The World’s Most Popular Religion
Acts 26:5
Powerpoint for this and hundreds more free sermons at our website:
http://www.gbcdecatur.org/sermons/PopularReligion.html
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I heard a story about a pastor who called two boys to his office. One boy was asked to wait outside the door while the other was escorted into the office and seated. The pastor said, "Son, I have a question for you, and I want you to think hard before you give me your answer."
"Okay," the boy replied.
"Tell me," the pastor asked, "where is God?"
The boy gulped and thought for a while. Again, the pastor asked the boy, "Where is God?”
The boy hesitated. He wanted very much to give the right answer, but he wasn’t sure what he should say. Then, for the third time, the pastor inquired, "Where is God?"
By this time, the boy was very nervous and frustrated. Suddenly, he jumped out of his chair, bolted out of the office, grabbed his friend by the arm, and said, "Let’s get out of here! They’ve lost God, and they’re trying to blame us!"
Today, there are many places of worship that have lost God. They are “religious”, but not truly spiritual. Without the Spirit, you are just religious at best!
Before his salvation experience on the road to Damascus, the Apostle Paul was one of the most religious men of his time. In Acts 26:5 he states, “…after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.” All of us know, of course, that he was not a Christian at that time. In fact, he was anti-Christian and anti-Christ, committing to prison and even murdering those who followed after the Lord Jesus. His testimony, as recorded through the Scriptures, tells us that he was very, very religious.
Well, the world is plagued with religion. Religion is a bigger tool to prevent people from going to Heaven than it is for getting them there. Man is basically a religious creature. He is going to worship something or somebody.
The Persian has his Zend-Avesta. The Hebrew has his Talmud. The Chinese has his Confucius or his Mao Tse-Tung. The Japanese has his Shinto shrine or Buddha god-shelf. The Roman has his Sibylline. The Mohammedan has his Koran. And the Muslim bows toward Mecca. The Hindu has his Shasta. He worships cows, rivers and creatures. [the less dedicated probably keep ‘diet Shasta’ around!]
The Mormons are everywhere. Jehovah’s Witnesses always beat us to the mission fields of the world. The Christian Scientists and all the others mingle like leaven through bread in our society.
Religion is broken down into hundreds of different denominations. There are Jews, Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Church of God, Church of Christ, Church of God IN Christ, Nazarene, Unity, Apostolic, Reform, Anglican, the Gay Church, Church of Satan …there are some very good non denominational churches, and dozens of different kinds of Baptists. There are the American Baptists, German Baptists, Swedish Baptists, Southern Baptists, Conservative Baptists, General Baptists, General Association of Regular Baptists, Old Regular Baptists, Hard-shell Baptists, [soft shell, …on the half shell!] Primitive Baptists, Missionary Baptists, Independent Baptists and even some called Lily Baptists.
Now, which is the right religion? None of the above!
And why do we care about “religion” at all? Religion is mentioned only 3 times in the Bible: (1) in our text, in Galatians 1:13, 14 and in James 1:26, 27.
Paul wasn’t fond of religion, but of “relationship!”
Galatians 1:13-14
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion…and profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Religion is not a “heart” thing!
Ezekiel said, …for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after covetousness…they hear thy words, but they do not do them” (33:31,32). Paul tells us in Titus 1:16, “They profess that they know God, but in words they deny him.” Again in II Timothy 3:5 he says, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Jesus told of those who “love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corner of the streets, that they may be seen of men” (Matt. 6:5).
The world seems to want a religion that will accept them as they are, permanently and without challenge; a religion that goes along with what they already believe; a religion that will not object to what they now do; or a religion that will let all men be brothers and still believe whatever they want to believe. The most popular religion in the world today transcends many denominations…it circles the globe, it’s in hearts of many who don’t go to church at all, many lost people, but also many who would be considered to be “saved”…and it’s likely located in the hearts of some here at GBC today!
The World’s Most Popular Religion is a:
I. RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INSIST. A religion that will be popular and cause folk to rally around it will be one that does not insist on . . .
1. Repentance. Remember, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repent=change mind, turn
2. Regeneration. This will not be included in the popular religion, but the Bible insists that, “Ye must be born again.”
3. Restitution. The popular religion will not insist on making right the wrongs or straightening out those things you’ve done that can be made right again.
4. Retribution. It will not insist on retribution and eternal Hell at the end of a sinful life. Only the positive, no judgment.
A lot of people will come as long as there is no “insistence” in your religion.
So, why is it that at GBC we insist on some things? It’s not because it will make us popular, for it will not. If our only goal is to grow numerically we’re doing it all wrong…it would behoove us to lighten up and not practice all that “accountability stuff.”
