Nearly 2000 years ago, the most famous and most powerful sermon that has ever been preached began with the words “blessed are”. Jesus’ thunderous sermon on the mount is recorded in Matthew 5. This sermon blasted the religious elitists of his day. The sermon challenged the minds and hearts of all those who listened who were undoubtedly lacking in joy after being continually bombarded with legalistic, impersonal religion.

In fact, Jesus despises impersonal religion. Religion tells people that if they are good enough or do enough good things, they will earn their way in to heaven. Impersonal religion doesn’t require a personal, intimate relationship with God.  It requires complete and utter obedience to manmade systems of intricate rules and regulations.

Don’t get me wrong, it is important to obey God’s rules, but when religious people add to what is already perfect, the rules become something completely different.  They become man made rules and regulations which are often motivated by selfish, sinful, motives which result in an impersonal, stale relationship with Jesus.

Anyone who has spent any amount of time around religious types know how emotionally and physically draining it can be.  You can’t be yourself.  You’re always afraid to say what you really think.  You put on a false face which you think will get you through the night without being scolded by your religious company. You’re afraid of opening up to them because they will probably judge you or even talk about your short comings behind your back to other people.  (I have made this mistake and learned a big lesson – Don’t do this!)  

Some churches are good at being religious too.  If you go to a church and they say you can’t wear a tie because it points down to hell (as though hell is under the Earth’s crust), your skirt isn’t long enough (the old men take an unusual interest in determining proper skirt lengths), women can’t wear pants (even though they are often more modest than the skirts) , earrings aren’t allowed on anyone (even though they enhance the often beautiful facial features that women possess), and a million other rules related to superficial things, than you are probably attending a legalistic church that teaches a works based salvation.  There is really nothing joyful about these legalistic churches, and many of the people aren’t growing in their walk with God.

Don’t misunderstand me.  The point of me providing the above examples of the legalistic church and legalistic friend is not to encourage you to end those relationships.  Instead I want to encourage you to read the words spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and take them to heart in your life right now.  Stop being scared that you aren’t good enough or religious enough and start considering what coming to Christ really looks like as demonstrated in Matthew 5:

“And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness‘ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  (Matthew 5:2-12 ESV)

Do any of Jesus’ sermon points sound anything like what you have heard from religious people you know?  They probably sound completely opposite, because they are. The bottom line is this – there is nothing you can do on your own to earn your way into heaven so stop trying.  Instead come to the cross broken hearted over your sin.  Come to Jesus in meekness, mourning over your sins.  Ask Him to provide you with a hunger for righteousness, an appetite for pleasing Him and a joy that is only made complete through a personal relationship with Him.

You may be able to impress your religious friends by appearing holier than thou art.  You can show up to church 20 minutes early and sit up front so that the pastor will see you.  You can come in the most modest clothes, without any piercings, with your buttons buttoned all the way to the collar and your suit jacket buttoned as well.  You can nod your head throughout the entire sermon even though you don’t find it interesting, and you can even invite your pastors over for dinner afterwards, and guess what…you can still end up in hell!

Jesus doesn’t want you to be religious, in fact He passionately preaches that you shouldn’t be.  The fact that Jesus preaches the opposite message of religion goes to show that impersonal relationship kills.  Instead,  pursue a personal, fulfilling,  and joyful relationship with Him.

Check back in later this week for a post on religions ugly cousin: Apathy.  Until then, be blessed!