There is much outward show in established religion.

People will attend their preferred church, and on the whole, wish for no changes.

Why do they want no change? Is it because they are simply not thinking about what they are doing and enjoy the lack of responsibility? By nature, we all seek an easy life, but generally, if something costs nothing, it's usually worth nothing.

In true religion this is also the case. But if you take this same principal too far, you end up in legalism: which is earning your way into heaven - and that's impossible.

A man once said: 'Going to church no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car.'

Very true.

But there are regiments of people doing just that. Even genuine Christians, I believe, are guilty of this. Oh yes indeed - walking in darkness (Isaiah 50: 10).

Every denomination, congregation even, has its own way of doing things. Its own peculiarities, it's own wee traditions and habits, and these same habits, have, over the years become much loved and much entrenched. We are, after all, when all is said and done, creatures of habit. We form our various habits and we enjoy them. Sadly, we carry this baggage into our religion and into our churches.

Churches are perfect cultures for this form of self-deceit and the devil knows it well.

So we have congregations of people up and down the land, coming and going to and from church, imagining they do well. Yes, and often imagining that they are the only ones right.

But they do not do well.

This, is Christianity's biggest problem. This, is what Christ preached against most. This, he warned us, will bring us down to hell.

If we are guilty of this, we are not worshipping God, but a system. Our own chosen little system of so-called worship. Is that what we hold dear - our particular little set of habits and peculiarities which define our little (or large) group? Because if it is, it is not the worship of God, but just another form of idolatry.

Dead outward religion.

Smoke in his nostrils.

While we are in this condition we are only capable of hypocrisy.

We must look beyond these things.

Christ said: 'And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, ENTER INTO THY CLOSET, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them...' (Matthew 6: 5-8). My capitalization.

Here, Christ makes it clear what is important. And it is not time spent in church.

Rather, what is important is drawing near to God in the secret place. Then, and only then, will we be prepared and therefore able, to discern the good from the bad, wisdom from folly and to 'take forth the precious from the vile.' (Jeremiah 15: 19).

GO STARK RAVING BONKERS, SAYS ALLAH

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17123464

The above link is the latest example of Muslims cracking up with rage. Their 'holy book', their 'god' tells them to go completely off their heads, to attack, kill, destroy.

My holy book, the Bible, tells me to be calm and trust in God.

Which?

MORE INSANITY

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-16773620

The link above is a BBC report about Tommy Sheridan being banned from public speaking.

What, Sorry, what country are we in again? Regardless of what anyone thinks of Tommy Sheridan's politics or opinions, this is insane - we are indeed ruled by those with the wisdom of children. Hitler did the same.

AND I WILL GIVE CHILDREN TO BE THEIR PRINCES, AND BABES SHALL RULE OVER THEM. (Isaiah 3: 4).

WOODY, THAT'S FAR TOO MUCH

I've always said that Argos pretend they're cheap, but they're not. To be fair, they are handy. That's what they've got going for them. Now, when quality is important I've always preferred to shop elsewhere, like IKEA. Now before anyone says anything, I would like to point out that when it comes to the more affordable end of the market IKEA stuff is DEFINITELY the best designed and the best value for money.

Anyway, today I wanted to buy bunk beds, so I checked IKEA's website to see how much they would charge to have it sent to the island. When I typed in my postcode for the website to calculate my delivery cost, it came up with: 'invalid postcode', which quite obviously means that they are not interested in sending stuff here. 'Och, well then', I thought, 'I'll chust away down to the new Argos and buy one there.'

I found a suitable bed and ordered it (without mattresses). It was a delivery only item so it had to come from the mainland. It's a good job the thing was half price because this is what it all came to: bed - £99; Argos delivery to Eastgate, Inverness - £8.50; WOODY'S DELIVERY FROM INVERNESS TO STORNOWAY - £40! Yes, £40. FORTY, F-O-R-T-Y. Even the girl in the shop said that she felt 'evil' charging me Woody's levy.

Remember, this is a flat-packed item we're talking about.

I checked with Heb Haulage and they quoted me a few pence over £26 for the same thing. DR Macleod haven't got back to me with their quote yet, though the girl did say she didn't think it would be much less because she knew how much Woody's charge.

OK, here it is:

WOODY, THAT'S FAR TOO MUCH.

ARGOS, THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS.

GREED MAKES US STUPID

I have just read a report

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16698555

which talks about house sales being down, as if it were somehow strange. It's not strange. People keep talking about 'the banks not lending'. That may well be so, but it is not the real reason the property market is stagnating. The real reason is because of greed. People are still too greedy to lower their property prices. It's a double edged sword: on the one hand you have prices set unrealistically high, so that sensible people don't want to borrow, and of course the banks don't want to lend that much money either. The prices need to come down. Hopefully in time this will become inevitable.

