Are You Religious, Real Religious, or Just Real?

This is from Montrose Baptist Church's AM worship service on August 23, 2009.

Last week, we presented a picture of authentic Christianity. If you recall, we said that authentic Christians are FAT. They are faithful, available, and teachable.
While we want to present an accurate picture of authentic Christianity, I believe that we also need to see the warnings in Scripture against counterfeit Christianity. We need to see what it was that Jesus called out. What was it that Christ condemned the most?
As we are looking at the picture this morning of a counterfeit brand of religion, let me encourage you to ask yourself, “Are you religious, really religious, or just real?”
This past week I came across a blog on the Internet that pointed a finger at how religious we have become and how unreal we have made faith in Christ. Just listen to an excerpt.
You see them all the time. You talk to them. You might even be one of them.
They are rampant in churches. You walk into church and you are greeted by them. “Good morning, how are you?” and then they turn to the next person to talk to them. You could say to them “Well, I sacrificed a small child to the great Satan this morning before pillaging the neighborhood and raping the women.” They wouldn’t know the difference because they have moved onto the next conversation. If they did realize you responded, they wouldn’t know what you said and would respond “Praise God! Well, it’s a blessing to have you here.”
Then the worship service starts and they sit and stare blankly at the pastor or whoever is making the announcements as if they care but in their minds you can just tell they are going “let’s get on with it already, there’s a game on in a little bit”.
Then comes worship time, this laughable part of the service (I say laughable because shouldn’t we be worshiping all the time? Also, this part looks so far from worship it’s pitiful.) reveals the people looking like robots, staring at the words and mouthing in unison while their eyes and posture suggest their brain is completely checked out. They are on vacation baby and loving it!
Offertory time! Oh boy! The bible instructs us to be cheerful givers and the word used really translates to hilarious. We’re supposed to be hilarious givers. Yeah, I don’t really see any happy looks on the faces of these “Christians” as they reluctantly drop their offering in the plate. What if you only get paid once every two weeks or even once a month? I’ve been in that predicament too. If you don’t happen to drop money in the plate on the weeks you don’t get paid, and pass the plate on by, then you get the courteous “I’m not judging you, but I’m judging you” look.
Then the sermon comes. Quick gut check: how many Christians do you think could tell you what the pastor preached on and what was the point of the sermon last Sunday if you asked them right now? Again blank faces, wandering minds, and sometimes even the pastor looks bored.
Uh-oh. The pastor is being moved by the spirit and now the sermon is starting to go over. Take a look around and count the people looking at their watches. You’d be surprised. Or maybe you wouldn’t. Maybe you’re a time-keeper yourself.
Finally! The sermon is over and now it’s time for the invitation. Oh no! The pastor wants us to sing another verse. This is terrible. Now the game is going to start without me for sure. If you have ever felt that way, maybe you should check your commitment to God.
Great! We’ve been to church, heard the message, praised God in song for a little while, and we even gave Him some money. Aren’t we awesome Christians? We made all the check marks. Now we can leave and get in our little cliques to talk trash about the other people at church and how lousy our pastor is and how the worship team just didn’t have it together and the songs were terrible.
I'll stop the quote there. As I read this, I began to think to myself, “Wow, what a bitter, cynical look at the church and Christians in general.” However, then I began to consider the author and the harsh truth that I believe it contains.
The author of this particular blog is, in fact, a worship leader (AKA Minister of Music). And he merely reflected on what he has seen through the years in churches.
There might be the temptation to say that this is only the case in mega-churches. However, I believe that there are plenty of times when we have taught people to simply be religious and have thrown real Christianity out the window.
This morning, you might be asking the question, “Well how do I know if I am a religious person instead of a real Christian?”
I want us to take a few moments and look at one of Jesus' teachings, and what He saw and said about those that fell into the category of “religious.”

Read text. (Matthew 23:1-12)

As we look at Jesus' teaching of the disciples and the crowds around Him, we find that He reserved some harsh words for the religious elite of the time. In fact, when you look at what Jesus typically said concerning the Pharisees, it is very similar to the commentary offered by the worship leader that I quoted a little earlier. There was no other group of people that were met with the same directness and criticism as those that would be best described as the showy religious elite.
It is clear that Jesus was very condemning of those that were merely religious. You might be saying, “Well, hold on. Christianity is a religion.” Listen, Christianity is not merely religion. It is a relationship.
This morning, we are going to break down this teaching and commentary and discover the picture that Christ presents of those that are merely religious showboats. We need to understand exactly what actions and attitudes prompted the disdain of our Savior.
When we look at those that were condemned by Christ, we first note their...

