Are You Righteous Or Religious

Are You Righteous or Religious?

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - A couple of weeks ago I did a message titled “What Kind of Spirit do you Have”? I love how God sends and uses confirmation. My brother Mark also has been dealing with something very similar and dealing with the Pharisaical spirit operating in the church.

Understand that there is nothing better than a church that is socially aware of what is going on and that is truly guided by biblical principles, that dedicate themselves to the Word of God and prayer. It would utterly foolish to even imply that churches and their belief systems are the root of the problem let me clarify that in the beginning.

Churches are necessary and useful for the social and spiritual health of God's people. However, we must understand that Churches, and their doctrines, can become an idol and operate under a pharisaical spirit; when we try to make our rituals and regulations equal to God. That was the problem with the Pharisees they were putting more emphasis on the rituals and outward appearances than with inward transformation and relationship. So much so that Jesus called the “White-Washed Tombs full of Dead Bones”.

Today I am going to ask a simple question “Are You Righteous or Religious”?

PRAYER: -

STATISTICS: - The George Barna Research Institute conducted a survey that revealed something about religious life in America. According to the survey: 94 percent of Americans claim to believe in God. Amazingly out of that 94 %, only 45% said that they attend some form of worship on a regular basis. Regular meaning at least once a month. Then of that 45%, only 4 percent said they actually practice their faith daily.

QUESTION: - If 94% of people believe in God but only 4 percent practice their faith what are the other 90% of the people actually practicing? I would venture to say RELIGION.

Religion is defined as “an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods.” HMMM SOUNDS FAMILIAR. That definition literally almost makes anything a religion. Atheism – the belief that there is no God is a religion. Buddhism – the belief in a false god is a religion. Hinduism – the belief in many gods is a religion. Some can believe in a television show or performer and that is their god therefore that becomes their religion. I heard someone say once that they practiced the religion of Jediism because they believed that the force was in them. WOW - for those that may not know a Jedi is the main protagonists (the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text) of the Star Wars Movie franchise, they are fictional characters in a movie and to develop a religion out of that and anything other than Jesus Christ is sin. Romans 14:23 says “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”.

Righteousness is the quality or state of being morally correct and justifiable “behavior that is morally justifiable or right.” It can be considered synonymous with "rightness" or being "upright".

The Greek New Testament word for “righteousness” primarily describes conduct in relation to others, especially with regards to the rights of others in business, in legal matters, and beginning with relationship to God. It is contrasted with wickedness, the conduct of the one who, out of gross self-centeredness, neither reveres God nor respects man. The Bible describes the righteous person as just or right, holding to God and trusting in Him Psalm 33:18–22.

To be righteous, in biblical language, is to be right or pleasing to God. Pleasing God involves keeping His commandments.

Religion can be external, but Righteousness is internal, real, and always from the heart.

Many people today insist that the righteousness is the righteousness of Christ which clothes every believer by imputation. It is true that because we are imputed with the righteousness of Christ, we are seen in God’s eyes as having a righteousness that far, far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees because the blood of Christ covers ours sins.

SCRIPTURE: - Luke 10:25 – 37 “And, behold, a certain lawyer (an interpreter & teacher of the Law of Moses) stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law?(Jesus was asking him, this teach and interpreter of the Law – What does the Word of God say? ) how readest thou (then He said who readest you or basically How are you interpreting what has been written)? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, (See he knew the religious lingo, he knew how to go through the routine, He knew how to say giving honor to God who is the head of my life, pastor minister saints and friends) Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Jesus lets him know you have the form down correctly as so many stuck in religion do) But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? (This is the spirit of self -Righteousness it’s all about me) And Jesus answering said, A certain man (now remember when the Bible says Certain man or Certain woman it deals with the atmosphere or circumstances surrounding that person – it’s different then saying a man named Job that deals with the character and action of a person) went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise”.