A Word from Scott
Real faith preferred over religion
Scott Myers Pastor of Pineview Baptist Church
It is such an unfortunate reality that many of us within the church, within the family of God just don't get it. It seems that in our attempt to become 'godly' (more like Jesus) and holy (set apart for the things of God) that we have taken on the fake and the phony. Jesus Himself said that we are the 'light of the world', 'the salt of the earth' but the light and flavor that we seem to be radiating just doesn't seem attractive. Rather it's ugly! The Bible says in 2 Timothy that "in the last days that difficult times would come and in those times would be people who will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters or good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God". Wow! That surely sounds familiar to the world we live in today. One just needs to turn on the news and see the deterioration of our society. It is one thing to see this in the world, but the fact of the matter is this - I believe Paul was talking about such things finding their way into the church.
We must ask ourselves; 'does this describe us'. Those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus must ask this question. I honestly believe that it's not Satan or sin or some political party that is blocking people from turning to God. Instead it's the people of God who stand in the way! That's right! Ghandi said that he liked Jesus; it was His followers though that he didn't like. Wow! That's sobering! For some reason there are those believers who find God and then come to the conclusion that they are God's gift to the world or because they are a member of the church, a teacher, a deacon, or even a pastor that they are part of some 'elite' group of 'heavenly saints' and can act and live life any way they choose without any regard to what Jesus said. When the people of God take on the characteristics Paul spoke of in 2 Timothy, we become a stumbling block to those seeking God. Faith and life should be inseparable. Our relationship with Jesus Christ should be the same whether we are sitting in worship or at a football game, whether eating lunch with family or with coworkers. Faith should permeate every area of our lives. That doesn't mean we will become perfect or even close to perfect. In reality the opposite will seemingly happen - we'll see ourselves as sinners.
As we grow in our faith, we see more clearly our need for God and for His forgiveness and mercy and grace.
Instead of boisterous, selfrighteous religion, we ought to portray humble, self-denying relationships with Jesus Christ. People are not attracted to haughty, arrogant religion; instead they are attracted to humble, Christ-like, spiritfilled, loving and caring followers of Jesus Christ.
Saints of God take heed. We should quit acting like we have arrived. You may think you have, but you're just being deceived! You have not arrived yet! You, like me, are struggling in this world we live in and struggling in our faith that we hold to. Real faith trusts God, but realizes our desperate need for God each day of our lives. Real faith never looks down on anyone; instead it humbles itself to that of a servant. Real faith never boasts in self, nor does it lie or hate. Rather it boasts in God and His grace and mercy and love, and is truthful, and above all it loves! That's not religion, that relationship!
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must examine ourselves to see if we are portraying real faith or just pious religion. I prefer real faith. What about you?
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