Unveiling the Hidden Peril: Religious Sins and the Path to Authentic Spirituality | Brother Charlie Shamp

Beneath the veneer of our perceived righteousness lies a peril that often goes unnoticed - religious sins. These insidious sins, masquerading as acts of holiness, blind us to our own spiritual growth and hinder the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. They deceive us into false confidence, leading us to believe that we are righteous in our own merit. In reality, they fuel our pride and create a gulf between us and God's abundant grace.

Under the influence of religious sins, we become complacent with our own spiritual performance and begin to judge others from a self-righteous standpoint. This inevitably leads to conflict with God, as He opposes the proud but extends His grace to the humble. Religious sins may give the illusion of devotion, but they cripple our ability to experience true transformation through God's grace.

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of self-righteousness. Both men went to the temple to pray - the Pharisee, standing proudly, thanked God for his perceived superiority over others, boasting about his fasting and tithing. In contrast, the tax collector, humbled by his own sinfulness, stood at a distance, beating his chest and pleading for God's mercy. Jesus declared that it was the tax collector who went home justified, not the Pharisee. The difference lay not in their outward actions, but in the condition of their hearts. The tax collector recognized his desperate need for God's mercy, while the Pharisee was blinded by his own self-righteousness.

It is important to note that the Bible does not condemn outward displays of righteousness. There is value in living out our faith through practical acts of righteousness. However, false righteousness arises when we rely on our own goodness and self-justification, rather than embracing the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to us. The challenge lies in recognizing that our righteousness is not of our own making, but a gift from God.

When Jesus cautioned against practicing righteousness before others, He was not dismissing the importance of living out our faith. His warning was directed at seeking recognition and trying to appear holier than others. The problem with the Pharisees was not their religious practices per se, but their motivation to be seen as exceptionally righteous. Seeking the approval of man can never compare to the eternal approval of God.

In the Western church, we have often focused on addressing various sins, but have neglected to confront the religious sins that incited Jesus' righteous anger. These sins are the true adversaries of the Gospel. Religious sins manifest in preaching a legalistic gospel and imposing rigid religious dogmas on others. Though they may appear righteous, they are spiritually deadly. We must be vigilant and guard against their influence.

The church in America has been infected with the spiritual cancer of dead religion. We have strayed from the path God intended for us and have become entangled in the legalistic mindset of the Pharisees. A stark contrast emerges when we compare the stories in the Bible, filled with miracles, healings, and signs, to the state of many churches in America. We must recognize that dead religion hinders our faith and undermines the power of the cross. We must reject any righteousness based on our own performance and instead embrace the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

The scarcity of miracles among some streams can be attributed to the undermining effect of religious teachings on our faith. These teachings render the Word of God ineffective in our lives. It is imperative that we awaken to this reality and reject dead religion. By anchoring our righteousness in what Jesus accomplished for us and His gift of righteousness through faith, we can fully embrace the power of the cross. We must rid ourselves of pride in our own performance and the sense of unworthiness that hinders us from receiving God's abundant blessings.

The Apostle Paul's question to the Galatian church, "He that works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law or the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:5), serves as a powerful reminder of the true source of spiritual power and transformation.

In the context of the letter to the Galatians, Paul was addressing the issue of false teachers who were promoting a distorted gospel that emphasized adherence to the law as a means of salvation and spiritual growth. These teachers sought to undermine the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and the grace that comes through faith in Him.

Paul's question highlights the stark contrast between relying on the works of the law and embracing the hearing of faith. He challenges the Galatians to consider whether the miracles they had witnessed among them were the result of their own efforts to keep the law or if they were a manifestation of God's grace received through faith.

The answer, of course, is that miracles and spiritual transformation come not through our own works or efforts to keep the law, but through the hearing of faith. It is by placing our trust in the finished work of Christ and surrendering to His lordship that we open ourselves to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul's question serves as a cautionary reminder to us today. We must be wary of falling into the trap of relying on our own efforts and self-righteousness in our pursuit of spirituality. True miracles and spiritual growth come not from our own works, but from a humble and faith-filled dependence on God's grace.

As we reflect on Paul's question, let us examine our own hearts and motivations. Are we seeking to earn God's favor through our own efforts, or are we surrendering to His grace and trusting in the finished work of Christ? Let us remember that it is through the hearing of faith that we experience the fullness of God's power and transformation in our lives.

The time has come for the church to cast off the shackles of dead religion and embrace the transformative power of the Gospel. We must never dilute the Word of God through religious teachings. Let us rediscover the miracles and signs that Jesus intended for us to witness, and allow our faith and love for God to soar. By breaking free from the cycle of religious sins, we can experience the fullness of God's grace and live in alignment with His divine will. May we unveil the hidden peril of religious sins and embark on a journey towards authentic spirituality, rooted in humility and dependence on God's unfailing grace.

-Brother Charlie Shamp