1. Bloody Religion
Tweet
This article is posted from the jesusChrist.co.uk website. Go to http://www.jesuschrist.co.uk to
enjoy more excellent Christian articles and resources.
————————————————————————————-This is surely a sentiment shared by man
that I simply mean man’s vain efforts to reach God in their own strength and wisdom, has been
responsible for some of the most horrific abominations of mankind’s twisted history. The name
of God has been hijacked by man’s greed and lust for power and used as an excuse for
shocking abuses. Blood has flowed in the the streets to choruses of “God Is Great!”. The
crusades tortured and maimed multitudes, forcing them to declare the name of Jesus as Lord,
all the while denying His very nature by their violent actions. Is it any wonder that people are
turned off by such hypocrisy?
“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without
self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God…” (2 Timothy 3:2–4 NKJV)
Bloody Religion!
Yes, I hate hate it with a passion. A never ending river of innocent blood shed in the name of
man’s pride.
And that’s just one side of the sad and sorry picture religion paints.
Bloodless Religion!
The other is a powerless, bloodless, passionless pastiche that parades itself as godliness, but
denies the raw reality and power of God at work in our present moment. Not God clothed in
humanity as was our Christ, but man clothed in a sorry counterfit for Godlikeness.
“…having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”
(2 Timothy 3:5 NKJV)
1/3

2. This is naked humanity clothed in fig leaves, pretending that
nothing is wrong. The delusion that our falleness can be covered with good works or nice
personalities. Friend, this is not the bloody religion of the New Testament. This is not the deep,
passionate gospel that Jesus bled and died to bring to mankind. And, thank God, Jesus shed
blood was not merely the blood of a mayrtr for some delusional politcal cause – sincere
but sincerely wrong. This was the very blood of God Himself, shed for the sins of
humanity.
“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own
blood.” (Acts 20:28 NKJV)
Christianity is not a sterile religion. It is not an impotent belief with the sole purpose of
making us nice, respectable individuals. Jesus did not die to make you nice! He died to make
you dangerous to everything that stands against His love being expressed – especially the devil.
He died so the shackles of sin would be shattered from your life, and so you would become not
just the liberated but the liberator of others!
This gospel – this blood that was shed on Calvary’s cross, is not something to be hidden away
for fear it will offend. It is proof of the life that fills and pulsates in every cell of of those whose
sins and sicknesses have been forgiven and healed.
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make
atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’”
(Leviticus 17:11 NKJV)
Oh, the Blood of Jesus!
The blood of Jesus may offend some. The horror of the cross may cause some to seek their
salvation in something less demanding, something less personally challenging – something that
2/3

3. will allow them to continue without facing the voilence of their own heart and nature against God
and all that is good. But only the blood of Jesus can cleanse that heart – only the Blood of
Jesus can transform that nature and make is something brand new!
Bloody religion. Oh, how I love it. The religion of my Saviour. A once for all, all sufficient
sacrifice. The blood of the innocent Lamb, shed for all. The One who died so all may live.
Halleluah!————————————————————————————-
This article is posted from the jesusChrist.co.uk website. Go to http://www.jesuschrist.co.uk to
enjoy more excellent Christian articles and resources.
More? Bloody Religion
3/3
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)