Don’t Like Religion? You aren’t Alone. The Daily Devotion for January 27
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 HCSB
Religion. If there is one word that can contrive a range of emotions and opinions it is this one. People have long said that religion and politics are the two topics one should refrain from discussing with strangers, over dinner, or on first dates. Religion has been parodied on Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, The Simpsons and Family Guy. Religion can fuel an argument, end relationships, and start wars. Organized religion can build barriers we are forced to climb over and hoops we are told we have to jump through in order to meet God.
Recently while in Las Vegas, one of the least religious places on earth, I had dinner with three good friends from the outdoor industry. As is often the case when I am at the table or in the room, people steer the conversation to religion. Since I am a usually the token minister I have grown accustomed to this and don’t mind; I am expected to talk “shop”. My friends told me how they were not anti faith, anti God, anti Jesus Christ, but in the course of their life and world travels they had come to be anti “religion”. They spoke of the faith they had seen others exhibit in areas of the world that are far less developed and affluent than we are in North America and how much different it was than here. The discussion was ultimately summed up with the statement, “Religion is a man made product by which man chases after God without care for who are what is in their way.”
They are right. “Religion” has gone wrong. It has become nothing more than a generic term with very broad meaning and implication to identify a system of closely held beliefs people exercise in their pursuit of the spiritual. These beliefs may or may not even involve God or a “god”. Here is the United States, however, when we talk about “religion” it is no doubt most often referred to in the context of Christianity. Yet, I doubt much of what is done today under the banner of being “religious” is really what Jesus Christ had in mind. To be honest, I don’t really blame you if you don’t like “religion”. I am not sure I like much of what I see about it today either.
James, however, speaks of religion in an entirely different context. “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” This is not the definition of religion but it is an example of what it should look like. Do not misunderstand me. The Bible is very clear that we are not saved by doing good works (man attempting to reach God, aka religion) but is instead saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ (a relationship). However the James tells us in the very next chapter that “faith without works is dead”. The Apostle John writes in 1 John 3:17, “If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need-how can God’s love reside in him?”
The Bible is very clear that Jesus came to be a savior and not to be religious. He even reserved his harshest words and criticism for the “religious” people of the day. He instead chose to hang out with prostitutes, thieves, tax collectors, adulterers, the sick, oppressed, and downcast. Jesus summed up his mission in Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
However, if we continue on with James’ example of what pure religion looks like we must also take note that we are to keep ourselves unstained by the world. This does not mean we cannot be in the world we just must not allow ourselves to fall in love with and conform to the things of the world (Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:15-17).
Probably no one in the New Testament understood the idea of religion better than the Apostle Paul. For many years, religion was his life. Upon his conversion, Paul discovered what he thought was religion, was really not. And yet Paul, who penned most of the New Testament (with God’s help) and is the greatest Christian missionary of all time, said this,
“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized-whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ-but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” (I Corinthians 9:19-23, The Message).
That’s more like it! You see, Jesus does not fit in the box we call religion. He is much bigger than that and a relationship with Jesus means endless opportunity with an eternal Savior. It also means leading a life like that which James describes, Paul pursued, and Jesus himself demonstrated. If only we could care more about the world than our rules, roles and reputation, then maybe religion wouldn’t look so bad.
Keeping up with Appearances. The Daily Devotion for January 26
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. Genesis 1:26, HCSB
Our world is obsessed with appearance. There is quite possibly no other greater cultural influence today than that of what the world says we should look like. No telling how many lives, young and old, have been destroyed when people fail to live up to a worldly standard of acceptance.
But consider Genesis 1:26; YOU were created in the image of God. It was intentional! No matter whom you are, where you are from, what you look like, YOU were intentionally made in the appearance of God. His very fingerprint, His DNA, is part of who you are. No matter how you think you look and no matter how the world says you must look, you are first and foremost made in the image of God.
One of the greatest tragedies of modern times is the influence media has over our hearts and minds, especially those of our young people. The messages sent through the TV, movies, and the web tell us that in order to be successful, to be happy, or to find true love one must look and act a certain way. In response we see so many who try and conform to this image of what culture says is attractive and acceptable and sadly fail because the bar has been set so high. Plastic surgery, high priced fashion, photo-shop, and airbrushing have created a standard that is next to impossible to attain. Sadly, even the outdoor industry has gravitated toward this. Many companies are using models, bikinis, and other techniques of main stream media in an attempt to sell their hunting and fishing products. Even the trade shows are full of this kind of marketing behavior. In reality, I would bet that the average female sportsman in the U.S. is not a size two (or smaller) nor do they look like one trying unsuccessfully to smuggle bowling balls inside what appears to be a camo print sausage skin disguised as shirt (sorry if this offends anyone but it’s true.). I understand the audience is largely male but still the objectification of women does nothing but create a false standard of what beauty truly is.
