04/16/2021 – Day 334 – Ecclesiastes 11 – 12// Can someone explain when, how and why “religion” became such a nasty word within the church?
Good morning! I would like to focus in on Solomon’s conclusion to this book, but I would ask that you reread just that section, even if you just have read it: Ecclesiastes 12: Verses 9 through 14. Then I will share Matthew Henry’s commentary on just the final two verses. Finally, I will briefly address my question in the title and encourage y’all to share your thoughts, prayers and reflections as well.
I give you Matthew Henry with a note to encourage you to look up the two bible verse connections that he references here right away to shed even more light:
“The great enquiry which Solomon prosecutes in this book is, What is that good which the sons of men should do? Chapter II, verse 3. What is the true way to true happiness, the certain means to attain our great end? He had found it, by the help of that discovery which God anciently made to man (Job 28:28), that serious godliness is the only way to true happiness: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.
I. The summary of religion. . Setting aside all matters of doubtful disputation, to be religious is to fear God and keep his commandments. 1. The root of religion is the fear of God reigning in the heart, a reverence for his majesty, a deference to his authority, and a dread of his wrath. 2. The rule of religion is the law of God revealed in the scriptures. Our fear towards God must be taught by his commandments (Isaiah 29:13), and those we must keep and carefully observe.
II. The vast importance of it: This is the whole man; it is all his business and all his blessedness; our whole duty is summed up in this and our whole comfort is bound up in this.
III. A powerful inducement to this, verse 14. We shall see of what vast consequence it is to us that we be religious if we consider the account we must every one of us shortly give of himself to God. God shall bring every work into judgment. The great thing is be then judged concerning every work is whether it be good or evil. It highly concerns us now to be very strict in our walking with God, that we may give up our account with joy.“
How many times have you heard in the church?: “We’re not here to give you “religion” , but the “gospel”! Indeed , we are only saved through grace, no one gets through the gate on good deeds. But, we are not only saved from something (sin) but to something (good works to glorify God!). It seems we have all concluded that we would rather skip that last part, opting only for the reward to “me”. (thereby Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book: “Cheap grace.”) Hey, “I’m saved!”, so what else matters anyway? Let me share with you the date and time, the exact instance that I was saved!
Let’s be honest with ourselves. Look at that highlighted section above on the root of “religion”. We’re not very interested in that, not really. Example: When was the last time you heard a sermon on “fear of the Lord”? Now , a look up assignment: How many times in the Bible is “fear of the Lord” mentioned? Wouldn’t a relative high number of times somehow be reasonably be expected to correlate to importance with God himself?
Next two: How about reverence for his majesty and deference to his authority? Do we in fact question God’s sovereignty? Example: How could God condone killing in the Old Testament? How could God send “fornicators” to hell and still be a God of love? Are we not as C.S. Lewis noted: “Putting God in the dock”? (English term: On the witness stand). And of course “dread of His wrath” is inextribably tied in here as well. If we are all about “me” and a universalist “everyone is basically going to heaven” delusion , what is to dread?
Keep his commandments? I think I recall Voddie Baucham noting in a video presentation that only 5% of self professed christians can accurately recite all ten commandments. It is difficult to keep them if you don’t even know them to start with. So, if we are looking to start the discipline of bible memory verses, perhaps we can all start with Exodus 20: verses 1 through 17. It begins with: “And God spoke all these words, saying:’
No, I think I understand now why “religion” has become such a “nasty” word. In contrast, do you remember the old hymn: “Give me that old time religion!” I haven’t heard that one sung in many years. (note to self – sing it acapella daily )
Soli Deo Gloria! Always connected by His grace!
Love,
Your brother in Christ,
Jimmy