Religious People

Bob Wille said:

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said,
“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent and reveals them to babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight.”
Luke 10:21

Religious people with the most knowledge are sometimes
the ones least responsive to God’s Word. Knowledge easily lead
to pride, and pride impedes us from seeking God.
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

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Knowledge is not bad, in and of itself. If it is head knowledge only, it is not much good when it comes to walks of faith in Jesus Christ. But the Scriptures talk about us growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord. We are to study to show ourselves approved unto God as workmen who are not ashamed and who rightly handle the word of truth. We need to know the Scriptures if we are going to live what they teach, and if we are going to discern lies from truth, and if we are going to rightly handle the word of truth by teaching what is true and by exposing the lies.

Many people today don't know what the word of God teaches because they aren't studying the Scriptures but they are relying on other humans to tell them what it says. So, they aren't testing what they are hearing against the word of God because they don't know the word of God. If all we have is head knowledge, then that is bad. But growing in the knowledge of Christ and of the teachings of the Scriptures is good provided that we are putting the word of God into practice. But we need that childlike faith if we are going to hear from the Lord what he wants to teach us from his word.

The bible tells us that mere knowledge puffs us up. Bible knowledge which does not lead us to a living relationship with Jesus Christ does not take us anywhere by itself. We need fellowship with one another and with him, if we are too grow into mature Christians. The bible has much too say about us growing from mere babes to Christ into Mature Christians, it's not just the milk of the word, but being able to recieve the strong meat as well. It seems likely that none of us are truely immune to the dangers of spiritual pride and we do need to be aware of this and not think to highly of ourselves. The road to hell is a road which is often begun with good intentions.

I am not a great fan of many of todays modern bible translations. I like older translations, which often use words which need looking up and understanding. There are great depths of meaning in Gods word and these are there to speak directly to each one of us as we go through life's challenges. Many of us think that we know his word and that we don't need to spend much time reading his word and with Him.

Unfortunately our current generation does not measure up very well, when compared to the Christians of earlier generations. We have access to all manner of aids to bible study, but many are following a man, instead of following God. Perhaps it is a good time to return to the simplicity of our walk with God, which characterised earlier generations. How many of us live as those who truely fear God. This life can end without notice and we will stand before Him and be accountable for how we walked before Him.

We have so many teachings about His word, but his word is the real thing and all those other books are just man's teaching!

Isn’t religion man made?

I’ve never looked upon myself as being religious, I have a living relationship with the Holy Spirit, I am led by God not by man, I’m very careful who I listen to and check everything out with scripture,Heart knowledge from the Lord which is then relayed to the mind, without being born again we are alienated from God.

Bob Wille said:

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said,
“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent and reveals them to babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight.”
Luke 10:21

Religious people with the most knowledge are sometimes
the ones least responsive to God’s Word. Knowledge easily lead
to pride, and pride impedes us from seeking God.
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Click to expand...

Couldn't agree with you more, Bob . That is why the Jewish Nation rejected Jesus as the Savior. They listened to and followed their leaders ~

O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Isaiah 3:12.

Agreed, although sometimes people pride themselves on a lack of knowledge.

Bob Wille said:

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said,
“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent and reveals them to babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight.”
Luke 10:21

Religious people with the most knowledge are sometimes
the ones least responsive to God’s Word. Knowledge easily lead
to pride, and pride impedes us from seeking God.
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Click to expand...

Bob Wille said:

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said,
“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
that you have hidden these things from the wise
and prudent and reveals them to babes.
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight.”
Luke 10:21

Religious people with the most knowledge are sometimes
the ones least responsive to God’s Word. Knowledge easily lead
to pride, and pride impedes us from seeking God.
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Click to expand...

Absolutely. Those who know well the scripture doesn’t mean they are ”friend of God” unfortunately. Or friend of fellow christians... Have they harden their hearts? To me it looks like it.

It is possible to be "religious" but not right with God. Just look at the Pharisees. Religion apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ is in vain.

James 1:26 - If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. This man's religion is vain, empty, devoid of power, lacking in content, nonproductive, dead and of no eternal value. James 1:27 - Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with "pure and undefiled religion" but there is certainly something wrong with impure and defiled religion.

Religion should point to a simple path i think. I don't think knowledge needs to include a degree in theology. If your religion leads to humility, self control and love then I would say its on the right path. Theology leads to many arguments. I dont see that as spiritual. How does argument and division help my walk?

IWalkAlone said:

Religion should point to a simple path i think. I don't think knowledge needs to include a degree in theology. If your religion leads to humility, self control and love then I would say its on the right path. Theology leads to many arguments. I dont see that as spiritual. How does argument and division help my walk?

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Amen!!..".excellent post!!

I think that this has been a good subject thread and it is helpful to be reminded of these things from time to time. Is not our Christian walk so much easier when we keep it simple. Is it not our interlect that causes so many of our problems. Having had a stroke, I find it much easier to comprehend simple things!