The Problem with Religion

“I believe in God, just not organized religion ... ”

“Religious people are just so hypocritical...”

“I'm happy that you've found sometihng that works for you, but religion just ins't my thing... ”

If these statements or others like them describe you, then I have some great news that may come as a shock to many: Jesus hates religion, too!

If you read any of the gospel accounts, you'll find that some of the harshest things Jesus ever said were to religious people. His words in Matthew 23 are especially scathing: 

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,‘The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

“‘Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

“‘Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

“‘What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.

“‘What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!

“‘Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’ Blind fools! Which is more important—the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. How blind! For which is more important—the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred? When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it. And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it. And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.

“‘What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!

“‘What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.

“‘What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

“‘What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’

“‘But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Go ahead and finish what your ancestors started. Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?

“‘Therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. But you will kill some by crucifixion, and you will flog others with whips in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city. As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar. I tell you the truth, this judgment will fall on this very generation.’”

~ Matthew 23:1-36 New Living Translation (NLT)

By human standard, these were the "righteous" people Jesus was talking to. They were extremely moral, holy, religious individuals—the priests, teachers, and political leaders of Jewish society. Yet Jesus was not impressed. He saw right through their smoke and mirrors, and saw that their hearts were far from God. They acted the part, true. But they were counting on their pious self-denial and adherence to religious law for salvation, instead of trusting in God. Jesus saw their hypocrisy for what it was and called them out on it. And as a result, they began plotting to kill him. (Matthew 12:14, 26:1-5) 

That's the problem with religion: It can't save anyone. 

As I said in my previous article: "Religion or Relationship: What Must I do to be Saved?" religion is a man-made attempt to regain our lost relationship with God. We bind ourselves up with rules and regulations, hoping that God will accept us; even though we ultimately end up trapped in a net of our own design, condemned by the laws we try to uphold. (Romans 4:14-15) 

This is not what God wants from us. 

God doesn't want religion; He wants to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. He created us. We are precious to Him. Every single human being is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, hand-crafted by God Himself. (Ephesians 2:10) There will only be one you—ever. And God desperately wants you to know Him as well as He knows you. Not only that, He wants to call you His friend. 

Religion can't do that. You can’t become someone’s close friend if you spend every waking hour trying to patronize them. In fact, most people would probably start to avoid you if you did that!
Likewise, God doesn't want people to try to earn His favor, wasting their lives by thinking that if they're good enough He will somehow love them more. (Romans 2:11, Ephesians 2:8-9) 
That is why God sent Jesus to die for us; to restore the relationship that we destroyed, and to free us from the burden of empty religion. We don't need to earn God's favor—He was already willing to die for us. All we have to do is accept His forgiveness and the gift of life and mercy that He offers to us through Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-21)

We don't need religion—religion breeds self-righteousness and hypocrisy. What we do need is a relationship with Jesus—our mediator—the one who died once to save us all from sin and death, and now lives to restore our friendship with God. 

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”

~Romans 5:1-11New Living Translation (NLT)

Survival Plan

“'I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.'”

"Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: 'I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

“'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.'

“'I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.'"

~ John 10:1-16New Living Translation (NLT)

Have you ever stopped to wonder why it is that God referred to us as His "Sheep"? I mean, have you aver really stopped to think about it? True, sheep are soft and fluffy, and their lambs are adorable to watch; leaping around, frolicking and  playing with each other. But they are also docile and completely defenseless. They have no sharp teeth, no claws, spikes or armored hide; and are easy pray for wolves and other predators.

Sheep are also herd animals who tend to follow their leader wherever it goes, even if the leader has no idea where it is going. Not only that, they often wander off on their own and get lost. Furthermore. if a sheep falls into a ditch--even a shallow one--it will be unable to right itself and will eventually die of heat-stroke or suffocate under its own weight. 

