“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Psalm 118:22
What would you say is the #1 enemy of Christianity?
SIN?
Well, yes, of course…but no,
THE DEVIL?
Surprisingly, no.
PRIDE?
Nope.
The #1 enemy of Christianity is RELIGION.
And it’s been this way since the beginning. You see, Jesus didn’t offend sinners — He offended the religious leaders of His day. As the scripture says, Jesus, the Cornerstone, was rejected by the very builders (of religion) themselves.
So, how can you distinguish religion from authentic Christianity?
Here are a few clues:
Religion:
- …loves ritual. Change makes it uncomfortable; it delights in the status quo. Religion is a commitment to a system of beliefs, attitudes and practices.
- …responds to challenge with intimidation. You challenge religion, and it will attempt to intimidate you into submission. What does an attorney do when he or she suspects that truth may not be on his side? He buys time, attacks procedure and assassinates character. Religion is defended the same way.
Authentic Christianity:
- …loves truth. Aristotle defined truth, as “saying of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not.” In other words, truth has a standard – it’s not relative.
- …responds to challenge with boldness. Because knowing the truth and embracing it builds courage.
What happens when religion and authentic Christianity clash? Well, many times, people come to know Christ.
When Peter and John were arrested for the first time (Acts 3-4), 5,000 people were saved!
The message for the followers of Jesus is, “Don’t be afraid when your faith is challenged by religion! Be bold, for when this happens, the stage is set for blessing, not defeat!”
Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH
