The power of religion lies in its ability to serve as a substitute forthe Kingdom and thus hinder mankind from pursuing the genuine
answer to his dilemma. My study of the nature of religion and how
it impacts the process of man’s search for the Kingdom uncovered
several significant truths:
Religion preoccupies man until he finds the Kingdom.
Kingdom Principles
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Religion is what man does until he finds the Kingdom.
Religion prepares man to leave earth; the Kingdom empowers
man to dominate earth.
Religion focuses on Heaven; the Kingdom focuses on earth.
Religion is reaching up to God; the Kingdom is God coming
down to man.
Religion wants to escape earth; the Kingdom impacts, influences
and changes earth.
Religion seeks to take earth to Heaven; the Kingdom seeks to
bring Heaven to earth.
Perhaps this is why Jesus addressed the religious leaders of His
day so strongly when He said:
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!
You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.
You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter
who are trying to.…Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to
win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make
him twice as much a son of hell as you are (Matthew
23:13,15).
Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to
Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do Your disciples
break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their
hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you
break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”
(Matthew 15:1-3).
Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition
(Matthew 15:6b).
Introduction
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For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly
not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors
and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God
ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31b).
It seems clear from these words that religion is one of the greatest
obstacles to the Kingdom. Perhaps this may be cause for us all to
take another look at the power of religion over our lives, culture, and
society.