In light of this, I think it's about time we were honest with ourselves: being compared to sheep is not a compliment. God knows we're completely lost without Him, with each person wandering off to do whatever their heart desires. (Isaiah 53:6) That is why God sent us a Shepherd. 

A sheep--even a flock of sheep--is vulnerable without a shepherd to protect it from wolves, thieves, and the occasional ditch. Likewise we are vulnerable to sin and to the teachings of false prophets--"wolves in sheep's clothing"-- when we wander away from our shepherd, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 7:15) A sheep knows that its only chance at survival is to stay close to the shepherd--the one who feeds it and protects it from harm. So maybe we should follow the example of our wooly namesakes and learn to recognize our shepherd's voice so that we can safely follow him wherever he may lead us.  

“The Lord is my shepherd;

    I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

    he leads me beside peaceful streams.

    He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

    bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk

    through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

    for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

    protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

    in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

    My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

    all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord

    forever.”

~ Psalm 23 New Living Translation (NLT)

Related Articles: 

Beware of False Prophets

B.I.B.L.E: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Context is King

Chosen or Rejected: Does God Hate the Jews?

Anti-Semitism is at an all-time high in America and abroad. 

     In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. There was no sin. There was no death. But it did not last. Eve was deceived by Satan, tricked into sinning against God. But Adam sinned willingly, joining her in eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Sin entered the world that day, and death spread to all things. (Romans 5:12) However God promised that a savior would come to break sin's curse:

"... And I will cause hostility between you (Satan) and the woman,

    and between your offspring and her offspring.

He will strike your head,

    and you will strike his heel.”

~ Genesis 3:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

     This is the first time in the Bible that Jesus is mentioned, and it happened three chapters into the very first book of the Old Testament. Later on in Genesis 12:2-3 God chose Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, to be the instrument of His divine plan for the redemption of mankind. But God also issues a warning to those who would oppose His chosen people saying that He would bless those who blessed Abraham and his descendants and curse those who cursed them. And this is exactly what we see throughout history. Nations and people who hate and persecute the Jews are ultimately destroyed. From the Pharaoh of Egypt in Moses’ day all the way to Adolph Hitler and his Nazi regime, God has continued to rescue His people from slavery and extermination time and time again, even though many of the persecutions suffered by the Jewish people have been as a direct result of their disobedience. (I go over this in greater detail in my two-part series: God of Wrath or God of Mercy?) 

     However, despite this overwhelming historical evidence, some continue to argue that God's warning in Genesis 12 only applied to Abraham, and that God somehow went back on His word after the Jews rejected Jesus and had him crucified by the Roman authorities. But the Bible makes it abundantly clear in verses like 1 Kings 6:13, Psalms 89:33-34, and Romans 9-11 that God will never abandon His people Israel.

     Therefore, for one to argue that God has rejected Israel, one must also argue that God can go back on His word and/or break His covenants--even the "everlasting covenant" He made to Abraham in Genesis 17. Which would of course bring the validity of the entire Bible into question, since this would imply that neither God nor His Word can be trusted. At which point the entire argument is nullified since neither God nor His connection to Israel has any bearing without a belief in the infallible aspects of God and the divine nature of Scripture. 

    That being said, it is also important to note that Jesus was himself a Jew. According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was circumcised when he was eight days old; observed the Sabbath and the Passover; worshiped in the synagogues and even read the Torah; thus fulfilling the promise God made to Abraham when He said that He would use the Jewish nation to bring salvation to all people. And while it is true that the Jews were responsible for Jesus' death, I want to remind you that this was God's plan from the very beginning. God sent Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. The Old Testament is full of references to the crucifixion, and even Jesus himself predicted his death time and time again. The only reason we have any hope at all is because of Jesus' death and resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:1-19, Romans 8:1-4, 31-39) So if you blame the Jews for Jesus' death then you might as well blame God, too--seeing as how it was His idea to kill Jesus in the first place. 

    So then, does God hate the Jews, His "Special Possession?" (Deuteronomy 7:6, Exodus 19:5, Isaiah 19:25, Psalm 135:4 etc.)