The above picture is of a couple of shops in Stornoway which I recently enquired about with a view to possible renting. I chose not to rent. Why? Because the rental was far too high. I estimated it was twice what it should be. 'How much?', I hear you ask. £1,000 per month. They are not large shops. They are empty. Of course they're empty. And they will remain empty unless someone with more money than sense comes along. Other premises of similar size in the town are rented for half this figure, and are of course, occupied.

These shops stand as a testimony to why the economy is stagnating. And it is easily summed up in two words: 1) Greed. 2) Stupidity. Put them together and you get a new word: 'greepidity'.

Some time ago I had to travel from Inverness to Edinburgh. The bus fare was about £10.00. I liked the idea of taking the train because it would be more comfortable, so I priced it. It was £42.00. A no-brainer - I took the bus.

Are you getting the picture?

The man's shops are standing empty because he's too greedy to lower his prices even though it means that he'll actually make some money instead of losing it. And for the same reason the trains are swooshing up and down the country with empty seats when they could so easily have paying customers filling them.

The business philosophy of Wal-Mart in America is simple: 'Stack it high, and sell it cheap.'

I wonder if this had anything to do with them becoming the most successful supermarket chain in the world?

Greed makes us stupid.

IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG IN THE CHURCH? AND IF SO, WHAT?

It's well known that the first and most difficult problem for an alcoholic to overcome is to admit that he has a problem. Until the time comes when he is able to acknowledge this he is in denial.

I believe the same problem prevails within the professing Christian church. Everywhere. I would say the cause of this phenomenon is the biggest and most fundamental problem of the human race. The prevailing madness of the human mind, which is to be in denial. Denial of the truth. Choosing to believe what we want to believe - what suits us. Saying, 'This is what I'll have, because this is what I like.' The one thing all the different denominations within the professing Christian church seem to have in common is that each one thinks that their way is the right way. Well that can't be, because they're all different. They all have different strengths and weaknesses. Apart from those of course, which God calls 'synagogues of Satan', I'll leave them out.

'FOR THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE FLESH DO MIND THE THINGS OF THE FLESH; BUT THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE SPIRIT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT.' (Romans 8: 5.)

We must understand that by nature every one of us will always prefer the things of the flesh over the things of the Spirit. Christians are plagued by this because although we are born again by the Spirit of God we are still in the flesh - at home in the body - held back by the carnal mind. The closer we walk in obedience to our creator's revealed will the more we 'mind the things of the spirit' the more spiritually minded we will be. On the other hand, the less obedient we are, the more carnally minded we show ourselves to be.

'FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH; BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE.' (Romans 8:6.)

The more spiritually minded we are, the less taken up we will be with outward displays of tradition and practice.

WHILE WE LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN: FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL; BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL. (2 Corinthians 4: 18.).

THE OUTWARD SHOW

The Pharisees, who hated Christ, loved the outward show. They loved their traditions. Their religion was completely made up of this - there was no spiritual life in it. Today also we have much of this carnal-mindedness in our churches. People have a tendency to look at their traditional, outward habits of so-called worship rather than the inner spiritual life. This, of course, is all we can do if we are not truly born again. But those that are born again are also susceptible to it. Some try to solve the problem by running to the other extreme of letting everything go and maintaining a kind of Christian anarchy, or licentiousness, which of course, contradicts the most basic principles of Christianity.

CORPSE-LIKE

When churches spend their time looking at their outward habits and traditions instead of spiritual necessities they trundle along in a corpse-like manner. Actually, worse than corpses, because corpses don't have sin. Corpses don't assume they do well whilst looking down their noses at others. Treating others with contempt, saying, '...COME NOT NEAR TO ME FOR I AM HOLIER THAN THOU.' (Isaiah 65: 5.) If we are guilty we will not admit it. We may in fact not even know it. It is not what people say we are to be aware of, but what they do.

Remember what God says, which is the final part of the above text:

'...THESE ARE A SMOKE IN MY NOSE, A FIRE THAT BURNETH ALL THE DAY.' (Isaiah 65: 5.)

The text shows us how displeased God is if we self-righteously despise others.

THE PHARISEE STOOD AND PRAYED THUS WITHIN HIMSELF, GOD, I THANK THEE, THAT I AM NOT AS OTHER MEN ARE, EXTORTIONERS, UNJUST, ADULTERERS, OR EVEN AS THIS PUBLICAN. I FAST TWICE IN THE WEEK, I GIVE TITHES OF ALL THAT I POSSESS. (Luke 18: 11-12.)

The above text is an example of what we must all beware of. This anti-Christian sentiment is a transcript of the heart of man. This is sin. This is what grieves the Holy Spirit away. Christians, let us constantly watch and search our hearts for this pride, and by God's grace alone mortify it. That is, kill it.

Here's a challenge.

LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH STRIFE OR VAINGLORY; BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. (Philippians 2: 3.)

Can you do it? It requires God's power.

At the risk of sounding self-righteous, I find it very depressing when I sit in a church where everything that matters seems to revolve around what is outwardly said and done and then - off home. This is even the case when everything preached is quite right and proper.

