The Most Popular Religion

[Alesaggio]

The world is deluged with religion. Religion, on a grand scale, is a bigger tool to prevent people from going to Heaven than it is for getting them there. Man who is basically a religious creature means he is going to worship something or somebody. The Hindu has his Shasta. He worships cows, rivers and creatures. The Persian has his Zend-Avesta. The Hebrew has his Talmud. The Chinese has his Confucius or his Mao Tse-Tung. The Japanese has his Shinto shrine or Buddha god-shelf. The Roman has his Sybiline. The Mohammedan has his Koran. And the Moslem bows toward Mecca.

And why do we care about “religion” at all? Religion is mentioned only 3 times in the Bible: Acts 26:5, Galatians 1:13, 14 and in James 1:26, 27.
Paul wasn’t fond of religion, but of “relationship!”

If one were to take just a curious glance at religion he would soon determine that mixed among most all the religions of the world hides the world’s most popular and sought after religion of all. What would that religion be?

The World’s Most Popular Religion is a:
RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INSIST. A religion that will be popular and cause folk to rally around it will be one that does not insist on . . .
Repentance. Remember, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Regeneration. This will not be included in the popular religion, but the Bible insists that, “Ye must be born again.” This New Birth can only be experienced by full obedience to Acts 2:38—and this insistence of the New Birth is not popular, to say the least.
Restitution. The popular religion will not insist on making right the wrongs or straightening out those things you’ve done that can be made right again.
Retribution. It will not insist on retribution and eternal Hell at the end of a sinful life.
Many people will want religion as long as there is no “insistence” in that religion.

“The Ministry is for People more than People are for the Ministry!”

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE. The popular religion does not involve…
1. Book Without Error. Our Bible is the infallible, inspired, inerrant Word of God. Many people would like to have it be just a manual of religion.
2. Blessed Hope. The Bible teaches the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is involved in God’s type of religion, but not man’s.
3. Blood Atonement. The lamb died in Eden; Cain’s offering was rejected, while Abel’s was accepted. Abraham offered Isaac and God substituted the lamb. “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . .ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . .but with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18,19). The Bible teaches that redemption involves blood atonement. It’s not popular, this bloody Christ on the cross…and His eternal plan of blood redemption as seen in the only New testament verse that promises remittance of sin—Acts 2:38!

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INTERFERE . Popular religion does not interfere with pleasures, customs, hobbies, habits, jobs, families and personal plans. If you can come up with a religion that will let man be, do, and go when and where he wants to, without having any interference, it will be popular. In other words, most people want a religious coat that they can put on when they go to church, take off and hang in the closet when they get home, and never bring it out again until the next Sunday, or maybe next Easter or Christmas.
“Don’t tell me what to do!” America at large has real authority problems…we have come to be gods ourselves and answerable to no one… they won’t be led, won’t follow, and always feel they know better.” And that’s rebellion!
Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Proverbs 29:19
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE. Religion will be popular if it does not include obligation and responsibility. David said, “Shall I make sacrifice of that which doth cost me nothing?” We should use the talents God gives us…we’re responsible to God for how we use them. There is responsibility in true Christianity, but today’s giant religious systems are so glad to have people join with them that they are perfectly willing to put up with anybody and anything, and will settle for nothing when it comes to involvement!

We are responsible for…
1. Cleanliness. Bible Christianity includes a clean heart, clean head and clean hands.
2. Concern. God expects us to have a burden and interest in others.
3. Conduct. Our behavior, our actions, is based on what we believe and will be manifested inwardly and externally.
4. These are true holiness principles and holiness is not popular with unholy people.

I Jn. 5:3 says: “His commandments are not grievous.”
Christians rejoice in being able to serve, sacrifice and surrender their rights to those of God. The most popular religions of the world are just that—religions of the world, not religions of the Bible or of God.

--------+--------

[NanaRenan]

Excellent! Thanks so much! That was timely.

