Religion: A Pair of Cement Shoes

We are all born into the sea of life. The trouble is that we can’t swim and we have no flotation device. The weight of our sin is what causes us to drown. Quickly, we learn that we need something to aid us in the struggle for survival, so we go shopping.  The only real solution to our struggle is to look on the One, Jesus Christ, who walked on the sea of life and can't be purchased.  Unfortunately, we seek alternate solutions that only add to the weight dragging us under.

Some of the other options are ‘feel-good’ used oxygen tanks that promise life under water; but the promises are as empty as the tanks themselves, and the hope is short lived. These are like drugs that convince us that it is okay to drown; since everyone else is also drowning, it can’t be so bad. Sin is an empty oxygen tank.

Another type of option is religious interest, but any religion, as an end in and of itself, is merely idolatry.  Unless Christ is the heart or central focus, religion is just like a pair of cement shoes.  No matter how expensive, attractive, or comfortable the shoes may be, they cannot help you walk on the sea of life; their end is to speed your “sleep with the fishes.” 

Worse than an empty oxygen tank of sin which can be shed with a struggle, these cement shoes of religion are much more difficult to remove.

David’s Prayer (I Chronicles 29:10-20)

Far more significant than the prayer of Jabez recorded in I Chronicles 4:9-10, which was a prayer primarily focused on Jabez’s own circumstances and life, are the words of David’s prayer, which appears later in the same book. David’s prayer is recorded in much more detail. He begins by praising God, acknowledging who God is (10-13), recognizing who we are (14-16), and then our relationship of dependence upon God (17). Then David prays for God’s direction in the heart of the nation (18).

The most significant part of this prayer, however, is David’s prayer for his son Solomon, who is to become King (19). “Give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision.”

What a beautiful picture of a father praying for a son. Give him a perfect heart 1) to follow your law with various picture phrases for the term and 2) to build the temple, for which I have made provision. How I long to lay a foundation that my son can build upon. How I long to gather the building materials, so that my son can build the temple of God. How I long for my life to be counted worthy to be built upon into something far greater than myself. That was David’s prayer.

What Language Does Your Church Speak, and What Are You Saying?

Imagine that you are in a building, and a voice comes over the intercom passionately declaring something that sounds urgent and extremely important.  However, you can’t understand a word of it.  Perhaps, the message is that the building is on fire; you’d never know.

Is this the way your church communicates?
I HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU COULD EVER READ, AND HERE IT IS:

惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死，神的爱就在此向我们显明了。

The question can be directed toward the specific tongue of speech, but more appropriately, are you speaking in a way that your community and the world understand?  Raising your voice and talking slower is not the solution (it doesn't work with foreigners either); you must change your language [not the message].  What language does your church speak, and what are you saying?