Contrast of The Way vs Religion

Here in the 21st century we have so badly slaughtered the definition of Christianity that I had to be creative with my title.  Christianity today has become religion, so I have opted for the original term used to define Christians: The Way.

God had a plan: set apart a people, descendents of one man, to be The witness to the world of whom He is.  They created a religion, forgot about Him, and became no better than the Gentiles whom surrounded them in the world.  So, God, using the symbolism of a grape vine, grafted in the Gentile peoples, on to His original vine, to let them grow - for an allotted period of time.  I imagine for them to become apostate as well.  Welcome to the 21st century "Christian" church.

The apostasy, which has corrupted the body of our faith is no different than the same apostasy which corrupted the Jew.  So, I have gone with the idea of Man's Religion, rather than saying Christianity or 21st Century, etc.  What was once true of the Jew is now true of today's "Christian".  Hope you enjoy the following table:

The Way	Man’s Religion
Qualified by Scripture: Fears God Truthful Not covetousness Understanding Wise Knowledgeable Leads through Holy Spirit	Qualified by man’s credentials. Approved of by: University Seminary Government Follows tradition to gain respect of man.
Qualified by Serving	Qualified by “good” teaching
Teaches Scripture	Teaches denomination or religious traditions
Agreement amongst leadership	Exercises veto power
All men participate in leadership	Meetings held for others to attend
Transparent to all	Dichotomy of public vs private life
Accessible to all	Community vetted for meetings
Responsible to God and congregation	Responsible to eldership hierarchy or no one
Disciples and motivates followers in Scripture	Wields power over others
Humility and meekness	Seeks approval of man
Seeks the kingdom of God	Seeks support ($$$) to finance vision
Makes disciples	Increases membership size Makes “friends” outside of ministry for support
Lifts up truth	Lifts up tradition
Offers freedom from sin	Offers solution to cope with sin
Identity is in God	Identity is in denomination or institution
All are created for God’s purpose	We are better than “them”
Glories in the Kingdom of God	Seeks large buildings and gatherings
Leads by God’s spirit	Majority rule in leadership
Waits on God	Exercises pragmatism

So, I think you can now see what it is I have been working through in my mind for quite sometime - man's insistence of doing things his way, always triumphs in the short term over God and His desires for us.  I have tried to make this as flexible as possible to show both the failure of the Jew as well as the Christian alike in the area of faith, because there actually is only one faith - belief in God, or by default in yourself.  No two ways about it.  And I think you can see how what I condemn as the Western Church or American Theology, etc is solidly in the right hand corner.  Sure, there are lots of reasons and excuses, but each one moves the would be believer further and further away from the God they set out to know.

What is an honest person to do?  Well, you are not going to run out and find a real Christian church to join, but you might start to really live your faith and through example perhaps impact your Church and its pastor to come back to God.  No, it will not be through nagging or political fighting within the Church, it will only be through your personal leadership and example to all of those around you that you will make a difference.

I dare say that should you believe you have a God-ly assembly you have found, Satan will be banging them for all they are worth.  He does not need an honest church or an honest believer to deal with, he needs the church neutralized and quieted so that his plans may proceed.

We are the victors.
We each possess what is required to overcome Satan.
We each are neutralized through pragmatism to not recognize our victory.

And the Christian Church, local and worldwide shows this.