Growth Too Much Religion

[HeIsRisen2018]

In the beginning of my Hebrews chapter in my Bible it talks about how we can never worship God enough, or have too much faith, or love Him or one another enough, but it says that we can have too much religion and I was wondering what that meant because isn't that basically the same thing?

 

[KevinK]

Are you able to post the exact quote?

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Are you able to post the exact quote?

Yes, but without being able to cite a source, isn't that considered plagiarism?

 

[KevinK]

I don't know. Isn't there some kind of clause where it's OK to reproduce for the purpose of writing a review, or something like that?

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

I don't know. Isn't there some kind of clause where it's OK to reproduce for the purpose of writing a review, or something like that?

No idea, but I would rather be safe than sorry. That is of course unless somebody else knows the answer.

 

[KevinK]

Plus you're going to credit the true author, and not represent the work as your own.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Plus you're going to credit the true author, and not represent the work as your own.

True just like I do with the news I guess. I don't know who wrote it but here it is in its entirety. "It seems odd to have to say so, but too much religion is a bad thing. We can't get too much of God, can't get too much faith and obedience, can't get too much love and worship, but religion, the well intentioned efforts we make to get it all together for God can very well get in the way of what God is doing for us.



The main and central action is everywhere and always what God has done, is doing, and will do for us. Jesus is the revelation of that action. Our main and central task is to live in responsive obedience to God's action revealed in Jesus. Our part in the action is the act of faith, but more often than not we become impatiently self-important along the way and decide to improve matters with our two cents' worth.



We add on, we supplement, we embellish, but instead of improving on the purity and simplicity of Jesus, we dilute the purity, clutter the simplicity. We become fussily religious, or anxiously religious. We get in the way." -Unknown.

 

[KevinK]

OK, I see what he's saying, I think. Religion and say, faith, are two different things. Religion is a systematic, organized way of approaching faith, and like any system, can get in its own way. You can get lost in the officiousness of it, and lose sight of your core spiritual experience. So yes, it probably is possible to have too much religion.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

OK, I see what he's saying, I think. Religion and say, faith, are two different things. Religion is a systematic, organized way of approaching faith, and like any system, can get in its own way. You can get lost in the officiousness of it, and lose sight of your core spiritual experience. So yes, it probably is possible to have too much religion.

I'm not really sure what you're saying (and I'm not sure if it was a male or female that wrote it) but I think that the little piece that I got from it meant that we shouldn't be focused on trying to live sinless lives (although a lot of the time I am guilty of trying to do that myself since I really want to please the Lord) because it just isn't going to happen and that's why we need a Savior.

 

[KevinK]

No, I think that passage is discussing a different issue than something that is currently in your life. I think it's talking about religious arrogance, or copping a holier-than-thou attitude. Taking Christ's basic message, sprinking it heavily with your own ideas to the point His message is lost.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

No, I think that passage is discussing a different issue than something that is currently in your life. I think it's talking about religious arrogance, or copping a holier-than-thou attitude. Taking Christ's basic message, sprinking it heavily with your own ideas to the point His message is lost.

Oh I think I get it now, you mean trying to find excuses for things that He commands us to do (or don't do) and we disobey Him?

 

[KevinK]

No, I mean becoming a holier-than-thou. I see that with some Christians, sadly. They start lording over their brothers and sisters like they're spiritually superior. Typically they start talking like Christian Yoda and are always answering questions with questions. Realllllly annoying.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

No, I mean becoming a holier-than-thou. I see that with some Christians, sadly. They start lording over their brothers and sisters like they're spiritually superior. Typically they start talking like Christian Yoda and are always answering questions with questions. Realllllly annoying.

Oh I see so you mean people that think that they're better than everybody else and have all the answers.

 

[KevinK]

Oh I see so you mean people that think that they're better than everybody else and have all the answers.

Bingo!

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

Bingo!

Yeah, I can't stand people like that either.

 

[Michael74]

I don't know who wrote it...

That's a quote from Eugene Peterson. He used that sermon as an introduction to the book of Hebrews in his Message Bible translation. Its not the actual Bible. Its a sermon on Hebrews by Pastor Peterson.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

That's a quote from Eugene Peterson. He used that sermon as an introduction to the book of Hebrews in his Message Bible translation. Its not the actual Bible. Its a sermon on Hebrews by Pastor Peterson.

Alright thank you and yeah it's just written as an introduction to Hebrews. By the way, thanks for getting this song in my head KevinK lol!

 

[for_his_glory]

Our part in the action is the act of faith, but more often than not we become impatiently self-important along the way and decide to improve matters with our two cents' worth.



We add on, we supplement, we embellish, but instead of improving on the purity and simplicity of Jesus, we dilute the purity, clutter the simplicity. We become fussily religious, or anxiously religious. We get in the way."

What this unknown author said here is so true. Many become self-righteous, holier than thou and goody goody as they sway away from pure religion as how they present themselves becomes socially acceptable taking away from their faith and patience in God. They are basically called hypocritical Pharisees as possibly unknowingly placing themselves higher than God.

Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

What this unknown author said here is so true. Many become self-righteous, holier than thou and goody goody as they sway away from pure religion as how they present themselves becomes socially acceptable taking away from their faith and patience in God. They are basically called hypocritical Pharisees as possibly unknowingly placing themselves higher than God.

Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Actually Michael74 figured it out already. It was a sermon from Eugene Peterson.