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In speaking before King Agrippa, the apostle Paul told him that "as to the manner of life from youth up that I led from the beginning among my nation.......according to the strictest sect of our form of worship ("form of worship", Greek threskeia, "religion", KJV) I lived a Pharisee."(Acts 26:4, 5)
And then there were those who took "delight in mock humility and a form of worship (Greek threskeia, "worshipping", KJV) of the angels".(Col 2:18) And James, the half-brother of Jesus, said that "if any man seems to be a formal worshiper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his heart, this man's form of worship (Greek threskeia, "religion", KJV) is futile."(James 1:26)
James concludes that "the form of worship (Greek threskeia, "religion, KJV) that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world."(James 1:27)
Hence, "religion" is anyone's worship, but the Bible designates that only one religion would gain God's favor. Jesus said: "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it."(Matt 7:13, 14)
Jesus furthermore said: "Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able."(Luke 13:24) Because the effort and changes required are so great, most are unwilling to make them.
Thus, many are satisfied what the churches are dispensing, for it requires little from them in changing their personality. There they are not required to "strip off the old personality with its practices", but to please Jehovah God, a person has to do this and then "clothe (themselves) with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the One (Jehovah ) who created it."(Col 3:9, 10, see some details of the "new personality" at verses 12 -14)
Even of the nation of Israel, the apostle Paul said: "That people of the nations, although not pursuing righteousness, caught up with righteousness, the righteousness that results from faith; but (fleshly) Israel, although pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to the law." Why ? Because "they stumbled on the "stone of stumbling".(Rom 9:30-32, "stone of stumbling" proved to be Jesus Christ, 1 Cor 1:23)
And then there were those who took "delight in mock humility and a form of worship (Greek threskeia, "worshipping", KJV) of the angels".(Col 2:18) And James, the half-brother of Jesus, said that "if any man seems to be a formal worshiper and yet does not bridle his tongue, but goes on deceiving his heart, this man's form of worship (Greek threskeia, "religion", KJV) is futile."(James 1:26)
James concludes that "the form of worship (Greek threskeia, "religion, KJV) that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world."(James 1:27)
Hence, "religion" is anyone's worship, but the Bible designates that only one religion would gain God's favor. Jesus said: "Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it."(Matt 7:13, 14)
Jesus furthermore said: "Exert yourselves vigorously to get in through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to get in but will not be able."(Luke 13:24) Because the effort and changes required are so great, most are unwilling to make them.
Thus, many are satisfied what the churches are dispensing, for it requires little from them in changing their personality. There they are not required to "strip off the old personality with its practices", but to please Jehovah God, a person has to do this and then "clothe (themselves) with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the One (Jehovah ) who created it."(Col 3:9, 10, see some details of the "new personality" at verses 12 -14)
Even of the nation of Israel, the apostle Paul said: "That people of the nations, although not pursuing righteousness, caught up with righteousness, the righteousness that results from faith; but (fleshly) Israel, although pursuing a law of righteousness, did not attain to the law." Why ? Because "they stumbled on the "stone of stumbling".(Rom 9:30-32, "stone of stumbling" proved to be Jesus Christ, 1 Cor 1:23)
aspen
“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
It still surprises me that Christians are taught to hate religion rather than what Jesus was speaking out against, which was hypocrisy and apathy. Perhaps it is another way to distance ourselves from responsibility and authenticity - another way of fighting the hormones, GMOs, and additives in our food by changing the environment we choose to eat the food in.
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