[Berean]

The world is deluged with religion. Religion, on a grand scale, is a bigger tool to prevent people from going to Heaven than it is for getting them there. Man who is basically a religious creature means he is going to worship something or somebody. The Hindu has his Shasta. He worships cows, rivers and creatures. The Persian has his Zend-Avesta. The Hebrew has his Talmud. The Chinese has his Confucius or his Mao Tse-Tung. The Japanese has his Shinto shrine or Buddha god-shelf. The Roman has his Sybiline. The Mohammedan has his Koran. And the Moslem bows toward Mecca.

And why do we care about “religion” at all? Religion is mentioned only 3 times in the Bible: Acts 26:5, Galatians 1:13, 14 and in James 1:26, 27.
Paul wasn’t fond of religion, but of “relationship!”

If one were to take just a curious glance at religion he would soon determine that mixed among most all the religions of the world hides the world’s most popular and sought after religion of all. What would that religion be?

The World’s Most Popular Religion is a:
RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INSIST. A religion that will be popular and cause folk to rally around it will be one that does not insist on . . .
Repentance. Remember, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Regeneration. This will not be included in the popular religion, but the Bible insists that, “Ye must be born again.” This New Birth can only be experienced by full obedience to Acts 2:38—and this insistence of the New Birth is not popular, to say the least.
Restitution. The popular religion will not insist on making right the wrongs or straightening out those things you’ve done that can be made right again.
Retribution. It will not insist on retribution and eternal Hell at the end of a sinful life.
Many people will want religion as long as there is no “insistence” in that religion.

“The Ministry is for People more than People are for the Ministry!”

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE. The popular religion does not involve…
1. Book Without Error. Our Bible is the infallible, inspired, inerrant Word of God. Many people would like to have it be just a manual of religion.
2. Blessed Hope. The Bible teaches the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is involved in God’s type of religion, but not man’s.
3. Blood Atonement. The lamb died in Eden; Cain’s offering was rejected, while Abel’s was accepted. Abraham offered Isaac and God substituted the lamb. “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . .ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . .but with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18,19). The Bible teaches that redemption involves blood atonement. It’s not popular, this bloody Christ on the cross…and His eternal plan of blood redemption as seen in the only New testament verse that promises remittance of sin—Acts 2:38!

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INTERFERE . Popular religion does not interfere with pleasures, customs, hobbies, habits, jobs, families and personal plans. If you can come up with a religion that will let man be, do, and go when and where he wants to, without having any interference, it will be popular. In other words, most people want a religious coat that they can put on when they go to church, take off and hang in the closet when they get home, and never bring it out again until the next Sunday, or maybe next Easter or Christmas.
“Don’t tell me what to do!” America at large has real authority problems…we have come to be gods ourselves and answerable to no one… they won’t be led, won’t follow, and always feel they know better.” And that’s rebellion!
Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Proverbs 29:19
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE. Religion will be popular if it does not include obligation and responsibility. David said, “Shall I make sacrifice of that which doth cost me nothing?” We should use the talents God gives us…we’re responsible to God for how we use them. There is responsibility in true Christianity, but today’s giant religious systems are so glad to have people join with them that they are perfectly willing to put up with anybody and anything, and will settle for nothing when it comes to involvement!

We are responsible for…
1. Cleanliness. Bible Christianity includes a clean heart, clean head and clean hands.
2. Concern. God expects us to have a burden and interest in others.
3. Conduct. Our behavior, our actions, is based on what we believe and will be manifested inwardly and externally.
4. These are true holiness principles and holiness is not popular with unholy people.

I Jn. 5:3 says: “His commandments are not grievous.”
Christians rejoice in being able to serve, sacrifice and surrender their rights to those of God. The most popular religions of the world are just that—religions of the world, not religions of the Bible or of God.

--------+--------

Good thoughts brother. You surely do deserve your own 'corner!'

Agape in Christ Jesus from Brother Berean

[tufluv]

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INTERFERE . Popular religion does not interfere with pleasures, customs, hobbies, habits, jobs, families and personal plans. If you can come up with a religion that will let man be, do, and go when and where he wants to, without having any interference, it will be popular. In other words, most people want a religious coat that they can put on when they go to church, take off and hang in the closet when they get home, and never bring it out again until the next Sunday, or maybe next Easter or Christmas.
I'd have to say that IMHO, THIS is the greatest obstacle..to people getting serious about JESUS.

