destinychurch

7 Things God Hates About Religion

What? Does God really hate religion? Well, if we were to do a survey of scripture, it would become clear it is the one thing that God hates above all others. God hates religion… or at least in the way it has been predominately defined throughout history. For those who associate God with religion, this can be confusing. I’ll explain.

Our English word was derived from the Latin word religo, meaning “bind up.” So the question is does God want His people bound up in rules, regulations and ritualistic patterns? The answer is absolutely not. Modern religion is oppressive control attempting to bind something good to anything that is not. Mark 10:18 makes it clear that no one is good except for God. When we take God “the only Good” and tie it to anything else like effort, works, human rules, etc. we “crush people with unbearable religious demands." Matthew 23:4 NLT

Christianity was never meant to be a religion but rather this incredible relationship: a spiritual life that is the result of the risen Christ in the heart of His people. That’s why people will often hear believers saying things like, “Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.”

Religion, the kind that leads to bondage, has a horrific byproduct as well. This side-effect can be absolutely devastating to the children of God. It’s called legalism. Legalism is the dangerous belief that a person can, by his or her own efforts, do something to obtain or retain his or her salvation. 

In Matthew 23, Jesus erupts and opens a huge can of whoop on the religious leaders peddling legalism. In this passage Jesus outlines a handful of things He hated that the religious leaders were doing, and the effects it was having on His people.  Have you ever been caught in any of these traps?

1. Legalism - Placing burdens on people and refusing to do nothing to help them. 
Matthew 23:4

2. Piety – Personal acts of religion with the only motive to be seen by others.
Matthew 23:5

3. The desire to be recognized and rewarded publically for acts of religion.
Matthew 23:6-11

4. Customized faith - Living with loopholes and hypocrisies so as to rationalize cherished sins (specifically money). Matthew 23:16-22

5. Wrong focus - Attention on the minor things and therefore forgetting what is most important. Matthew 23:23

6. Living to look righteous - while never doing anything that is really righteous.
Matthew 23:27–28

7. Make a show - how much you know, or have of the Bible so as to belittle and control others. Matthew 23:29–31

Destiny Church Fast 2012

It's almost time for our 21 day fast at Destiny Church - an incredible time when we as a church family take the first three weeks of the New Year and set aside something "natural" in pursuit of something "supernatural." Each Destiny member is challenged to set something aside out of his or her daily routine and "fast" it as we agree in prayer. We'll talk more about this in the final weeks of 2011, but here's the heart behind our church-wide fast.

In general, for 2012 we are praying for the lost - those who don't know Christ and what the Bible refers to as the exiled - those that have been separated from God. We pray for our families, friends, coworkers and leaders who have been separated, that they will come home to God.

Specifically for 2012, we are praying as a church for God to mend broken hearts and broken relationships. Starting in January at Destiny, we will begin a new series called "MEND." The word mend is from an ancient Hebrew word, "tawfar" which meant to stitch or repair two pieces that have been ripped apart. Can you think of anyone whose life or relationship has been torn apart?

So why do we have a church fast every year? Throughout the Bible, fasting is presented as a spiritual disipline and act of voluntary humility. It was often accompanied with confession and repentance. As a church we are in pursuit of bringing people to Christ, helping them find their next step and teaching them to do the same. Using Daniel as a template, I challenge each church member to set something aside the first 21 days of the year and commit themselves to prayer pursuing what God loves most....and that's bringing people back to Him!

Here is a list of some of the most commonly fasted things: pop, carbonated drinks, drinks other than water, television, computer, video games, internet, sweets, fast food, shopping, using credit cards & lotteries/gambling, red meat, gossiping, facebook, bad-mouthing, judging/being critical, cursing, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, naps, sleeping in/pushing snooze - - and the list goes on.

I am so excited about what God is doing in the days to come!

Six things to make a bad day BETTER or a good day GREAT!

This morning as I was having my devotion, God really challenged me to take a step back, and determine what kind of day I was "going" to have - He even put a couple of creative opportunities on my heart. 

Six creative ideas to make a bad day better or a good day great!

1. Live it. Live your life, not someone else’s. God has a plan just for you today and it’s not mimicking, mocking, or meddling in the lives of others.
2. Love it. Slow the heck down and enjoy life a little more and work on trying to stress a little less – the greatest treasures are found in the little things... and they're right in front of you.
3. Own it. If you screw up, take responsibility. God always gives grace to the humble. Everyone blows it, but only the confident people will own it. 
4. Shut it. Intentionally show interest in the lives of others. In other words listen a little more, and speak a little (or a lot) less.
5. Laugh at it. No, not at the antagonistic co-worker who just doused themselves in coffee and has toilet paper stuck on the bottom of their shoe, but rather learn not take yourself, or life, so seriously.Today is practice for the rest of your life – you might as well enjoy the ride. It’s a medical fact: people who laugh at themselves live longer, and those who laugh at others sometimes live much shorter (just think about it).
6. Give thanks for it. Thankfulness is the key to more. Start with God and say, "Thanks!" Discipline yourself to find the good in your world, and as God leads you, communicate your thankfulness to others for the big and little things they do.