Are we Trading Splendor for Squalor?   One morning while praying the thought came to mind “Man enjoys his religious squalor”. It was something I had never read, nor did I remember thinking it before.   I had a good idea of what squalor meant but was curious about the ‘religious’ adjective used to describe squalor.   The following is what I found Webster had to say about these two words:   Religious: Function: adjective 1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity <a religious person> <religious attitudes> 2: of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances <joined a religious order> 3 a: scrupulously and conscientiously faithful b : FERVENT, ZEALOUS   Squalor Function: noun : the quality or state of being squalid   Squalid Function: adjective 1: marked by filthiness and degradation from neglect or poverty 2: SORDID synonym see DIRTY antonym splendor   Splendor Function: noun 1 a: great brightness or luster: BRILLIANCY b : MAGNIFICENCE, POMP 2: something splendid <the splendors of the past>   So…What is the problem?   The problem starts with the word ‘religious’, after all in some sense it should be considered a good thing. It can mean having a belief and devotion to God. It can be living a pious life etc.   However the word religious also has a negative side, which can be revealed with the Webster definition. Look at this closely:   1: relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity (a religious person) (religious attitudes) 2: of, relating to, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances (joined a religious order)   This description does not only fit a faith in the One True GOD, it can also mean faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality, or devoted to religious beliefs or observances. This definition can cover the kind of ‘faith’ people have in a cult figure. Modern day terrorists and radical clerics can gather this kind of following, which would accurately be described as a religious following.   It can also be applied to any and all false religions, and that would include different denominations which claim to be Christian.   The problem comes when men and women become religiously devoted to religious beliefs, observances etc., as defined by someone else!   This is the fundamental difference between having a belief in a certain religion, and having an actual relationship with the One True God.   From this point forward the word ‘religion’ is being applied with the negative connotation as described above. It is not the desired state of the true believer.   Clearly faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, is the only way this relationship can be established, and the relationship with the Holy Spirit is how this faith grows. Make no mistake it does not grow by accepting with your ‘mind’ the various religious beliefs held by any religious institution. That includes Christian institutions as well as the beliefs of false religions.   A conspicuous example of this type of religious belief in what someone else says, is the Roman Catholic Church. They have a cleverly crafted set of doctrines and dogmas which are designed to keep people from having a true relationship with the God they claim to represent. They have put the priest squarely in that role, I believe to the point where they consider the priest takes the place of Jesus in their services.   There is nothing new in this system however, since the days of Moses men have preferred to have someone between them and God. Do you remember at Mount Sinai, when the people told Moses, ‘you go see God and see what he says, lest we die’? Later on, the same people decided they wanted a king from among men, so they could be like other nations. Again, attempting to place a man between them and God.   Difference between Religious and Relational   The religious institution, which I believe is a purely diabolical invention, is designed to put a barrier between man and God.  Why?  I said it was ‘diabolical’, meaning it is of the devil. That includes almost ALL Christian institutions in one form or another. Some may have the appearance of promoting a direct relationship with God, but you will usually find the pastor and other ‘leaders’ will insinuate themselves between the laity and God. Unfortunately that just seems to be how the majority of people are when it comes to the things of God. They would sooner ‘ask pastor’ than ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Truth to them.   Two scriptures which support the notion there is the deliberate attempt to deceive, and that people seem to love to have it so:   Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Jer. 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?   Let’s assume that the only real purpose man has during his lifetime is to come to the knowledge of God. I personally believe that nothing else will matter if this truth is neglected.   The ‘religious’ approach is to ask their clergy what they know of the things of God. They will read commentaries written by other people and will even discuss among their friends and family how to best serve God. In the end their knowledge of God is all crafted on hearsay and the opinion of others, rather than personal experience.   If you wanted to know your spouse, would you ask everyone who claims to know them, what they thought, and base your knowledge of your spouse on that? Or would you spend time with them, listen to them and really get to know them?   This example demonstrates the difference between the ‘religious’ approach and the relational approach. One brings death and one brings Life. Sadly, the ‘religious’ person can live their whole lifetime thinking they know all they need to know about God, based on what someone else has told them.   Consider:   Mat. 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat. 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.   