1.) Approach (v. 1-4)
“Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: 'The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.'”
I believe that Jesus' entire opening statement about the scribes and Pharisees could be summed up in one little arrogant statement that many of you have heard before.
The entire problem with the approach of the Pharisees and scribes was the fact that they adamantly practiced the “do as I say, not as I do” philosophy.
The Pharisees were so superior and arrogant in their approach to their faith that they errantly assumed positions of prominence and leadership for the sole purpose of having the opportunity to tell others what they ought to do in their service. They were found to be completely unwilling to fulfill the law that they pushed. Instead of being faithful stewards, they were the nay saying, ultra-critical judges that were ready to crucify those that did not fulfill the law that they created. They were the showy, fair-weather, public spectacles that harbored very dark closets.
Jesus recognized injustice and evil when He saw it. He recognized hypocrisy- regardless of how guarded and covered it may be.
But, Jesus did not merely stop with urging the masses to follow their instruction but not their example. Rather, He, went on to describe what they were doing in their instruction and law-creating. He described their actions as putting a heavy load on the back of a man, then refusing to lift so much as a finger to help them carry that load.
When Jesus saw the Pharisees, He saw cruelty and injustice at its very worst.
The approach of the scribes and Pharisees, of the really religious, disgusted our Heavenly Father. It did not merely disappoint Him. It did not impress Him that people were so capable of playing both sides of the aisle. Rather, it was a source of anger.
If we just leave this as a story of a historical group years ago, it has relatively no impact except to skew our view of that particular group. However, that is not the fullness of the instruction that comes from this passage.
We have to realize that there are still modern-day scribes and Pharisees. In fact, we have churches full of them. We have pastorates that have been seized by them. They are typically those that demand all the glory and attention. They are still the ones that determine the rules, but then refuse to follow them.
Let me ask you a question. For those that have taken a position against Christ and His church, what is their typical argument for not becoming involved? It typically goes something like, “You know all of those people are just hypocrites anyway. Why would I want to be with them?” Anyone ever heard that before?
So many times we look at it and say, “Well, that is just their excuse.” I agree. That is an excuse that often guards investigation of deeper issues. However, the problem is this: the hypocrisy that they see in the church is not created in their minds. Rather, it is a real problem in Christ's church.
We could point to the pew, and I believe that the game-playing is there, but I want you to realize the extent of the problem. It is not a problem where we can stand in the pulpit and point fingers. Instead, that same approach, that same arrogance and hypocrisy has filled the pulpit as well.
Did you know, 33% of pastors admit to inappropriate sexual behavior with a church member? 20% openly admit to having an affair. 50% of pastor's marriages will end in divorce. 80% of pastor's wives wish that their husbands would have chosen a different profession. And 1500 pastors leave the pastorate every month because of moral failure, burnout, or contention in the church.
Yet, Sunday after Sunday there are pastors filling their time with instruction about fidelity, God's expectation for marriage, and the joy that comes from serving God. Does anyone see the hypocrisy that must be evident to the outside world? We give instruction, but then don't follow it. We have modern-day Pharisees.
But then we have to consider the picture of those that add unnecessary weight. We look at those that want to make the rules. Once again, we could point to pulpit and pew alike. We have manipulated and amended the Word of God in many cases to create unnecessary and unBiblical rules. Then there are times when we are guilty of judgmentalism for things that are not Biblical precedent, but merely our preference.
We like rules. They make us comfortable. They give us structure. However, when Scripture is concise, direct, or even silent, we are not given the liberty to create for ourselves new rules.
When Jesus saw the religious, He noted their approach. He noted their hypocrisy and legalism. He then pointed out their...

2.) Appearance (v. 5)
“But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.”
Often, we talk about God not looking on appearance, but seeing to the motivation and intention of the heart. However, I believe that this particular passage teaches us that He notices when the attitudes of our heart make an impact on our physical appearance.
The problem with the scribes and Pharisees was their overwhelming, consuming desire to simply be bigger and better than everyone else.
They were determined to be lords in their rule and regalia alike.
I know that we have mentioned the phylacteries before. Devout Jews would rise early in the morning and begin their ritual recitations. Part of that process involved wrapping phylacteries, or long leather straps, around their foreheads and their arms. Those straps had leather cubes that contained parchment with Scripture on it. And often, attendance at morning temple worship was done while wearing this paraphernalia.
This was a very visible sign to those in the community around them. It was a way that they could silently declare their love and devotion of Jehovah.
This practice in and of itself was widely practiced and anything but out of the ordinary. However, the problem came in the manipulation of the scribes and Pharisees. Rather than being focused on God and their service to Him, they were consumed by the desire to bring attention to themselves.
So rather than being like all of the other Jews around them, they would have their phylacteries widened so that it would physically appear that they would more important and more devout Jews.
The tassels were worn on the four corners of the garment, including the prayer shawl. It was a form of obedience to instruction in both Numbers and Deuteronomy. However, like the phylacteries, they had their clothing altered to draw attention to themselves.
They thought that they were perceived as more devout and obedient because their physical adornments were made more noticeable.
Now, we look at this, and might even fight the urge to chuckle. I mean, really? You look more devout because your leather straps are bigger and your tassels are longer?
While we might have the urge to shake our heads, things still have not changed.
The fact is simple. There are still scores of people, playing the game, that wake up on Sunday morning and determine what they are going to wear based on what others will think of them in it.
Let me ask you a little question. This is something I have really struggled with in accepting the teaching of certain televangelists. What is the difference between a $1200 suit, and a $200 suit? I've never owned a $1200 suit, so someone that has would probably consider this a ridiculous question. Surely the design, the materials, the craftsmanship should all be better. (And I realize that the difference is $1000.) But what is the purpose, really?
Perhaps a better question is: How many Christians have a completely different, and far more lavish wardrobe set aside for the sole purpose of playing church? But, why?
Quite simply, counterfeit Christianity, and those consumed by religious elitism somehow view it as a form of superiority. We are still concerned, and at times consumed, by the appearance of being religious.
Maybe its not the wardrobe. Maybe its the Bible. Or the tithe envelope. Or some other thing that is flaunted for the purpose of drawing personal attention. I believe that this issue went beyond the fabric on the back. Instead, it once again spoke to an attitude of the heart.
Jesus noted their approach, their appearance, and lastly, we must recognize their...