Too many I've seen that follow this trend, and its just so wrong.,
but if service to GOD is not real..from the heart..this is the by-product.

Good study, once again!

[Alesaggio]

We, do indeed, live in the buffet-age of religion where people want to pick and choose according their own tastes. A back-to-the-Bible revelation of the true church is badly needed in these trying days!

[gracetograce]

I am not caught up with religion, only the doctrine of Christ and the gospel which is able to save souls.
Religion causes strife and debate, but the gospel answeres for itself,
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but ahve everlasting life." John 3:16
God is not coming back for religious people, but for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, baptised in Jesus Name and filled with the Holy Ghost.

[Inspired-Eyes]

The world is deluged with religion. Religion, on a grand scale, is a bigger tool to prevent people from going to Heaven than it is for getting them there. Man who is basically a religious creature means he is going to worship something or somebody. The Hindu has his Shasta. He worships cows, rivers and creatures. The Persian has his Zend-Avesta. The Hebrew has his Talmud. The Chinese has his Confucius or his Mao Tse-Tung. The Japanese has his Shinto shrine or Buddha god-shelf. The Roman has his Sybiline. The Mohammedan has his Koran. And the Moslem bows toward Mecca.

And why do we care about “religion” at all? Religion is mentioned only 3 times in the Bible: Acts 26:5, Galatians 1:13, 14 and in James 1:26, 27.
Paul wasn’t fond of religion, but of “relationship!”

If one were to take just a curious glance at religion he would soon determine that mixed among most all the religions of the world hides the world’s most popular and sought after religion of all. What would that religion be?

The World’s Most Popular Religion is a:
RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INSIST. A religion that will be popular and cause folk to rally around it will be one that does not insist on . . .
Repentance. Remember, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Regeneration. This will not be included in the popular religion, but the Bible insists that, “Ye must be born again.” This New Birth can only be experienced by full obedience to Acts 2:38—and this insistence of the New Birth is not popular, to say the least.
Restitution. The popular religion will not insist on making right the wrongs or straightening out those things you’ve done that can be made right again.
Retribution. It will not insist on retribution and eternal Hell at the end of a sinful life.
Many people will want religion as long as there is no “insistence” in that religion.

“The Ministry is for People more than People are for the Ministry!”

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE. The popular religion does not involve…
1. Book Without Error. Our Bible is the infallible, inspired, inerrant Word of God. Many people would like to have it be just a manual of religion.
2. Blessed Hope. The Bible teaches the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is involved in God’s type of religion, but not man’s.
3. Blood Atonement. The lamb died in Eden; Cain’s offering was rejected, while Abel’s was accepted. Abraham offered Isaac and God substituted the lamb. “The life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . .ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . .but with the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18,19). The Bible teaches that redemption involves blood atonement. It’s not popular, this bloody Christ on the cross…and His eternal plan of blood redemption as seen in the only New testament verse that promises remittance of sin—Acts 2:38!

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INTERFERE . Popular religion does not interfere with pleasures, customs, hobbies, habits, jobs, families and personal plans. If you can come up with a religion that will let man be, do, and go when and where he wants to, without having any interference, it will be popular. In other words, most people want a religious coat that they can put on when they go to church, take off and hang in the closet when they get home, and never bring it out again until the next Sunday, or maybe next Easter or Christmas.
“Don’t tell me what to do!” America at large has real authority problems…we have come to be gods ourselves and answerable to no one… they won’t be led, won’t follow, and always feel they know better.” And that’s rebellion!
Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Proverbs 29:19
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE. Religion will be popular if it does not include obligation and responsibility. David said, “Shall I make sacrifice of that which doth cost me nothing?” We should use the talents God gives us…we’re responsible to God for how we use them. There is responsibility in true Christianity, but today’s giant religious systems are so glad to have people join with them that they are perfectly willing to put up with anybody and anything, and will settle for nothing when it comes to involvement!