     No.

     Has He changed His mind and broken His "everlasting covenant" with the decedents of Abraham?

     Hardly. 

     In fact, I would argue that God has done the exact opposite. In 1948 God kept His promise once again and restored the nation of Israel, fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah, written 2,600 years ago:

"He will raise a flag among the nations..."
Isaiah 11:12

"In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time

    to bring back the remnant of his people—

those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt;

    in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam;

    in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.

He will raise a flag among the nations

    and assemble the exiles of Israel.

He will gather the scattered people of Judah

    from the ends of the earth.

Then at last the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end.

    They will not be rivals anymore."

~ Isaiah 11:11-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

     God has not abandoned Israel, nor does He hate her. Even in rebellion the Jews are still God's Chosen People. God doesn't change, He will keep His promise to Abraham. It is only when we abandon God's Word for the opinions of men and our own self-righteousness that we begin to think that God has favorites; that He hates one group of people while loving the other, when the Bible clearly says otherwise. (Romans 2:11) This is why it is so important to test everything against God's Word. There are many false teachers out there who strategically manipulate the Scriptures, omitting or altering passages that conflict with their theologies in order to justify their beliefs and/or actions. The only way to spot the lies is to know what God's Word really says. And the only way to know what God's Word really says is to study it daily.

    As the Apostle Paul, a Jew, said in his second letter to Timothy:

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."

~ 2 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT)

Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

~ Ephesians 6:10-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

   With everything that is going on in the world today, I think we as Christians need to remember that our greatest weapon in this fight is prayer. What do you think would happen if instead of sharing articles on Facebook and protesting the latest political happenings, we went into our rooms, shut the door, and prayed for our world? If God's people asked Him to win this war by changing the lives of individuals, one community at a time, don't you think He would answer? After all, God's Word says that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us, and is more than willing to answer us and give us anything we ask for. (1 John 5:14-15) And we know that God's will is for everyone to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 18:23) So why wouldn't God answer a prayer for people to be saved?

   That being said, I want to challenge and encourage you Christians out there to pray for this world, starting with your own, individual communities.
   Instead of ranting on the internet and street corners, pray that God would move in the hearts of the people around you; ask Him for wisdom and the words to say when they ask you why it is that you have so much hope, when everything around us seems so hopeless. (1 Peter 3:15)
   When you hear about the persecution our brothers and sisters are going through, pray that God would encourage them and give them strength to stand against Satan's advancing armies. Ask God to use the persecution to win over the hearts of His enemies--just as He has done throughout history. That is how this war will be won, not through force of arms, but rather through the power of God's Word and the truth of Jesus Christ. As Jesus himself put it:

 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven ... "

~ Matthew 5:43-45a New Living Translation (NLT)

What about Phoebe?

There's a lot of talk these days about how the Bible's ideals and moral principles are obsolete for today's society; the result of man's attempt to enforce order and control over weak-minded and/or ignorant individuals.
Perhaps the most hotly contested topic of all is the role of women in the church, and indeed the rest of society.

Understandably there are many individuals who are offended by what the Bible says in verses like Ephesians 5:22-24, Colossians 3:18, and especially 1 Corinthians 14:34-35.
For this reason many people, including Christians, have come to the conclusion that the Apostle Paul was a sexist. (Even though the Apostle Peter said the exact same things in 1 Peter 3:1-6) However, there is one passage of scripture that I would like to present as evidence to the contrary:

"I (Paul) commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me."
~ Romans 16:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT) 

Paul clearly thought very highly of Phoebe, and did not see himself as superior to her. In fact, he even went so far as to instruct the Church in Rome to welcome her as someone "worthy of honor." She was not a subservient, voiceless puppet. She was a person; Paul's sister in Christ, and a great help to him on his missionary journeys--something that would have been completely counter-cultural in the first century AD. 

