R
Richie_2uk
Guest
Can Religion Help?
John Blanchard
“Supporting scripture for this thread is: Isaiah 64: 6”
Encyclopedia's of the world of religion and ethics list hundreds and hundreds of ways in which men and women have tried to satisfy their religious longings and feelings. They have worshiped the Sun, Moon, Stars; earth, fire, and water; idols of wood, metal and stone; animals from fish, birds, cows, rams and other animals which they think is sacred. They have worshiped countless of gods and spirits which have been the produce of their own perverted imagination.
Others have attempted to worship the true God through a vast variety of sacrifices, ceremonies, sacrament and services. But ‘religion’ however sincere, can never solve man or woman’s sin problem, for at least 3 reasons I can think of.
1. Religion can never satisfy God. Religion is man’s attempt to make himself right with God, but any such attempt is futile because even man’s best efforts are flawed and so are unacceptable to God. The bible could not be clearer; all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. God demands perfection; religion fails to meet that demand from God.
2. Religion can never remove sin. Your virtues can never cancel out your vices. Good deeds can never remove bad ones. If a person gets right with God; it is not by works, so that no one can boast. No religion efforts or experiences; christening, confirmations, baptisms, holy communions, church going, prayers, gifts sacrifices of time and effort, bible reading or anything else can cancel out a single sin.
3. Religion can never change man’s sinful nature. A person’s behavior is not the problem, only the symptom. The heart of mans’ problem is the problem of man’s heart, and by nature man’s heart is corrupt and depraved. Going to church and taking part in religious ceremonies may make you feel good, but they cannot make you good. Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!
Some of the religious activities mentioned above are obviously ‘good’ in themselves. For example, it is right to go to church, to read the bible and to pray, because God tells us to do these things. But you dare not to rely on them to make you right with God. Not only are they powerless to do so; trusting in them actually adds to your sin and to your condemnation.
John Blanchard
“Supporting scripture for this thread is: Isaiah 64: 6”
Encyclopedia's of the world of religion and ethics list hundreds and hundreds of ways in which men and women have tried to satisfy their religious longings and feelings. They have worshiped the Sun, Moon, Stars; earth, fire, and water; idols of wood, metal and stone; animals from fish, birds, cows, rams and other animals which they think is sacred. They have worshiped countless of gods and spirits which have been the produce of their own perverted imagination.
Others have attempted to worship the true God through a vast variety of sacrifices, ceremonies, sacrament and services. But ‘religion’ however sincere, can never solve man or woman’s sin problem, for at least 3 reasons I can think of.
1. Religion can never satisfy God. Religion is man’s attempt to make himself right with God, but any such attempt is futile because even man’s best efforts are flawed and so are unacceptable to God. The bible could not be clearer; all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. God demands perfection; religion fails to meet that demand from God.
2. Religion can never remove sin. Your virtues can never cancel out your vices. Good deeds can never remove bad ones. If a person gets right with God; it is not by works, so that no one can boast. No religion efforts or experiences; christening, confirmations, baptisms, holy communions, church going, prayers, gifts sacrifices of time and effort, bible reading or anything else can cancel out a single sin.
3. Religion can never change man’s sinful nature. A person’s behavior is not the problem, only the symptom. The heart of mans’ problem is the problem of man’s heart, and by nature man’s heart is corrupt and depraved. Going to church and taking part in religious ceremonies may make you feel good, but they cannot make you good. Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one!
Some of the religious activities mentioned above are obviously ‘good’ in themselves. For example, it is right to go to church, to read the bible and to pray, because God tells us to do these things. But you dare not to rely on them to make you right with God. Not only are they powerless to do so; trusting in them actually adds to your sin and to your condemnation.
