FALSE
RELIGION

THE ESSENCE of false religion is a Christian being involved in religious activity while being void of spiritual intimacy. It is exemplified by a person having a ritual of religion without a relationship with God.287

[Carnal Christians; Intimacy, with God]

Matt. 23:27–28; 2 Tim. 3:1–5

RELIGION VOID of a relationship will leave you spiritually hungry. Like drinking saltwater, the more you drink, the thirstier you get.288

[Intimacy, Importance of; Jesus, Relationship with]

John 4:13–14

RELIGION devoid of a relationship is like a pacifier that a baby works hard to suck on, but from which no real nutrition flows.289

ON ONE occasion, I walked into a hotel lobby and saw a bowl of fruit set out for guests. I decided to grab an apple. I bit into it only to discover that it wasn’t real. It was wax. It was quite embarrassing to bite into a wax apple thinking that it was real and then not know quite what to do with it! Do you put it back with teeth marks on it? Do you steal it and take it with you?

I had mistaken something artificial for something that was real. It’s possible to have artificial church that looks real. It’s possible to be an artificial Christian but look real.290

[Christian Living, Authenticity]

2 Tim. 3:1–5; 2 Peter 2:1