"Christianity has become a tremendous buildup of things which were not at the beginning."

[Solus Christus]

4 hours ago, Michael37 said:

The pancakes?

Lol IHOP: International House of Prayer.  

[Solus Christus]

4 hours ago, FJK said:

Something to consider in our meditations:  Have the teachings of Jesus been diluted by the rituals of men?

Jesus certainly felt His teachings were diluted,

“[6] And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; [7] in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’[8] You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”[9] And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! [10] For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ [11] But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)—[12] then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, [13] thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:6-13)

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

I think the answer is in the affirmative. Real experiences of the Lord are often turned into rituals and religion - having a form, but denying the power thereof.  It's what the flesh does.  It says in essence, "OK, I can duplicate this experience outwardly and therefore I won't have a need for Him."  It may appear at the start to be quite innocent, and ones doing it may (probably) not realize that this is what they are doing, but make no mistake, sin in the flesh will seek to create a religion devoid of God Himself every time.

The issue at hand are paradigms, brother. Paradigms of belief... paradigms of thinking... paradigms which constitute religion in this world. What is the only pure religion in the sight of God the Father?

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:26-27 NASB)

I know this, that none of us are immune to the snare of worldly religion. This pure religion is not a system of systematic belief but rather, a religion of walking in the Spirit and obeying the voice of the Lord. We visit orphans and widows in their distress, returning evil with good, loving our enemies, examining ourselves at all times remembering that we are only men and women. We weren't spared from this world to believe all the right things, my friend. No!

Our lives were hidden in Jesus Christ so we might be conformed to His image by the Spirit of the Lord. Through being conformed to His image, each one of us are sent to carry out the ministry of Christ to this world and also to His Body. I've been a witness of some who have had to endure the shattering of that worldly religion which the Lord is faithful to do seeing as how we are the work of His hand. I've been their fellow witness but most importantly, I was there to encourage the suffering to endure this work of Christ. The Lord doesn't take away something from His beloved without restoring them in such a way which surpasses all expectation. 

The breaking of that paradigm is the fiery test of our faith, Vine Abider. This paradigm has nothing to do with buildings... the lack of buildings... wealth or poverty... it's all about a self-imposed image of the Lord which cannot endure in His Body. We remember this passage from Proverbs:

There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
(Proverbs 14:12 NASB)

I'll never forget the man who rushed to attack me. I listened to the Lord instead of this flesh, saying, "It's all good. You're okay!" The guy stopped in his tracks. The look on his face said, "Oh? I am? What a relief!" He mumbled an apology and left.

That's our religion, brother!  

[Solus Christus]

I worry about classifying “pure religion” versus “worldly religion.” The Puritans got so staunch on purity they banned Christmas in England. 
 

 

 

[Marathoner]

Just now, Solus Christus said:

I worry about classifying “pure religion” versus “worldly religion.” The Puritans got so staunch on purity they banned Christmas in England. 
 

 

 

Don't worry, because the apostle James furnished us with an example of pure religion. As for the Puritans? They were what I call a severely austere reactionary movement. I lead a rather sparse existence, but that sparse existence isn't a religion by any means. My existence was born of the need to travel from point A to point G expediently. Packing light with nothing weighing me down serves the interest of moving here and there admirably, yes? 

It does! The Lord requires this of me. Ah, but just because I live like a transient doesn't mean that others should do the same. Peter had a wife and a home in Jerusalem, but Paul wasn't married and roamed Asia Minor. As @Vine Abider pointed out, there is a form of godliness which is most assuredly born of this flesh. The Puritans are an excellent example of that. 

[Solus Christus]

4 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

Don't worry, because the apostle James furnished us with an example of pure religion. As for the Puritans? They were what I call a severely austere reactionary movement. I lead a rather sparse existence, but that sparse existence isn't a religion by any means. My existence was born of the need to travel from point A to point G expediently. Packing light with nothing weighing me down serves the interest of moving here and there admirably, yes? 

