Religion is a Great Imposter

Religion is a cruel master

It drives in shame to an unreachable standard

It’s back-breaking

It’s unjust

It has no mercy

It divides and scatters

Its reach is short

It is self-seeking

It gloats

Religion is a great imposter

It’s a fake cornerstone

It’s a false covering

It does not foster sons and daughters

It’s a snare that keeps us from the intention of creation

It’s the lie that says we can exist without God

It’s the presumption that we can improve God’s precepts

It is the root of our anxiety and fear

It is shakable

Jesus is not religion

When we find ourselves working under any of these pretenses, we have to stop, ask the Holy Spirit for help, remember and give thanks for what Jesus accomplished, and rest under his yoke.

STOP — Whenever I feel myself striving in ministry or under an impossible weight of responsibility as a Christian, I try to stop whatever I’m doing as quickly as possible. Take the day off, take a night to spend in the word and worship, go for a hike, take whatever measure I can to silence the lie saying, “the burden is on me.”

ASK — In the time I set apart to stop listening to the lie, I ask the Holy Spirit for help. Jesus sent the Spirit to help us, teach us, comfort us. And the fruit of the Spirit is the opposite of everything religion lays on us. We have to stop, and we have to ask for help.

REMEMBER — Washing our heart, soul, mind, and strength in the Word of God makes us remember what has already been accomplished through Jesus. It’s finished. Religion wants us to keep working at what God has already completed. And, then, put thanksgiving on my lips like crazy. I’m so grateful to be your daughter, thank you for the cross, thank you for love, thank you for starting and finishing the work, etc. Remembering and thanksgiving are proven adjusters.

REST — Take up his yoke, it’s easy, and his burden is light. Resting in Jesus doesn’t mean lazily sleeping the day away. It means joining with him and sowing the transformational power of the Gospel in the earth. We are not slaves; we are his body. We are not pawns; we are his sons and daughters. We are in this together, that’s what God has always wanted!