Furthermore, the Bible goes on to tell us that "all scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT) )

Are we then permitted to choose which verses apply to us and which ones do not? Obviously not! Either the Bible is the Word of God, or it isn't. We don't get to pick and choose. Just because something is hard to understand or is offensive to our 21st century culture, doesn't mean that it is any less relevant. Cultures may change. But God's Word endures forever. (1 Peter 1:25) 

See Also:

Women and the Bible: Is Bible Sexist?

Concerning Prophets ...

This is something I came across in my studies last year that I found quite interesting and thought I would share with the rest of you.

When you hear the word "prophet", what is the first thing that comes to mind?

For most of us, the word "prophet" usually conjures up images of men in robes with long, white beards, or individuals with the supernatural gift to gaze into the future and make predictions or prophecies. Even though the latter description is more indicative of a fortuneteller--not a prophet.

But if we look at the Old Testament Biblical account we find that most prophets were actually quite different. Many of them did foresee future events--especially those sounding the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. But often times the message given by prophets in the Old Testament was one of repentance and obedience to God. A good example of this is the story of Jonah. Despite the fact that he never made a signal prophesy, Jonah is still counted among the Old Testament prophets. So in that respect, a Biblical prophet had more in common with a street-preaceher than a fortuneteller.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul describes the role of prophets this way:

"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."

~ Ephesians 4:11-13New Living Translation (NLT) [Emphasis Mine]

So what is a prophet? 

In the Biblical sense, a prophet is a messenger--someone who, when filled with the Holy Spirit, teaches others about God. In the Old Testament God used prophets as His representatives on earth; pouring out His Spirit on certain individuals for a limited time. After Christ's resurrection and ascent into Heaven, God sent His Holy Spirit to permanently indwell those who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And with the Holy Spirit also came the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, which include the gift of prophesy. (1 Corinthians 12) 

Is this gift any different now than it was before? Not at all. The only difference today is that we all know what God's will is because He has revealed it to us through His Word:

"The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

~ 2 Peter 3:9New Living Translation (NLT)

A prophet is not a fortuneteller. A prophet is someone who tells others the truth about God, explaining God's will for them by proclaiming the Good News about Jesus Christ to everyone who will listen. 

The Call to Repent

If you've been around churches for any length of time, then you've probably come to realize that the topic of repentance is a reoccurring theme in the Christian community. And while it is true that we are to repent of our sins, I feel that far to often our focus drifts away from the grace and mercy of God  and instead lingers on the promises of hell-fire and eternal damnation for those who refuse to confess their sins and repent. What is even more disturbing to me, is that we then turn around and justify ourselves by attaching verses like John 3:16 to signs, bumper-stickers, and sermons condemning the people around us —the very people that God loves and died to save. (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-11)

Indeed, most Christians can quote John 3:16 by heart—many nonbelievers also know what it says. But very few people take the time to read what Jesus goes on to say in the following verses.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

~ John 3:16-21New Living Translation (NLT)

Do you see what Jesus is saying here? It is not through repentance that we are saved; is is through faith in Him alone! Salvation is not the result of repentance; repentance is the result of salvation. (1 Peter 1:13-25)

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we are to continue living in sin. Nor am I trying to downplay humanity's need for a savior or the existence of hell. What I am saying however, is that we need to remember what it is that saves us. It isn't the good things that we do. It isn't our own righteousness. It is by grace that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ; not our repentance. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  And while it is true that all sin, great or small, leads to death (Romans 6:23), I want you to look very closely at what Jesus said in John 3:18-19. 

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil."

~ John 3:18-19New Living Translation (NLT)

What sin is the world going to be judged for? 

Rejecting Jesus Christ. 

