Tag: bad religion
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Hellish Religion
It is Fig Monday, and Jesus is speaking seven woes against the Pharisees and scribes according to Matthew’s Gospel. The Pharisees and scribes are woeful because they are children of Hell and, by their examples, make others worse children of Hell than they are (cf. 23:13, 15). When Jesus says, “Woe to you,” it carries…
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Tobit- Unrighteousness Masquerading as Righteousness
Tobit 12:1-10 Despite the fact that God has not been described as working through the entire narrative, Raphael privately instructs Tobit and Tobias to praise God for Him many works. In this, the archangel attributes Tobias’ mystic workings to God who hates mysticism (see notes on 8:1-3). Raphael goes on to prescribe how Tobit and…
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There is Only One Way to Heaven, and Most People Never See It
During the course of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has debunked legalism, or works-based religion, and has promised His disciples that those who ask for the kingdom will receive it by grace alone. Around the world, there are many ways we are told that we can get into the kingdom of heaven, find peace…
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Bad Religion
I remember being in high school. Believe it or not, high schoolers really are looking for meaning and trying to figure out what they believe, especially regarding who God is. I remember this one girl walking up to me before youth service one day, and saying, “God wanted me to tell you that you are…
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Church(ish)- New Book Now Available!
The story is too familiar. You visit a church and everyone is nice, but no one seems to truly care. The people wear masks of righteousness only to, after you have committed yourself, remove those masks to reveal the face of a horrid witch-like creature. Or, perhaps, a different mask is worn: a mask…
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The Pilgrim’s Relevancy XVI: Most Religion Hurts
The crowd broke into an uproar and pushed Christian and his comrades to the stage. One man yelled, “What gives you the right to determine what is true for the rest of us?” Another followed, “Your faith has so many contradictions anyway!” Still another blasted, “There is not even evidence that the King exists!” This…