Ritual Kills

In a post that was tagged to me, there was a picture of a man that was suppose to represent Christ, and the caption read, "if you love this man, thumbs up and share."

My comment was that I did not love the man in the picture because it was not Christ. 

These people wanted me to indulge in venerating a picture of a man depicted as Jesus. The typical artists rendition of a man with long hair.

God expressly commanded us not to make images of God, and when I said I did not love the man in the picture, because it was not Christ, they became even more staunch in defending it.

I was amazed that people who wanted Jesus were satisfied with this picture of a man who was not Christ, to represent Him. Who gave them the authority to appoint a picture of a man and call it Christ?

Religion desires to look good from the outside, but neglects the inner spiritual man.  Why would anyone be angry that I refused to bow to a picture of a man who is not God?  And not even a real man a picture of a non-existent artist depiction.

The anger at my refusing to become indulgent in this idol worship was a strong clue that the people involved were not looking for holiness, but for objects to make them "feel" spiritual.

When someone camps regularly on ritual it is a clue they are neglecting the inner man, after all, no ritual is necessary to bless the true believer who seeks to be changed by God in the depth of his soul.

We need no holidays, no rituals and no outward displays of spirituality to convince other.  What others think about us is of little consequence, it is what God thinks of us that matters. And He looks upon the heart.

Proverbs 20:27 "The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the INNERMOST parts of his being."

Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the INNER man"

Matthew 23:27-28 ""Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but INSIDE they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but INWARDLY you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

2 Corinthians 4:16 "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our INNER man is being renewed day by day."

1 Samuel 16:7 "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the HEART."

The only observance outwardly that the Lord gave us was the Lord's supper.  And, churches now days are neglecting that. The first century church mentioned in the Bible observed that every time they came together.  It is the essence of Who Christ is and what He did.

Those who think they are spiritual by virtue of the rituals they observe are missing the greatest mystery and blessing of all, and that is Christ working in our INNER MOST being to make us more like Him.

Ephesians 3:16 "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,"

Colossians 3:10 "and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--"

Do we want to be more holy?  If we do we will throw away all ritual except that which Christ gave us.