Test Your Religion
Scripture
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
~James 1:27 ,NIV
Quote
The Truth {Jesus} must be received into the heart and then incarnated into daily living.
~Charles {not Too Tall} Erdman
My Thoughts
Teaching through the book of James on Wednesday night and reading Charles Erdman’s commentary of the General Epistles as I go. I come across a lot of things that I don’t have time to share on Wednesday night. Personally, I don’t like the word religion and I do not classify Christianity as a religion. Religions all have several things in common: [1] Their orgin goes back to man or Satan; they are all fabrications. [2] They all emphases works: none of them teach grace [3] They all have founders, icons, some human leader that they have made larger than life but none of them have a Savior, an empty tomb or song in the heart. Erdman sees a test in the last three verses of James one. He says a test of religion; I would say a test of faith. Want to take a test: here goes….
- DO YOU PRACTICE SELF-CONTROL?
- Do you control your tongue?
- Do you argue? {Man’s anger never produces the results God wants}
- Do you debate the Bible with unbelievers or anyone?
- DO YOU PRACTICE CHARITY?
- Do you think often of the less fortunate?
- Do you give to anyone other than the church?
- When was the last time you share your financial resources with another individual?
- DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF UNSTAINED BY THE WORLD?
- Which do you love most, your bible or the TV?
- Are your affections on things above?
- Are their earthly treasures here that you are concerned about leaving?
Don’t ask me what I made on the test: it wasn’t good.
Extra
The 49er feast today at 11:30. We are going with KFC one more time. We intended to change the menu before now but with the price of meat these days and the delicious taste of Kroger Fried chicken we have stuck with it. We are bring corn on the cob and butter beans and of course the chicken. I picked the squash yesterday with the intention of frying it today but some one gave it away. Anywho, we eat at 11:30 sharp and you are more than welcome to join us.
LORD willing, June and I will be leaving the point and going to Huntsville to see an old friend Carolyn Hanes. Carolyn is two days younger than myself. We grew up together. She lived on one side of Mooresville road and I lived on the other. Less than a hundred yards between us. She has a chronic heart condition.
I have much to praise the LORD for: a couple of weeks ago I was worried. Getting in bed was painful and staying there was just as bad. I slept sitting up for almost a week. Now I can get in and out of bed without hurting. I go to sleep fine but don’t sleep long. Got up at 2:26 this morning. Wide awake as a hoot owl but it will hit as soon as I start reading. I think my cook is getting tired of cooking my breakfast at 3:30 am. We are making progress, PTL and let’s hope we don’t do something stupid.
I do want you to pray for my friend Carolyn and I also want you to say a special prayer for Bill Southern. Bill has had a rough month, matter of fact, a hard year.