False Religion:  Are You Deceived by It?

© 2021 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Many think anything called “religion” is good.  However, the Bible makes it clear that false religion is evil.  Only true religion, provided by God Himself, is good.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. … If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:22-27)

Notice, above, that what God calls “pure religion and undefiled,” is based on His Word, which is the Bible.

Unfortunately, many religious groups, which claim to be based on God’s Word, are not.  This was true in Christ’s day.  The religious leaders of Israel added to, misquoted, misapplied, and downright ignored God’s Word for their own convenience.  During Christ’s public ministry on earth, the religious leaders were presented with incontestable proof that He was the prophesied Messiah.  They could not deny it, but rejected it anyway, because it undermined their own political-religious power.  Here was their response.

“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.  If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.” (John 11:47-48)

Ultimately, it was these religious leaders that coerced Pilate into crucifying Jesus.

Today, many so called “Christian” religious groups are behaving in an unbiblical manner as a false religion.  They even sell prayers for money!  Years ago, upon the death of our infant son, we received a sympathy card from a friend.  It indicated that money had been sent to a particular nominally “Christian” religious group to pray for his soul.  The senders of that card were truly attempting to be kind, but they were deceived by their money-hungry false religion.

Jesus said to His apostle, Thomas,

“… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Later, Paul and Silas, when asked by the Philippian jailor how to be saved, replied:

“… Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)

You and I are sinners, but the Lord Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay the penalty for sinners.  Have you asked Him to be merciful to you, a sinner? (see Luke 18:9-14)

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