S U N D A Y   S N I P P E T S (tm) # 8 1                 10 November '96

                Man's Religion - And God's

The Bible text for today's Snippet is Isaiah 66:1-2.

        Thus says the LORD:

        "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool;
        Where is the house that you will build Me?
        And where is the place of My rest?
        For all those things My hand has made,
        And all those things exist,"
        Says the LORD.

        "But on this person will I look:
        On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
        And who trembles at My word."


These verses sums up the heart of Biblical Religion in contrast to 
other religious thought.  The person who is outwardly religious but inwardly
Godless views his particular religion as a good moral influence, a culture
that serves him by contributing to his identity.  He reduces his religion
to his opinion and his background - and out of "courtesy" declares that
other religions (to him, merely other cultures) are just as good as his 
in their own way.  His motivation for this "courtesy" - the fear of man, as
described in John 12:43 - "They loved the praise of men more than the 
praise of God."  He dares not believe anything that might offend another 
person, but has no concern about offending Him whom he should honour
the most.
        
"Where is the house that you will build me?"  This is God's declaration
that NO man-made temple - or religion - is suitable for the Almighty to
dwell in.  Only God himself is worthy of appointing a place and manner of
approaching Him in worship, notwithstanding the ceaseless efforts of
humans to try.  Man seeks to usurp God of His sovereignty to do the 
appointing. 

"But on this person will I look:  On him who is poor and of a contrite 
spirit, and who trembles at My word."  This is the person who has a right
relationship with his Creator,  the true and living Lord.  The concept
"I have my religion, and others have theirs" never enters his mind - he 
trembles at the Authority and Power of the King of the Universe, and in
humility he believes that King's Word - given graciously to man through
the Scriptures of the Apostles and Prophets.  This person knows that 
the mercy of God abides on he who depends upon God in an attitude of 
repentence, who is not self-reliant.
                                                - MKS.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Sunday Snippets" is the trademark of G. MacKenzie Strickland.  May be 
freely redistributed  - Please forward to a friend.  Sunday Snippets are
posted weekly on Newsgroups like Soc.Religion.Christian.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q1.  What is the chief end of man?  
A.   Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
                                       (- from a 1643 Presbyterian catechism)





---------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/sunday.snippets: snip96-081.txt
.