We are responsible for…
1. Cleanliness. Bible Christianity includes a clean heart, clean head and clean hands.
2. Concern. God expects us to have a burden and interest in others.
3. Conduct. Our behavior, our actions, is based on what we believe and will be manifested inwardly and externally.
4. These are true holiness principles and holiness is not popular with unholy people.

I Jn. 5:3 says: “His commandments are not grievous.”
Christians rejoice in being able to serve, sacrifice and surrender their rights to those of God. The most popular religions of the world are just that—religions of the world, not religions of the Bible or of God.



--------+--------





Dear Alesaggio,

I always enjoy reading your post.......you have a way of saying things
in such an inspiring way..........thank you for sharing.
What a Mighty God we serve.........I pray many will turn from the spirit
of religion and seek Gods face and that relationship with Him.
While growing up I was taught alot about religion and thankfully was
taught enough truth to get in my heart , but I was never taught how
to have a relationship with God.........that is until i was 15 years old
I moved in with a elderly couple from my church and the lady prayed
every single day without failing and fasted one day a week and she
lived exactly what she said............in that very short time of living with
her I learned more than I did all the years prior to that........I am so
thankful for her and for God leading me and teaching me to have that
personal relationship with Him........for that is what keeps us.

[W. J. Maria]

And why do we care about “religion” at all? Religion is mentioned only 3 times in the Bible: Acts 26:5, Galatians 1:13, 14 and in James 1:26, 27.
Paul wasn’t fond of religion, but of “relationship!”


Thank you, great teaching indeed. Just a remark about the word "religion". People forget what words originally meant, and then some words develop negative connotations. Religion originally meant "binding" or "tying", i.e. what ties us to God! So religion originally DID mean relationship!

We should reclaim the word "religion" for ourselves, and point out what it should really be...

[Whosoever Will]

RELIGION THAT DOES NOT INTERFERE . Popular religion does not interfere with pleasures, customs, hobbies, habits, jobs, families and personal plans. If you can come up with a religion that will let man be, do, and go when and where he wants to, without having any interference, it will be popular. In other words, most people want a religious coat that they can put on when they go to church, take off and hang in the closet when they get home, and never bring it out again until the next Sunday, or maybe next Easter or Christmas.
“Don’t tell me what to do!” America at large has real authority problems…we have come to be gods ourselves and answerable to no one… they won’t be led, won’t follow, and always feel they know better.” And that’s rebellion!



Preach on brother!!!

[ladyoneway]

That is so true that want to do thier way.
there is but one way and that is God way:icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc

[tufluv]

Yet when things go wrong, those who do not want a relationship with JESUS .. will quickly point out and say "see"..?? There is NO GOD..
THEY do not realize {nor care to} that the principle of reap/sow applies whether one chooses GOD, religion, or nothing at all.

I am so very very glad that JESUS saw fit to 'wait upon me' to gt to the point where I could cry out to HIM for help..and HE could then lead me back to the cross!
..A N D., so-o much more, that I had been missing.

That is..the "WHOLE TRUTH"..and nothin but~ :yeah:

:icon_danc

[ladyoneway]

:icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc :icon_danc Thank you Lord
for filling me with Your spirit.

[Banditt]

Yet when things go wrong, those who do not want a relationship with JESUS .. will quickly point out and say "see"..?? There is NO GOD..
THEY do not realize {nor care to} that the principle of reap/sow applies whether one chooses GOD, religion, or nothing at all.

I am so very very glad that JESUS saw fit to 'wait upon me' to gt to the point where I could cry out to HIM for help..and HE could then lead me back to the cross!
..A N D., so-o much more, that I had been missing.

That is..the "WHOLE TRUTH"..and nothin but~ :yeah:

:icon_danc

i love & appreciate your testimonies, tufluv.

[NanaRenan]

Whether written today or a year ago -- it's still TIMELY.

Thank God for a "religion" that requires something of us.

It requires our all.

[Mom4Christ2004]

Alessagio, thanks again for another wonderful article. I have really enjoyed reading and always looking forward to reading more. Great Job!!