Lip Service is False Christianity
By David J. Stewart
Matthew 15:8,“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
So many people talk a big talk, speaking of faith, hope and love; but their
heart is far from God. They treat their neighbors the same horrible way. On
the surface they call you “brother” and “family,” but then they disrespect
you behind your back. They are phony, liars and no friend at all.
It doesn't surprise me that a Catholic who worships statues, only offering God lip service; would also treat their neighbors the same way, superficially saying something that they don't really mean in their heart. The world is filled with deceitful people like this.
Jesus plainly taught that the Pharisees and scribes were a bunch of religious fakes, offering God only lip service; but their hearts were far from God. Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Romans 10:3-4 clarifies the matter, teaching us that God wants everyone to cease from trying to establish their own self-righteousness; but rather, trust upon the righteousness of God, which is IN CHRIST alone! We need HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!
Nearly all so-called Christianity today is phony lip service. Jesus taught about such deception in Matthew 15:8. Most people have churchianity without Christianity. All of the statues on platforms in the Catholic church cannot save anyone. It is so tragic that one billion Roman Catholics practice idol worship, chanting the demonic Rosary, idolizing Mother Mary (aka, the Blessed Virgin)!!! These are Satanic practices, strictly forbidden in the Word of God.
I have news for you my friend, Mary did NOT remain a virgin as the Vatican false teaches. Mary was a dirty, guilty, hell-deserving sinner, like everybody else. Mary died a sinner's death, just as Romans 6:23 pronounces upon the human race. Philippians 2:9-11 uplifts the precious name of Jesus Christ; not Mary nor anyone else for that matter. Yet, Catholics have created a monster out of Mary—saying that she is perfect, sinless, a perpetual virgin, and never died a physical death like everybody else. Where or where do those Catholics come up with all their false doctrines?
Lip service is not genuine Christianity. Jesus said you'll go to Hell if your righteousness doesn't exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. What did Jesus mean? The Bible teaches that NO ONE has any righteousness (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10,19-23). Thus, we need the righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is imputed (attributed) to us by faith at the time of salvation (Romans 4:6). It is only by Jesus' righteousness that we can enter into the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Very, very few people understand this very simple truth, i.e., that we are saved by HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Most religious people wrongly think that a person must do their best to enter into Heaven. The problem is that even our very best is far, far, far away from what God demands. No one has successfully lived up to God's perfect standards. The only perfect and sinless man is Jesus Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:21; 1st Peter 2:22). All people have sinned (Romans 3:23). Merely acknowledging what Christ did on the cross is not salvation. The devils also believe (James 2:19). We must trust in our own heart upon the Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Salvation is of the heart.
True Christianity begins with faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to forgive our sins (Acts 10:43). Salvation is
getting out of the driver's seat and letting God take control of salvation.
This is why king David called eternal life...
THY RIGHTEOUSNESS and THY
SALVATION. It is God's salvation, i.e.,
salvation is of the Lord
(Jonah 2:9).
The Christian Life is Lived the Same Way We are Saved, by Faith!
The Christian life thereafter is lived in the same way we were saved (i.e., by faith, getting out of the driver's seat and letting God lead us). This is exactly what Proverb 3:5-7 teaches. Proverb 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” I'm not a Catholic Christian. A lot of genuine born-again Christians make the mistake of thinking that it is up to them alone to live the Christian life.
The truth is that we live the Christian life the same way we are saved—by faith in the Lord. God doesn't help us live the Christian life; but rather, God lives the Christian life through us. If we'll simply empty ourselves of SELF, the self-life, our own selfish ambitions, et cetera; and yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit through the teachings of the Bible, then God will lead us. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths!
Lip service churchgoers serve the priest, the
minister, the church, the Vatican, the Pope, money, or some other man or
creed; but they don't serve the God of the Bible. For if they did,
they'd obey the Words and Commandments of Jesus Christ (John 14:15).
The Real McCoy
I don't know about you, but I want to be the real McCoy. I want to be genuine in my Christian faith. I KNOW I am saved. Biblical salvation is rooted in the PROMISES of God, and not our own self-righteous efforts. That is why we can KNOW of a certainty that we are saved (1st John 5:13). And as a born-again believer, I want to live for God. Proverb 24:16 is a very important verse to grasp, because it teaches 2 main things: 1) Even the best Christians fall spiritually, 2) They get back up and try to do better. This is the natural cycle of every Saint.
Certainly, we should all try to live above reproach and please God; but you and I are only human and will falter at times, but if we love God then we will get back up and try to do better in our Christian walk. Many religious people are self-righteous hypocrites, condemning others who go into sin; but God forbids such condemnation (Romans 14:10). The person who points the finger has three fingers pointing back at them. That is so true. The greatest sin is judging our neighbor, because when we point fingers, there are three fingers pointing right back in our direction.
We are living in a time of woeful deception, in the “perilous times” as foretold in 2nd Timothy 3:1-5, in a time when people lack natural affection (true friendship and sincerity). People just don't trust anybody anymore. This spirit of distrust is the natural result of a society which has abandoned the God of the Bible,
John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
