Written by Mark Driskill:
Tuesday September 7, 2010
Read Mark 6:53-56
One of the greatest lessons I learned on my recent trip to Kenya is illustrated here.
When you read the gospels you can see it. The difference between dead religion and the kingdom of God is this. Religion is about talk. The kingdom is about power. In other words the true difference between following Jesus and following religion is that when you follow Jesus stuff happens. Religious movements can tell you how to dress and what to think, how to eat and what to do on a given day of the week. But in the end all you have is talk. If all you have is religion, by any name, nothing will really change beyond your external behavior and maybe your disposition. But when you connect with Jesus Christ demons flee, diseases are healed, emotions are mended and destinies are fulfilled.
Before Jesus came there was plenty of religion in Israel. But no one was reaching for the hem of the Pharisees robe in hopes of being healed. There were plenty of pagan temples in Rome but no one was telling about how they received their sight when the local deity walked by. Today there are enough religions to keep us all mad at each other for the rest of time, but only Jesus raises the dead. While I was in Kenya I saw that wherever Jesus shows up stuff happens. It is tragic to see so many who claim to be Christians but have no expectation of Jesus actually doing anything.
There is a religion about Jesus that is just as pagan as any other cult. It is full of “correct theology”, well crafted statements of faith, and lofty tradition, but for all the virtue of those things, there is no faith in the power of Jesus. People sit listlessly in pews wearing their Sunday morning Christian costumes nodding in sleepy approval of clerical commentaries on scripture. They sing hymns they don’t understand and say prayers they don’t really mean, and highlight verses that make them feel eternally secure. But its all talk quickly laid aside shortly after noon. Their pseudo Jesus vanishes into a mist before they leave the parking lot only to reappear perhaps on Wednesday night. They live broken lives under a thin veneer of religiosity. Oh how the savior wants to break through all the pretense and bring his raw power into their homes. They have a form of godliness but have denied the power thereof. Paul tells us in I Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God does not consist of talk but of power.”
Too many have settled for a religion of talk. It never steps out of the limits of its own doctrine to find Jesus walking on the water calling us to join him. It just sits in the boat speculating and debating phrases. Oh God deliver us from just having a religion about you and let us feel the power of your love. Lord I want to see you raise the dead. I hope you’ll start with me.
Challenge: Ask God to start using you to demonstrate his power today. Boldly pray for miracles to happen in the lives of people who need them.
Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.
Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.
Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.