HOLY ETIQUETTE - LEGALISM

You know what I mean. When people take too seriously the exact order of service etc. How and when the elders enter at the start, where they sit, how many singings before or after sermon, whether the first prayer is long enough (they're always un-scripturally long) and the really silly one of imagining that it is somehow pleasing to God if we sit down for a wee minute after the benediction has been announced (there are even people who find fault because we're not sitting for long enough and will enthusiastically argue that if you don't sit down for a long enough while after the benediction that it is somehow irreverent, imagining that they are having a last wee meditation before leaving.) I mean, we're already standing - why sit and stand up again before leaving? The trouble is that people are so terrified of going against the flow they join in with these things just to keep the peace.

This kind of carry-on in my opinion is what drives all the life out of the church. God has no interest in it - so why do we? It's sheer legalism. Obviously it's best to have some kind of routine, but let's not get carried away with it. Let's not make a religion of the routine. This is a massive problem.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

The biggest problem in my view though, is not so much that we're getting things wrong, but as I said at the start, we're not aware that we're getting things wrong. Or worse - stubbornly refusing to consider that we might be getting things wrong. We're in denial. It's no use to say, 'Oh we should be praying more' and so on. This rot in the professing church is of long-standing and requires a root-and-branch remedy. Anyway, we shouldn't be praying 'more' we should be praying 'better'. As far as long prayers are concerned, isn't it about time we listened to what God has to say on the matter.

BE NOT RASH WITH THY MOUTH, AND LET NOT THINE HEART BE HASTY TO UTTER ANYTHING BEFORE GOD: FOR GOD IS IN HEAVEN, AND THOU UPON EARTH: THEREFORE LET THY WORDS BE FEW. (Ecclesiastes 5: 2.)

EGOS AND SALARIES

One area where things are plainly wrong is in the ordination of ministers. Candidates are chosen on man-made merits. Academic education being at the top of the list. The truth is, the ability to read and write acceptably is quite enough as far as that goes (John Bunyan being a case in point.) How did the church ever allow itself to get into this lamentable position of being hi-jacked by academics? The Church of Jesus Christ was never meant to be a vehicle for the inflation of egos or the provision of salaries.

TRIAL OF FAITH

The truth is, what the Church needs is some hardship, some real persecution, the Church has always been in its healthiest spiritual state under real persecution, which usually precedes and ushers in true revival. It's the only thing which really separates the wheat from the chaff.

What is that I hear?

'But we mustn't seek persecution.'

Well, we don't, but the apostles thanked the Lord that they 'WERE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER SHAME FOR HIS NAME.' (Acts 5: 41.) Good for us if we do the same.

INSANITY ON A GRAND SCALE.

Here are a couple of links.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16443556

This second link shows something of the kind of anti-Christian persecution which exists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eEuMZOZV4fM

The first link above is a very disturbing story about the kind of insanity which man-made religion causes. A Christian woman drinks from a well, she is then commanded to 'convert' to Islam because she has 'defiled' the well. Why? Is her conversion supposed to miraculously clean up the well? Someone then complains to the authorities about her having blasphemed the 'holy prophet' Mohammed. I wonder what she's supposed to have said? It would appear that simply refusing to convert is considered blasphemy. I mean, after all, if you refuse to convert to Islam, is that not a slight against Allah, and therefore blasphemous? I could be wrong, but I think that would fit in with the rest of mad-mullah doctrine rather well.

The question is, why do they choose to believe in something which is so plainly evil?

The scripture tells us this:

AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SHALL SEND THEM STRONG DELUSION THAT THEY BELIEVE A LIE. (2 Thessalonians 2:11.)

These words tell us that God's power is behind it. This is God's judgement - Christ's judgement. Whole nations have been sent this delusion - look at what they believe. What an awful thing to be left under such darkness. The next question is, why? I would answer by saying that God is teaching us by experience and example (which is the best way) of the destructive power of sin. The power which rules in every one of us. A question often asked is: 'If God is so good and so powerful, why is there so much suffering and death in the world? I would reply with the same answer - to teach us. Why did Christ come? He came to do and he came to teach. To teach us what? He came to teach us the truth. Why does the Bible exist? It exists to teach us. To teach us the truth.

This is all-important. It is all-important to bear in mind that everything happens to teach us. So that we will ultimately come to know the truth. Remember what the scripture says?

AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. (John 8: 32.)

Free from what? Free from sin. Are we any better than the cruel people shown on the clips? The answer is no. Because left to ourselves we have no idea of the wickedness we are all capable of.

We have no idea how evil sin is - not in the slightest. We may think that we have because it is easy to recognise it in certain acts, but it takes God's help to see it in its true colours. To see it in ourselves. Sin is what rules in every one of us, absolutely. The power of God alone, the power of Jesus Christ, can free us from this bondage of not knowing, not believing the truth.

We cannot do it of ourselves - we must ask.

ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU; SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.

The invisible power of the invisible God - ask for it - today - now.