But our goal at GBC is to grow spiritually which will often lead to numerical growth. Our goal is to lead like Jesus did, who insisted on some things, who made people face themselves and stepped on many toes…Who loves us enough not to leave us the way we are!
In many places, if you’ll just give an offering they’ll leave you alone and never challenge you in any other way…never mind what’s going on in your life and what you may be going thru…never mind what God may have in mind for you if you are only stretched and challenged!
Well, our philosophy of ministry is a Biblical one which says “YOU are more important than what you can do or what you can give.” We’re much more interested in what we can do for you than what you can do for us, though what you do and what you give are good indications of who you are…if we focus on YOU then WE will receive a lot in return!
“The Ministry is for People more than People are for the Ministry!”
II. RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE
The popular religion does not involve…
1. Book Without Error. Our Bible is the infallible, inspired, inerrant Word of God. Many people would like to have it be just a manual of religion. To get to heaven you must use the right map from the beginning, and you must follow it literally!
2. Blessed Hope. The Bible teaches the second coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ. It is involved in God’s type of religion, but not man’s. Religious people like the Pharisees aren’t honestly looking forward to heaven…they hear verses about us praising and worshiping God day and nite for all eternity and it’s not as appealing to them as others worshiping and adoring them and thinking they are really something! They imagine heaven to be that way and would like to remain on earth and be religious as long as possible…and not have it all ruined by an untimely rapture!
3. Blood Atonement. The lamb died in Eden; Cain’s offering was rejected, while Abel’s was accepted. Abraham offered Isaac and God substituted the lamb. “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . .ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . .but with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18,19). The Bible teaches that redemption involves blood atonement. It’s not popular, this bloody Christ on the cross…and they try to take the blood out of the hymnals and remove it from sermons!
III. RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INTERFERE
Popular religion does not interfere with pleasures, customs, hobbies, habits, jobs, families and personal plans. If you can come up with a religion that will let man be, do, and go when and where he wants to, without having any interference, it will be popular. In other words, most people want a religious coat that they can put on when they go to church, take off and hang in the closet when they get home, and never bring it out again until the next Sunday, or maybe next Easter or Christmas!
Some say:
“I’d rather have a Sat. nite service or an early morning service so I can keep my Sunday free.” [Funny, it used to be the Lord’s Day!] I’m not against these things when necessary due to crowds, however.
“Don’t tell me it’s wrong to live together when everyone’s doing it!”
[God’s talking to you, not them...and it’s so respectable when people to decide to make things right…God is pleased and we should support them…that’s adding repentance to faith!]
“Don’t tell me what to do!” America at large has real authority problems…we have come to be gods ourselves and answerable to no one… “I’m right, you’re wrong, and even if you force me to do something I’ll still go away knowing I’m in charge!” That’s rebellion!
And Christians have authority problems, too, and hold back God’s blessings when they won’t be led, won’t follow, and always feel they know better.” And that’s rebellion too! Some have had bad experiences w/ some authority who did wrong in their past. Well, don’t punish God for that! Or the next authority He places in your life!
Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Some seem disappointed sometimes w/ God…w/ His answer to their prayer for Him to send them a Pastor…oh, they take it out on the pastor, but really it’s God who is insulted as they don’t recognize the authority God sent them in answer to their prayers…now that’s religion…praying for what is right and then calling it wrong…asking for a leader but then not following!
IV. RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE
Religion will be popular if it does not include obligation and responsibility. David said, “Shall I make sacrifice of that which doth cost me nothing?” We should use the talents God gives us…we’re responsible to God for how we use them. “Oh, you know sign language, you can sing, God has blessed you with that ability, you play guitar? Great!”
There is responsibility in true Christianity, but today’s giant religious systems are so glad to have people join with them that they are perfectly willing to put up with just about anybody and anything, and will settle for nothing when it comes to involvement!
We are responsible for…
1. Cleanliness. Bible Christianity includes a clean heart, clean head and clean hands.
2. Concern. God expects us to have a burden and interest in others. Brotherly love is how the world knows we are different!
3. Conduct. Our behavior is to be based on what we believe.
Let me point out that the person who accepts these basic steps of responsibility will find the truth of I Jn. 5:3 where it says: “His commandments are not grievous.”
Christians rejoice in being able to serve, sacrifice and surrender their rights to those of God. The most popular religions of the world are just that—religions of the world, not religions of the Bible or of God.
There is a great need today to preach the true Gospel, the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His blood to provide a plan of redemption to save our poor, lost souls. Turn to Him today, if you don’t already know Him as your Savior. And if you are saved, be a Christian, not religious!
Powerpoint for this and hundreds more free sermons at our website:
http://www.gbcdecatur.org/sermons/PopularReligion.html
