Rodney Browne, T.d. Jakes, Oral Roberts…and the list goes on and on and on….All these preach some sort of religion. Have your best life now. If you give enough , God will give back (always centered on money), they preach that Jesus died for your sins, but you have to do your part, confess, give money, speak in tongues….

The issue with these religions, is that you will never know how much would be enough, if this was in fact the way to earn your heaven. Jesus was talking to his disciples at one point in Matthew 19, when a young zealous man came to Christ and asked Him how to get to heaven. Jesus answered and the young man walked away sad. The disciples then asked “who then can be saved”? and Jesus answered “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” So no matter how much effort, faith, belief, time you think you may have put in. God will NOT accept it for heaven works. Here’s the biggest reason I can think of. If what you do, donations or any of the list above, earn you forgiveness for your sin against God…why on earth would He have bothered sending His Son on earth, born of a virgin, lived for 30 yrs, then preached a gospel to the point that a crowd around Him consistently wanted Him dead (anyone in their right mind would have stopped preaching at this point). He kept preaching, and getting death threats, was taken in the early hours leading to His crucifixion, beaten to a pulp, whipped, floggered, spat on, insulted mocked and then led to the cross. Where, if you do research, is one of the worse deaths someone can go through without the breaking of bones.
And if that was not all enough, God judged Him for your sin!!!! He took an eternity worth judgment for your sin so you wouldn’t have to. And now you tell Him “I’ll do it MY way”…..What a slap in the face…

Dear reader, this post, comes with prayer that you will find your sin, as offensive in your eyes as they are in God’s eyes. And that you repent from them and cry out to God for your salvation.