DEAD WORKS in the Church:

There are a lot of things Church people do that make them feel good, superior, more worthy, better about themselves. That is a scheme of the devil. We fall prey to him when we believe that our much noise, effort and activity is building the Kingdom of God. Of course when we do this, we feel like we actually DID something. That we have somehow earned a medal or made a bargain with God for our much sacrifice.

That's what Religion teaches. That's what has caused a decline in the church's power. Works... most of the time are dead. Good works are seldom what you think.

Here is a list I am sure you can add to that while on the surface are "Good" and are "Works" they may not be GOOD WORKS. The kinds ordained for you before the foundation of the earth.

Intercession: painful prayer, prayer meetings, public prayer outcry. To be clear, I am for these things, but the capacity for them to drift into prideful works is a very narrow line. It becomes a way one christian judges another. You have heard it, "they are a prophet, but are they an intercessor". How would anyone know?

Mercy Works: Feeding the poor, clothing the naked, housing the homeless. It's an easy bandwagon to get on. It's not that it's unimportant, it's more that the real benefactor of this mercy is usually the agent, not the target. IF you would give to the poor, find a truly poor person, one worthy and quietly and anonymously give to them. Organized mercy seldom is merciful. When you do, you will have earned the right to be Jesus to them, and fulfill the great commission, discipleship.

Overseas unseen long distance compassion: You see the ads all the time. Sponsor a child in boggla boggla. OR, send them a box of toys for Christmas. OR a natural disaster takes place, send money... I am not against responding to natural disasters, and money is the best way to do it. I have loaded containers and know how that worked out. Doesn't. YET, not every appeal is worthy. Some are pure manipulation. There are people who lack the discernment to spot when your heart strings are being played to open your pocketbook. The worst are the animal ads. Some abused puppy or kitty.. just send money. These guilt drivers try to play on your personal goodness to make you feel like you did something. It would be more important for you to really do something. IF you are so driven, find a person you know for sure and support them. Not a huge company, organization or professional charity. Do the research, most of them are hopelessly inefficient in being your hand of extension.

Extraordinary Acts of External Holiness: This one is really tough. Jesus paid it all. Yet, we think we have to somehow do something to get our sins forgiven. We have all seen pictures (and I have seen it in person) of people crawling up some cathedral steps on bloody knees in penance atoning for their sins. At Easter several people have themselves nailed to a cross. The Muslims flailing themselves till bloody. But good North American Christians do it too. I'm going to offend some people but Communion for the Remission of Sins is an insult to the finished work of Christ. So is infant baptism. So is Holy Water. So is the Rosary. And so many of the things we do are dead works. The behavior things we do, abstaining from all kinds of things in the hope that God will love us more is dead works. I am not for SIN... I am also not for artificial holiness, not eating or drinking certain things, cutting hair, beards or not, long dresses and a hundred other cultural things that make no difference in holiness. Holiness is being set apart... not what you do or don't do.

Works of False Humility: You get this when you hear the words, "I'm just an old Sinner Saved By Grace". Hung down head. Can't look you in the eye. Sackcloth and ashes. Proud of how humble I am. Never mind that you are a king and a priest. Never mind that you are the righteousness of God. We trample the blood of Jesus underfoot because of our traditions.. which includes being a doormat. We were destined to be more than conquerors in Christ Jesus but we come off as wimps and think it's holy to be humble. We must decide what report we will believe... religion to keep you in your place or the word of God.

Human Theocracy: Probably the most egregious form of works is that which places some people "above" others in an artificial hierarchy of religion. Bishops, Deacons, Pastors, Teachers, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Popes, Cardinals, Arch anything. These are titles to cause people to kowtow to these people with the idea that somehow their obsequious actions will make them a friend of God. None of this is true of course, but we think it is. It's dead works. Titles are ways to identify gifts...not positions to be sought after or honored artificially.

It's time to stop the dead work parade... Jesus did PAY IT ALL... all to HIM WE OWE.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

That's all you need to know.