It does! The Lord requires this of me. Ah, but just because I live like a transient doesn't mean that others should do the same. Peter had a wife and a home in Jerusalem, but Paul wasn't married and roamed Asia Minor. As @Vine Abider pointed out, there is a form of godliness which is most assuredly born of this flesh. The Puritans are an excellent example of that. 

James says that true religion is helping widows, orphans, and being unstained by the world. 

However Jesus warns, 

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23), and “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) 

Know here is Ginosko, to know in an intimate relationship. 

Pious works like James mentions are good, but they must stem first from Christ, a deep relationship with The Holy Trinity. 

For the greatest commandment is, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-39). Helping your neighbor like the widow and orphan comes second to loving God and knowing Him.   

[Marathoner]

1 minute ago, Solus Christus said:

James says that true religion is helping widows, orphans, and being unstained by the world. 

However Jesus warns, 

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23), and “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) 

Know here is Ginosko, to know in an intimate relationship. 

Pious works like James mentions are good, but they must stem first from Christ, a deep relationship with The Holy Trinity. 

For the greatest commandment is, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-39). Helping your neighbor like the widow and orphan comes second to loving God and knowing Him.   

Exactly! This is why I say that our religion is walking in the Spirit and obeying the voice of the Lord. This is only possible through our relationship with Jesus Christ --- our lives are hidden in Him --- who is our Lord, our God, our Savior, Teacher, and Counselor. 

It isn't necessary to spell everything out in detail, is it? It is for systematic religion, of course. God Himself is with us (Immanuel), so let us wait upon Him and listen to His voice. I drew upon my experience with the would-be assailant to illustrate how, if we are patient and steadfast in overcoming fear, the Lord makes His will known at precisely the time which pleases Him. In the case of that man, who was homeless and a trespasser on private property, he assumed that I had come to cast him out. Why, when his "crime" was using a portable restroom in an area under construction? 

His "crime" was forgiven. I smiled when I said that he was okay, and this was something the man never encountered in this city. Be kind and charitable to strangers, forgiving trespasses freely with good cheer. Even if that fellow followed through, I would have forgiven him. Come on... the guy needed to use the restroom! 

Nothing systematic. Just walking in the Spirit. 

[Vine Abider]

6 minutes ago, Marathoner said:

Nothing systematic. Just walking in the Spirit. 

And there it is!  Volumes could be said regarding that simple statement, yet it stands on its own!

[Marathoner]

Is detail required? Okay.  

This city is a hard place to be homeless. Violence is the rule of homelessness here, and this is precisely what the Lord displayed to me so I would understand my calling in Him. At one time, city police were all too happy to pull the trigger against the desperate, earning themselves the local nickname, "Another Person Dead" (APD = Albuquerque Police Department). Death by police exceeded death by criminal enterprise for a long time. 

I speak of violence inflicted upon the homeless and also violence they visit upon one another... and when I saw this with my own eyes, I despaired for their plight. Over time, city police changed how they reacted to homeless individuals, recognizing that many suffer from mental illness and addiction to evil drugs. I've been blessed to witness officers handling those who suffer with compassion. Drug addiction for many is their only means of escape, and the consequence of this demonic corruption breeds evil upon evil, upon evil. It's a cycle which claims the innocent and guilty alike. 

There, that's pretty much everything behind "walking in the Spirit" which governed my conduct toward that homeless man. I didn't understand when I arrived here so over time, the Spirit revealed that which I needed to know. My religion is summed up in the words of the Lord given to Jeremiah:

But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.’ (Jeremiah 7:23 NASB)

Those words of God can be expressed in shorthand: walk in the Spirit. What? Shorthand? Yep! Our Lord Jesus Christ did the same when He spoke the two great commandments upon which everything rests. Following the Lord is not complicated, but it can be a fiery trial at times. Good!

[Sower]

8 hours ago, farouk said:

Good indeed to get back to Acts 2.41-42 simplicity.

Thought you might enjoy a few more verses for 'context'.

Acts 2:41-42 (43-47 bonus)

New King James Version

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided[d] them among all, as anyone had need.

46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

May not be so simple (today) if we follow all what was preached to the 'original' assembly/congregation...
Thanks for the heads up, farouk..