Here is an example of ‘religious’ people who spent their lives prophesying in the LORDS Name, casting out devils and doing many wonderful works. Yet, the LORD says to them, that He never knew them. You could also say that they never knew Him. You will note He does not say they were doing any of these things falsely, He did say that He never knew them.   Coming from a ‘religious’ perspective a person will always be running around trying to figure out how to serve God, whereas the relational person will spend all their efforts trying to KNOW God. Mary and Martha are a great example of this difference. There is the world of difference; in fact it could be the difference between Life and death.   A Religious Spirit   Like all things in this life, we are directly affected by the unseen realm of the spirit. This is the realm where satan and his hordes operate. Stealth is their greatest weapon and convincing us they do not exist is a great strategy. If stealth does not work, then they will attack with intimidation, oppression, depression and possession if they can.   One of the ‘crack’ regiments in satans crew are the ‘religious’ spirits! They just love going to seminary, bible college, to church, they love reading the Bible and they love telling you what the Bible means. They are particularly fond of getting ordained and being recognized as Christian authorities. Unless you are born again by the Spirit of God and your mind (soul) is renewed you will have no idea that your very thoughts are being influenced by the devil himself via religious spirits.   One of their favorite tricks is to honor and praise the things which God HAS done, while at the same time resisting everything He IS doing now!   They will twist and distort the Truth of scripture to the point it brings no Life to the person under their influence.   A Modern Example   Many denominations will teach that the gifts of the Spirit and supernatural signs and wonders, including healing and deliverance; have all passed away after the early church was established. They will oppose anything which is supernatural and even claim that these signs are of the devil and not of God.   They will keep you from ever receiving the gift of tongues, which is one of the best gifts for building yourself up in the inner man. The devil knows this and that is why he causes such a fuss keeping it out of the hands of believers.   Healing is another area where the devil, through lying spirits convinces ‘religious’ people that healing is just not for them, or is not really for anybody these days. Go to the doctor if you are sick, instead of calling for the elders they will tell you.   Deliverance of course is the one ministry that the devil hates, because it puts a spear right through the heart of his ministry. If he can keep you believing that you can’t have a devil because you are not foaming at the mouth or writhing on the floor, then you will never try to get free from the devils that have attached to you throughout your lifetime. Make no mistake we ALL have them, and we ALL need to be free of them,   The Anointing is the biggest single, crushing weapon which demolishes the devil and sets God’s people free. The devil can not stand it, he absolutely hates and fears it, for he and his crew can not simply sit quietly by under the Presence of the Anointing. Under the Anointing they are exposed and simply have to act up in an attempt to disrupt things, or they must leave, it is that simple.   This is where these religious spirits kick into overdrive, as they realize that if they don’t disrupt the Anointing, they are in fact doomed. All past revivals have been marked by the continued Presence of the Anointing of God and it is never business as usual in the Church. The devils know this and do everything they can to derail the Anointing. They can’t do it themselves, but they can do it by influencing their ‘religious’ hosts to oppose the Anointing.   It is actually a fairly easy matter for the devils to oppose the Anointing as most of the clergy and church leadership are not led of the Holy Spirit and in fact are inhabited and led by religious devils themselves. Would satan cast out satan? Of course he would not. You will have a hard time convincing some man or women who has been ordained by a religious institution that they might actually be under the control of a religious devil.   So satan simply points to the ‘unusual’ manifestations, which always occur under a genuine visitation of God, as obviously not being of God, and in fact suggests they must be of the devil. The ‘leaders’ put their heads together (under the influence of religious devils) and they come to the discerned opinion that the current activities are not of God, and must stop. And they do, because God still does not override our wills in these matters, and if we chose to bow the knee and surrender our wills to religious devils, He will withdraw and we are left in our Religious Squalor.   So, there you pretty much have it, by relying on our ‘religious’ institutions and their ‘religious’ leaders we are condemning ourselves to a life of Religious Squalor which is completely opposite the Splendor the LORD would have for His Bride, the Church.   The Solution?   Coming into a relationship with the LORD is the only way to avoid the religious squalor that characterizes ALL religious institutions. Only when you are personally led by Him by the Holy Spirit can you see the lie that ‘religion’ is the answer.   We are all bound by satan before we came to the saving knowledge of the LORD Jesus the Christ. However, there is even a more cruel bondage for believers who fall into the hands of the ‘religious’ spirits who are at the heart of all religious institutions.   The choice is yours Squalor or Splendor, Life or death………your choice.   May we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying.   Jim Taylor aka-A Simple Layman