Don’t get me wrong, beauty is a great thing. However, God is the standard of beauty and you were made in His image. One of the key lessons I teach my students is on spiritual formation and how effective this can be in outdoor environments. I stress the goal of spiritual formation, at its core, is really learning to see yourself as God see you. How many of us struggle with our identity? How many of us truly believe we are who God says we are? Yet God tells us time and time again who we are; His children, royal heirs, chosen, friends, beloved, and the list goes on and on. Not the least of which is the fact God says you were created in His image. If we could ever get to the point in each of your lives where we truly accept and believe we are who God says we are we would have a nation, and a world no doubt, of much happier, emotionally, and spiritually healthy people.
Are you a student or single person reading this? Worried about how you might look to a guy or a girl? Obviously there are some basic things all of us can do to make ourselves look more presentable but the truth of the matter is if the future date or mate’s heart is right with God, their vision will also conform to how God views you. They will see you not as the world sees you but as God sees you.
As adults and parents not only do we need to believe we are who God says we are but it is our duty to impart this standard to our kids as well. We must constantly remind ourselves and our kids that our self worth and our personal image is not dependent on a corrupt system of beliefs that the culture establishes but is instead judged against the ultimate standard of beauty, God; in the image of which we were all created.
What’s More Consistent than the Michigan Deer Season ? The Daily Devotion for January 25
The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever. 1Peter 1:24-25
Some things never change. For as long as I can remember, at least 37 years, and even before that, Michigan’s firearm deer season has always opened on November 15 and closed on November 30. In a state which during that time has seen the rise and fall of Motown, the auto industry, fluctuating unemployment and economic status, a new Tiger Stadium, Fred Bear’s move to Florida and Ted Nugent’s move to Texas, the one constant, the one thing that can be counted on year after year, is the timing of the firearms deer season. It never changes.
Although Michigan’s deer season consistency covers my lifetime the word of the Lord has endured longer and will no doubt outlast any season man creates here on earth. God’s word is truly amazing and the fact that it has outlasted such determined efforts throughout history 
to destroy it speaks loudly to its divine origin. It was written over a period of 1600 by 40 different men yet never once does the Bible contradict itself. It is historically accurate. Time and time again archaeologists have confirmed the historical accuracy of the places and events as described in the Bible. Its accuracy was independently verified by objective third parties who lived during the time its words were being put on paper. Ancient historians such as Josephus and Tacitus had no reason to not tell the truth as they recorded events for their governments that match the details provided in the Bible. Speaking of accuracy, there are over 3200 prophecies in scripture that have been fulfilled. And finally, did you know that the Bible is the only religious text ever written, no matter the faith system, which claims to be the actual, inspired words of God?
I continue to find it amazing that even today the Bible still outsells any other book on the market. Entire nations have been founded on the inspired words contained within its pages. Its words are quoted in by world leaders. Wars have been fought to protect the virtues and ideals contained between its covers. The Ten Commandments formed the basis of law for the United States and countries around the world. It is quoted by people daily who have no idea that the words they are speaking have their origins in scripture. And should we bring this full circle back to the outdoors, the oldest wildlife management and agricultural practices still used today trace their very roots back to the pages of the Bible.
Humanity can attempt to censor it. They can take it out of public schools and remove it from public places. They can tell us we can’t sing about it at Christmas or quote it in an elementary school play. Its power is undeniable. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.” So many people today want to hide the word of God, contain it, and cease to display it because they are threatened or convicted by it. However, 2 Timothy 2:9 reminds us that the word of God cannot be chained.
Are you looking for some consistency in your life? Are you looking for a guide to help you navigate life? Do you seek truth, relevance, direction, healing, power, freedom, and a more abundant life? You need to look no further than the Bible; it’s all in there. Not for you? In the end, you can choose to deny it but you cannot hide from it.
If you are not sure where to turn in its pages, where to begin, how or what to read, contact me, and I will help. Don’t have a Bible? Contact me and again, I will help. Just don’t ignore it or write it off. Its power is undeniable, its reward eternal.
