RELIGIOUS BUT UNGODLY ~ Precious Victor Akah

It is a sad thing for one to live his or her life religiously thinking they're acceptable to God and are on their way to heaven, when in fact God does not recognize them as members of His family. In many countries, it is very common to find religious Christians. But it's unfortunate that a great percentage (if not all) of these religious Christians are ungodly, hence, are not in right standing with God.

They publicly engage in Christian related activities but vehemently refuse to live the true Christian life. It is one of the shocking things I discovered in my country upon my arrival. The Scripture writes about them in 2 Timothy 3:5: "They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (NLT). "....holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them." (AMP)

The Bible says that these set of "Christians" should be avoided by real believers. Because although they act religious publicly, their conduct, behavior, character, attitude and speech nullifies their claim of being believers in Christ Jesus. You can be extremely religious and not know God really. You can be very religious and not be godly. Being religious is frequently engaging in religious activities such as praying, fasting, reading the Bible, sharing Bible passages on social media, going to church regularly, even preaching the Gospel. This however is different from being godly which has to do with your lifestyle: the life you live, the way you behave, act, reason, think, speak, conduct yourself, treat people, treat God's Word, treat God Himself. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and people of other faiths are religious, but they are not godly. 

A godly Christian is a Christian whose lifestyle brings glory to God, a Christian who lives just to please God by living in accordance with the teachings of the Bible and in obedience to the commands and instructions of God given in the Bible and given by the Holy Spirit indwelling every child of God. Are you a religious Christian or a godly Christian? Ponder on it.

I observed something very disturbing about many professing Christians in one African country. Christians in this country are very religious to the core: they wake up in the morning to pray, they don't miss church services, they listen to sermons and play Christian songs, but it is unfortunate that in spite of these religious activities they have filled their daily lives with, they do not know the true God neither do they have a real personal relationship with Him.

Why do I say so? These set of "Christians" go to church regularly, pray and fast, yet, you can't look at the lives they live from Monday to Saturday and call them Christians, i.e, children of God - believers in Christ Jesus. They consider normal and acceptable the very things God considers abnormal and unacceptable. They call RIGHT what God calls WRONG. They tag GOOD what God tags EVIL. Wickedness, worldliness, carnality, greed, envy, bribery, corruption, love of money, sexual abuse, fornication, adultery, cohabitation between two unmarried persons, polygamy, womanizing, night clubbing, divorce and separation, alcohol consumption, smoking, prostitution, ... are things they have normalized against the teaching of the Scripture.

This type of "Christians" love the title of 'Christian' but hate to live the Christian life. When I saw this, it distressed me that some people can boldly call themselves Christians when they're not living the true Christian life. They love the "fun" in Christianity, but abhor the sacrifice involved in living the Christian life. They have no issue lying to their neighbor, defrauding people, cheating their customers, having sexual affair with married men and women, patronizing prostitutes, drinking, smoking and night partying.

If you're reading this and you're still in the category of these "Christians", I beseech you by the mercies of God to come out from among them and separate yourself unto God in righteous and holy living. I want you to know that these set of "Christians" are not on their way to heaven. Why? Religion does not grant nor guarantee you access into the Kingdom of God, but a healthy personal relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ in the power of His Spirit - Holy Spirit.

Decide today to serve God in spirit and in truth. This begins with you confessing Jesus as your Lord and Savior, admitting your sinful lifestyle, asking God for forgiveness of your sins, repenting of your sinful life, forsaking a life of unrighteousness and embracing and living a holy life in obedience to the teachings and instructions of the Holy Bible.

God doesn't care if you go to church every day, or if you pray morning and night, or if you read the Bible daily - if you do these things as ritual to fulfil all righteousness  without seeking to have a personal relationship and fellowship with Him. I went to church regularly, fasted, prayed morning and night, read the Bible daily as a sinner, but it never made me acceptable to God as I was still living in sin despite all the religious activities I engaged in because I had not received the righteousness of God in Christ. A Christian is someone who lives the life of Christ, arising from the personal encounter they've had with God and spiritual birth and transformation they received from the Holy Spirit plus the daily intake of God's Word into their spirit man.

Living the Christian life is more important than bearing the title of a Christian.

The Christian name you bear is not what makes you acceptable to God but the Name of His Son, Jesus, you have genuinely confessed as your Savior (from your heart) and submitted to as your Lord.

Living the life of a Christian is more important than bearing a Christian name, singing in church, reading the Bible ritually, praying and fasting. Live the Christian life. It is a life of total sanctification and consecration to God.

God bless you.