making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13 NKJ
Don’t let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men’s thoughts and ideas, instead of on what Christ has said. Colossians 2:8 TLB
They act as if they worshipped God, yet they do not let God's power work in their lives. Keep away from people like that. 2 Timothy 3:5 WE
Religious tradition makes God's Word ineffectual. Religion weakens and renders the Church impotent in a fallen world. We have defined religion as a man-centered philosophy rooted in rigid rules, rituals, and rites.
We are examining the marks of the religious man-or rather, the religious-minded man. Our focus is the mindset of religion, not people, for no one is our enemy. We do not wrestle with flesh and blood.
In John 9, we see a perfect portrait of powerless religion. This is the story of the blind man made whole. They brought him before the Pharisees. The Pharisees were enraged because this work of Jesus violated their rules and the way they had always done things.
Notice they were angry because Jesus broke their rules. They were cold and callous to the plight of the man; he was born blind, and that impacted all aspects of his life. That was of no concern to them, only that the rules be observed and never broken, no matter the reason.
The reality is their cold religion was powerless to render help, healing, and wholeness. This leads us to identify one of the marks of a religious-minded man. Religion is powerless. The 6th mark of the religious-minded is "powerless."
Religion is powerless. Religion has a form of godliness but has no power. Religion serves a god that is comfortable for the intellectually led and emotionally inclined-a deity shaped from human logic and limited compassion.
The Jesus of powerless religion's only ability is to forgive one of their past sins and allow the sinner to become born again. Apart from that, Jesus can't help you. While being forgiven of past sins and getting born again are vitally important, it is not truly good news if that's all He can do.
What about your future sins? Are these left up to you to work for or beg for forgiveness? What about your life in the here and now? Are you on your own in this life?
Powerless religion seems to insinuate and proclaim this as fact, and if you ask for more in this life, then religion labels you a heretic and someone who seeks not God but happiness this side of Heaven. They call into question the sincerity of Faith and commitment to God for anyone who believes there is more for us in this life than just suffering and squeezing by in life, as if expecting goodness from God is somehow greed, covetousness, or discontentment!
One of the marks of the religious-minded man is powerlessness. Jesus can't help you is really what they believe and express in matters apart from initial belief in Christ. Powerless religion is a religious expression without any revelation. Jesus is a mere historical figure who used to work miracles, heal the sick and infirm, set captives free, and transform lives. Today, that is not what Jesus does, and if you have a need apart from accepting Jesus as Savior, well, sorry, Jesus doesn't do that anymore. He can't help you with that!
That’s not just bad theology — this is the heart of powerless religion
It’s a Christianity that preaches a historical Jesus, not a living Christ.
It knows about some of His words but not His presence.
It can quote the stories as historical events, but it has forgotten the Spirit that makes them real.
Powerless religion looks into the eyes of the broken, a sick mother, a grieving father — and says, “Sorry, that was for Bible times.”
But the Gospel of Grace says the same Jesus who opened blind eyes still mends broken hearts — the same Spirit who raised Him from the dead still gives life today.
Powerless religion sees God's Word for the most part as a history book. A collection of events that detailed what God used to do. An account of a Savior who only intervened in people's lives to coldly prove He was, in fact, God in the flesh, not because of compassion and mercy, compelling Him to show up in people's situations and change them to bring about healing, wholeness, and restoration.
Powerless religion serves a savior that can't save completely, only partially. Powerless religion preaches a partial Jesus.
He can forgive, but He can’t restore.
He can pardon, but He can’t empower.
He can cleanse the record, but not redeem the life.
This brand of religion presents a Christ who died for sins — but not for sickness.
A cross that covers the past — but not the present or future.
A redemption that opens heaven for receiving the new birth alone — but leaves hell’s grip on earth untouched.
It’s a gospel that says:
“He can save your soul, but your body’s on its own.”
“He can forgive your sin, but not break your addiction.”
“He can bless you spiritually, but not touch your finances.”
“He can comfort your pain, but not cure it.”
Powerless religion presents a powerless Savior — one good enough to pity you, but not strong enough to help you. But the real Jesus not only came to forgive sin — He also came to undo its effects on earth and in the lives who trust in Him!
Powerless religion has entombed Jesus in a museum. Where His works are mere exhibits, serving as a reminder of what He once did, but no longer does today. They are memorials of a God who once changed circumstances and outcomes for the blessing and betterment of His people, but of course, that was not for the actual blessing, but merely to show He was a sovereign God who was capable of powerful acts and nothing more.
Has powerless religion ensnared you and your thinking? Has Christianity merely become an intellectual encounter, rather than a truly life-changing event? Break free from the shackles of powerless Christianity and know you serve a risen Savior who conquered death, hell, and the grave and rendered the enemy powerless and ineffective against His Church, the Body of Christ.
Do you have any experiences with powerless Religion you wish to share? Comment below and let your testimony inspire others.
Image by Laz Georgoulas from Pixabay
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