“And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Yeshua/Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.”
(Ur/Luke 13:14)
Religion is dangerous. Religion would rather debate about healing than see somebody healed. Religion would rather argue about deliverance than see somebody set free. Religion would rather tell you it can’t judge while it judges only for it’s own benefit. Religion can’t even tell you right from wrong because it doesn’t even know.
You can see an example of that in Ur/Luke 13. Yeshua/Jesus healed a woman who had been bowed over for 18 years. Think of it, a dear old woman–a daughter of Abraham Yeshua/Jesus called her–set free after being bound by ha`satan/satan for nearly two decades. You’d think the temple rulers would have been rejoicing at what Yeshua/Jesus had done. But, no! They were angry because He’d done it on the wrong day.
Do you know what’s worse? Those very same religious leaders who criticized Yeshua/Jesus for healing on the Sabbath could have ministered healing to that woman themselves on any of the other six days of the week if they’d cared enough to do it.
That’s why Yeshua/Jesus was so indignant with them. They had the same covenant of Abraham as Yeshua/Jesus. But their religion had kept that woman bound instead of setting her free. It always does. Religion binds people.
Remember that next time someone tries to get you sidetracked into a religious debate about the L-rd, the Word or healing or deliverance. If someone needs to be delivered, just do it! Don’t get all hung up on theological questions. For your sake, BELIEVE THE WORD! While you’re arguing about what you “feel”, ha`satan/satan will be walking around like a roaring lion to devour you.
The difference between religion and the love of G-d; Religion argues. Love acts. Choose love today.
I am wondering about James 1:27. Is the translation ‘religion’ incorrect? It does imply that there is a religion that is acceptable to God. Hypocritical and unloving religion is of course to be avoided.
The use of the word ‘religion’ there isn’t really the same as what we understand ‘religion’ in our day. This particular word in Greek thréskeia as understood by the Jews referred to “observances, rites or ceremonies practiced during worship”. We must remember that James is writing to a Jewish audience, and he uses words the Jews were familiar with, and used those words to get the truth across that he meant to convey.
This is just like how John used the term “word of God” (logos tou theou). For a Hellenized Jew, logos was the principle thing that governed everything, from the universe to the intricate affairs in a man’s life. But according to the belief then, logos never related directly to man, but governed from afar. So when John said “And the word became flesh”, it probably shocked the readers. The very essence of God, the principle thing that governed everything came into the depths of our world and embraced us. We can’t fully appreciate this, because we don’t understand what terms meant to the original audience.
In England, what you refer to as chips, I refer to as fries. So in order to relate to you, I would have to use words in such a way that you’d understand what I mean….;) Hope this clears.