3.) Assignment (v. 6-12)
“They love the place of honor at banquets and chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. But do not be called Rabbit; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
The Pharisees always reserved the very best for themselves. They wore the lavish attire. They demanded the seats of prominence and honor at banquets and in the synagogue. They even relished the attention and admiration that was received in the marketplace.
In short, these men demanded honor and respect. They accepted nothing less than the glory they believed they were due, and even coveted the admiration of those around them. They assigned to themselves honor and glory.
Once again, this is an attitude that we can find within the walls of almost any church today. And while I wish that I could say otherwise, it is something that has plagued many pastors.
I remember when I first started in the ministry, I received all kinds of encouragement from fellow clergymen that believed that I need to “assert my authority.” Now the thought of me and that phrase in the same sentence almost seems funny to me. I could be wrong, but I don't view myself as the domineering leader. In fact, there have probably been many times where I should have stood more firmly and been more vocal in my leadership.
However, there is a problem and tendency that I find in the lives of God's people when it comes to “asserting authority.” I believe that there are those that do it to merely provide instruction and direction. I believe that there are times in life when it is necessary. (We could quote a number of hypothetical work situations where a boss would be needed to assert some authority.) However, I'm afraid that many times that authority evolves. It begins to mutate into an attitude of supremacy. It begins to transform into an attitude of entitlement where someone feels that they are owed respect and adoration. It happens in pew and pulpit alike.
The Pharisees assigned glory and honor to themselves, and there are still many in the church that do the same. It is not just the clergy. Rather, there are plenty of times when we find ourselves entertaining the urge to declare our authority and demand prominence.
We want to be in charge and at the center of everything.
The Pharisees demanded respect, yet Jesus explained what their reward would be.
Jesus saw through the heart of the Pharisees. He saw that they were merely playing games. They were in it for what they could get out of it. They were consumed not with a love of God, but a love for themselves.
And so Jesus taught the crowds and His disciples about their true reward. For the Pharisees, they had already received their reward. The attention and respect that they received from man was the fullness of their inheritance. And because they exalted themselves, it would ultimately cause them to be humbled in the end.
We need to view this description as both an insight and a warning. I believe that Jesus gives us a picture of those that play games with religion instead of pursuing a relationship with Himself that transcends time. Yet, he also couples that unfavorable picture with a divine warning.
For those in this life that are merely concerned with looking religious, be forewarned, the attention that you garner now is the fullness of your reward.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid that there are going to be many people that stand before the Great White Throne judgment that argue, “Well, I was very zealous for the Law. I was in church every Sunday. I made certain to tithe regularly. I wore a suit to church. I was even a Sunday school teacher.” I'm afraid there are going to be those that present those very arguments that are going to have to hear, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.”
It is not enough to be religious. It is still errant to be very religious. We are called to be real in our relationship with God.
This morning, you might say, “Well, preacher, I battle with some of those things. Does that mean that I am not a true believer? Does that mean that I am going to miss heaven?” No. That is not what I am saying. Rather, these are just symptoms of a larger problem.
It is possible to be a fervent believer that battles with arrogance or pride. It is possible to be a true believer and struggle with selfishness and a desire for attention. And the true believer will be willing to repent and seek God's guidance and strength.
However, if there is nothing more to your spiritual life than the desire to look good to others and promote yourself, I'm afraid you are setting yourself up for disappointment in eternity.
Jesus is not impressed with how religious you are. He does not care how many rules you keep. He does not put a star by your name for every time you pass through the doors of His church. However, He does require a real relationship with Himself if you hope to inherit eternal life.
Please don't be fooled this morning. The last thing this world needs is more religion. The Pharisees used religion to promote themselves. This world, and each of us, need a relationship with Jesus. It is not possible to promote yourself in a relationship with Him. When you see yourself next to Him, you merely realize how gracious and good He is to give you an opportunity for a relationship. You then realize that it is not about you, but Him.
So how would you characterize yourself? Religious? Really Religious? Or are you involved in a real relationship with Christ?