I will start by reading a book excerpt from the June 3,1989 issue of Today in the Word, published by the Moody Bible Institute. As I read, see if you can guess whom is being spoke of.
He made free use of Christian vocabulary. He talked about the blessing of the Almighty and the Christian confessions which would become the pillars of the new government. He assumed the earnestness of a man weighed down by historic responsibility. He handed out pious stories to the press, especially to the church papers. He showed his tattered Bible and declared that he drew the strength for his great work from it as scores of pious people welcomed him as a man sent from God. Indeed, ..….Adolf Hitler was a master of outward religiosity... The book is titled Hitler, God and the Bible.
I have a question for you to think about as I read from Romans. Why do the majority of non-Christians reject Christianity? The answers and percentages will surprise you. I'll give a few clues & ask again in a minute. I had planned to speak on something more glamorous this morning, like God’s Righteousness Through Faith. I already had my notes started, but then I had writers block. That little voice in my head kept bringing me back to this. Righteousness Through Faith will have to wait another week.
Romans 2:19-24
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which has the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 You therefore which teaches another, teach thou not thyself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 Thou that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? thou that abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
Romans 3:9-12
9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written:“There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.12 They have all turned aside;They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
The Barna Research Group asked non-Christians why they rejected Christianity. The most often listed reasons had nothing to do with theological questions or matters of faith versus evidence. Their answers are rather heart-breaking. Any guesses yet? 87% of those surveyed cited that Christians were too judgmental, while 85% responded that Christians were hypocritical. Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Pauls' letter was written. Has anything changed?
Muhatma Gandhi is listed by Time magazine as the third most influential person of the 20th century. He once said “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. I'd be a Christian if not for the Christians.”
There is a story behind that statement. As a young man, Gandhi had read the New Testament and wanted to learn more about the Gospel. He went to a church in Calcutta India and was stopped at the door. Because of his appearance, he wasn't allowed in. He never returned.
Jesus dealt with religious hypocrisy throughout His ministry. Organized religion was one of the strongest critics of Jesus. A popular representation of Jesus is of a meek, mild-mannered, apologetic, non-confrontational person. That is not the Biblical Jesus. Jesus often went face to face with the religious hypocrites of His day. These were men sent by the High Priest to instigate a public response by Jesus. (On a side-note, meek as in “the meek shall inherit the earth” does not mean the same in the ancient Greek language as it means today. The Greek meaning refers to a wild animal that is tamed, such as a horse. It still has its original strength, but that power is refined and focused. It means having power at our disposal, but not using it. We will come back to that at another time.)
Matthew 23:25-28
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
As far as a chewing out goes by todays standards, that sounds fairly tame. But to a first century Pharisee, being told that to their face, that was quite a shock. Is it any surprise then that, chronologically, that passage was part of the last public message given by Jesus in the Temple complex before His arrest & crucifixion?
The secular media loves it when a religious person is caught up in something. Sadly, the list is long & growing. Names that we have all heard of & maybe even read books from or watched programs by include Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Baker, Mark Driscoll, Ted Haggard, & Bill Hybels. When they fall, regardless of affiliation, it is the Church that suffers.
When those who are supposed to be pillars of the church are caught doing things much worse than the majority of society has done, what then is the difference? As Christians, shouldn't we be separated from the corruption of a sinful world? (2 Pt 1:4) The 85% of un-churched people surveyed point to things like this as the basis for their belief. Much of the world sees Christians as being fake. Can we really blame them? The verse “...the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles...” takes on a clearer meaning doesn't it?
When we take on the title of Christian, we are representing Christ. Christian, the word, means “little Christ.” If the world can not see a difference in our lives, why would they believe HE can make a difference in their lives? We may be the only examples they will ever see. GODs word is sovereign, even when those who teach it may lack integrity. Something I've heard said before is “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”
Christianity is not about religion or being religious, it is about a relationship. The difference is made painfully clear as we think about what Jesus spoke in Mathew 7:21-23 & 23:13. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Both of these passages describes the truly sad ending of a religious people. Jesus did not come so that we might have another religion. He came so that each of us could be in a very real relationship with Him by & thru faith. Before you leave here today, please take the time to reaffirm your relationship with Jesus.
The Gospel truth is religious rules can't save you. Religious rituals can't save you. Religious denominations or designations can't save you. Only Gods gift of righteousness through faith can save you. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Will you accept Him today? If there is anyone ready to receive the free gift of GODs righteousness this morning, please come forward as we sing the closing hymn.