That is the only sin that cannot be forgiven: blaspheming the Holy Spirit by ignoring His convictions and rejecting what Jesus has done for you. (John 16:8, 1 John 5:1-12) 

So then, how are we to reach people for Christ? We could focus on repentance and condemnation. But that can lead to legalism and self-righteousness, which would do more harm than good.
Remember: the Holy Spirit is our helper. It is He that teaches us to follow God and reveals the sin in our lives. Without Him we are blind. So how can a person who has never accepted Christ be expected to see their sin as anything other than normal human behavior? (Jude 19) 
When we make a habit of pointing out the sins of strangers we become Pharisees and hypocrites. We push them away from God, and reinforce the negative stereotype of Christians, the Church, and ultimately Jesus himself—who is the head of the Church. 

That being said I feel that the best way to show people God's love is through actions—following the example given to us in 1 Peter 3:8-17.

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil."

"Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!"

~ 1 Peter 3:8-17New Living Translation (NLT)

Get to know the people you are trying to reach. Be friends with the unsaved people in your lives. Don't join them in doing the things you know are sinful. But take the opportunity to tell them about your faith gently, without attacking them. Remember, they have been blinded to the truth. (2 Corinthians 4:3-5) You can't help a blind man to see by beating him with a stick. The same is true of unbelievers. We can't force people to see the sin in their lives by beating them over the head with a Bible. The only way for them to truly repent is for God to soften their hearts and change them from within. If they are receptive to His truth and repent of their original sin—denying Jesus—then they will be filled with the Holy Spirit. Their eyes will be opened. They will see their sin for what it truly is and begin to repent as a result.

That is the mistake that far too many Christians make. Repentance isn't a once-in-a-lifetime event: it's an event that takes a lifetime, and ultimately ends with our sanctification. A righteous life isn't a sprint; it's a marathon. And the only way to finish strong is to have Jesus running along side you. 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy[ awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."

~ Hebrews 12:1-2New Living Translation (NLT)

See Also:

"Excuse me, but do you know that you're going to hell?"

The Devil's Deception

One of the biggest misconceptions people have today is that God and Satan are equal opposites. God is the ruler of Heaven and is the embodiment of good, whereas Satan is the ruler of Hell and represents all things evil. This dualistic belief however is a lie harkening back to the ancient Gnostic teachings of the First Century AD.
    Satan is a created being (what many would call an "angel") and is not equal to God in any way. In fact, even though he is in open rebellion against God, Satan still has to answer to God and seek God’s permission before he can do anything. (Job 1:6-12)
    Furthermore, Satan is not the “Ruler of Hell”, nor does he currently reside therein. According to the Bible, Hell was created—not for bad people, as some would believe—but rather as a place of punishment for Satan and the other fallen angels. (Matthew 25:41) That being said, Satan is currently in heaven accusing us before God, and will not be cast out until the End of Days. (Revelation 12:10-12)

    Heaven is God’s courtroom. Satan is the prosecuting attorney, accusing us day and night while Jesus speaks in our defense. (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:24-25)

   

    Another huge misconception people have is that Satan makes them sin. I’m sure you’ve all heard the phase “The Devil made me do it”? Well, this is simply not the case.
    According to God’s word, we sin on our own, tempted from within. Very rarely does a temptation come from an external source.  (Jeremiah 17:9, Mathew 15:19, James 1:13-15) In fact, the only biblical examples I can think of where someone was tempted externally are when Satan deceived Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, and when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Aside from that, sin usually follows the example of Achan in Joshua 7:19-21.

   The truth is, Satan has always wanted to be equal with God—if not greater than Him. This attitude of self-deification was the sin that caused him to fall in the first place. (Isaiah 14:12-15) So if Satan can deceive the world into thinking that he is more powerful than he is, or that he and God are equal opposites, then he can enjoy some small measure of victory before his eminent destruction. But Satan is a defeated enemy. Jesus conquered both sin and death when he rose from the dead. Therefore, it is through Jesus Christ alone that our freedom is found. For there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:11-12)

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.”

~ Romans 8:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

~ Romans 16:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

See Also:

A Tale of Two Wolves: The Battle Between Good and Evil