Faith Inside & Out
Good Morning,
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
Acts 20:29 "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”
We usually read these passages assuming the sheep are the believers and the wolves are the evil, anti-God world around us, but as we read the Bible, we see that it was the religious crowd that delivered Jesus to be crucified. A "familiar friend" betrayed our Lord. The spiritual leaders of the Reformation assaulted countless Bible believers throughout the Dark Ages.
Since the beginning of time, religion has been the tool of evil as much as the tool of God. Just like politicians, some have good motives and decent plans while others have corrupt plans and destructive agendas.
Most likely, the strongest preaching of our Lord and John the Baptist was directed toward the religious crowd of their day.
Matthew 23:14 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”
vs. 33 “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”
One public statement that was printed and circulated told of the religious leaders’ desire to silence the simple preaching of the Baptist people by implementing fines.
“… And if any one be found to allow his house or place to the Anabaptists, contrary to the church regulations of this city, for the purpose of preaching or holding meetings therein, he shall each time be fined ten dollars.
The preachers, as aforesaid, if found to be preaching, shall for each offense be fined ten dollars, or be imprisoned two weeks on water and bread; and when detected in thus preaching the third time, shall be expelled from the city or the jurisdiction of the same.
And all that shall be found attending such preachings or gatherings, shall each time be fined two dollars.
Whoever shall be found to have rebaptized any one, shall be fined twenty dollars; and when detected the second time, shall be imprisoned on water and bread, and expelled as aforesaid.
Again, unbaptized children shall not receive inheritance, according to the city statutes.”
- Sept. 7, 1601 Martyrs Mirror, page 1103
Whatever good God does, Satan will seek to modify, slander, corrupt, and use it for evil. This was true in the days of ancient Israel as well as today; religion can become a mockery.
Amos 5:21 “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies." God can get completely fed up with outward religious deeds, deeds in which no heart for God personally exists. Other times, God sees total compromise in the lives of those who say their hearts are right with God – God wants one’s heart and life.
1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
1 Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
Vain religion, whether Bible-believing or Bible-denying, is not uncommon; our lives need to match our faith. A heart of compassion and a life of devotion should both honor God. The difficult moments will often reveal who we truly are. For this reason, our Lord directed us to love our enemies, to be merciful, and not to revile when others revile us.
1 Peter 2:23 "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not..."
May we seek to have a faith that is rooted in our hearts and exhibited in our lives.
Pastor