Are You Smarter Than a Religionist Part 2
April 5, 2009 AM
Dave Marttunen
Discipline is a great tool. Discipline, we are taught in the Bible, is good for a few things. It restrains orders and organizes, but it is weak in that discipline cannot create anything new. Like a vacuum cleaner, discipline gets rid of the extras, the junk, and the fluff, but it cannot supply what we lack. In this way discipline is a tool of religion; it makes conformity look attractive, it makes restrictions look like development, and it makes the effort appear satisfying. But the self-discipline of the religionist cannot give you lasting satisfaction. In fact Paul tells us that discipline fosters pride and elevates self-accomplishment rather than faith. The forced discipline of the religionist puts our focus on the wrong place. Discipline, the Bible tells us, makes us serve our flesh by trying to restrain it, instead of having the funeral it needs to bury it deep. The Holy Spirit is telling us in Colossians 2 that if we are ready and willing to abandon our old and natural ways, we can live as happy citizens under a new governor. Are we smarter than a religionist to embrace fully our freedom in Christ?
Audio / Questions
Dave Marttunen
Discipline is a great tool. Discipline, we are taught in the Bible, is good for a few things. It restrains orders and organizes, but it is weak in that discipline cannot create anything new. Like a vacuum cleaner, discipline gets rid of the extras, the junk, and the fluff, but it cannot supply what we lack. In this way discipline is a tool of religion; it makes conformity look attractive, it makes restrictions look like development, and it makes the effort appear satisfying. But the self-discipline of the religionist cannot give you lasting satisfaction. In fact Paul tells us that discipline fosters pride and elevates self-accomplishment rather than faith. The forced discipline of the religionist puts our focus on the wrong place. Discipline, the Bible tells us, makes us serve our flesh by trying to restrain it, instead of having the funeral it needs to bury it deep. The Holy Spirit is telling us in Colossians 2 that if we are ready and willing to abandon our old and natural ways, we can live as happy citizens under a new governor. Are we smarter than a religionist to embrace fully our freedom in Christ?
Audio / Questions
posted by Pastor David at
5:43 PM
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