true religion is this...

I recently heard a sermon over at www.722.org about religion - how we have this idea that we somehow have to impress God, prove to Him that we love Him, or pay Him back for the cross...all things we can't do. I like the speaker's use of the word religion in discribing this complex, but as I surf the web tonight, I am reminded of something we as Christians VERY often forget about our faith - the true meaning of religion.

"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

"The Spirit of the Soverign Lord is on me, because the Lord has annointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the blind." Isaiah 61:1

What is true religion? It is a lifestyle that accomplishes the things above: bringing mercy, healing, joy, and freedom to those in need. Now, some organizations are good at doing this, but lack Christ as their center. I'n not talking about them. Rather, this is TRUE religion: bringing those things to people as a tangible example of the love of Christ. When Jesus was on this earth, he healed, set free, and brought newness of life and purpose. When will the church do likewise?

Yes, I acknowledge that the church does much in the name of 'social justice'...but much is not enough. As long as one child is lost, without family, food, or Christ, how can we sleep at night? We must rise up and be the picture of Christ we were always supposed to be.

Check out these links for places to be shocked, changed, and to make a difference:
www.invisiblechildren.com
www.savedarfur.org