Are You a Disciple of

Christ, or a Blind Religious Animal?

Article dJ

In this article the striking term "religious animal", is not meant to degrade true religion or any particular person, but rather is simply used to address blind religious people, who have thoughtless and cruel animal like characteristics. Considering that the below Scriptures bluntly address people with such characteristics as serpents, vipers, evil and brute beasts, lions, wolves, swine, and dogs, it likely is also proper for this article to address religious ones with such characteristics, as religious animals. Blind and angry religious animals gnashed upon Stephen with their teeth, and then stoned him (Acts 7:54). Following are several Scriptures that address people with animal like characteristics as various animals; dJ-1

(Psa 57:4) "My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword." dJ-2

(Titus 1: 12-13) "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;". dJ-3

(2 Pet 2:12) "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;" dJ-4

(Matt 10:16) "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." dJ-5

(Matt 23:33) "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?". dJ-6

(Matt 7:6) "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." dJ-7

Jesus in His three above statements, using the dreadful names serpents, vipers, wolves, swine, and dogs, largely was speaking about some who were very religious! Traits of animals are that they do not reason or study, but simply will barbarously defend themselves, follow their instincts, and do what ever they were trained to do. Following are given numerous animal like characteristics "religious animals" often are guilty of, and together with the characteristics disciples of Christ should rather possess. dJ-8

Religious animals, often will viciously defend their religion, yet too much because they simply feel to big and important to be found wrong. What they mostly care about is themselves, and their honor and position in their religious society. They thus in hypocrisy will make it appear they are caring about the truth and others, although what they really are watching out for is for themselves. They thus will largely believe whatever is popular among their peers, to thus be honored and accepted by them, although they would never admit it. Yet Jesus speaking about His disciples said, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26). Jesus' disciples are to care about following Jesus and His truths more than anything else. dJ-10

Religious animals, generally study the Bible to learn how the Scriptures can be explained to mean what they and their religion have always claimed them to mean, rather than carefully studying the Scriptures to learn what they could rather really mean. They thus in essence build from their religion down to the Bible, rather than freely and honestly building from the Bible upwards. Religious animals often will exaggerate the Scriptures and issues that seem to justify their religion and minimize and overlook the Scriptures and issues that disapprove it. In reality they largely convince themselves, and each other, of what ever they want to believe, regardless of what really may be truth. Yet the Bible concerning these things reads, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." and says "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." (2 Tim 2:15, Rev 22:15). Religious animals often do not really know their own hearts, because they have exaggerated the issues that justify and honor themselves, and have overlooked and minimized issues that would show them their errors. dJ-11

Religious animals, often abide by and teach the commandments of men, rather than understanding and teaching the truth that sets free and the perfect law of liberty, which Jesus and Apostle James spoke of. Neither do they understand the good intent and spirit of God's laws, but rather often advocate the letter of the law which kills rather than gives life. Yet they still often feel greatly superior and above those who don't abide by their ascetic traditions and rules. Yet the Bible speaking about such vain and exalted ones reads, "Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day." (Isa 65:5). Jesus also speaking of such ones said, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." (Mark 7:9). Jesus disregarded many vain religious traditions in His day, and thereby greatly aroused the anger of various religious animals. dJ-12

Religious animals, often don't think for themselves, but simply follow one another and thus really are puppets of their religion and leaders. Further they often console one another in their errors, and have many special religious meetings wherein that is done. They often presumptuously join the crowd or mob in furthering their religious beliefs, rather than personally and carefully searching things out. Yet Jesus said, "Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" And Solomon said, "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going". (Luke 6:39, Prov 14:15). dJ-13

Religious animals, often erroneously condemn those that are not within their religious circle or pen, and are judgmental and critical towards them. Yet Jesus said, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven", and Apostle Peter said, "...God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (Luke 6:37, Acts 10:34-35). dJ-14

Religious animals are mechanical rather than flexible and free. They might be so tied up with important religious meetings and obligations, that they don't have time to take care of the needy man along the road, while the man they consider non religious and evil, may be the kind and compassionate man who will stop and help the needy one (Luke 10:30-37). dJ-15

Jesus in His famous Sermon On The Mount and in the famous Beatitudes, pronounced the blessing upon those who mourn, the meek, those who are hungering and thirsting after truth and righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (Matt 5:3-10). Yet religious animals lack these qualities, and instead often feel superior and full, and therewith are significantly cruel and have closed minds. The shortest verse in the Bible is "Jesus wept". Yet it is full of love and meaning. The people seeing Jesus weep said, " Behold how he loved him!" (John 11:36). The disciples of Jesus also should weep because of needs about them, rather than being cruel like animals. Yet they also, like Jesus, should be grieved or angered by untruth and oppression. dJ-16

Religious animals rather than walking in the glorious liberty of the children of God, often are bound up in one of Satan's various religious pens, and might even have their heads bound in a erroneous and harsh religious yoke. It appears this sometimes makes them hard and cruel, and animal like. It is sad that religious animals often zealously defend the harsh yoke and pen which false religion placed upon them as being a religious necessity, and as something great they have done and borne with in their attempt to be qualified and righteous. Further, religious animals often get very furious when one tries to reveal to them that their supposed good works which they are trusting in, are as filthy rags as they are mere obedience to man's laws rather than God's. The full fury of religious animals often is only revealed when they are pressed into a corner by truths they cannot bear. Jesus often stirred up religious animals as this. dJ-17

The free disciple of Christ, often is persecuted by religious animals who are in bondage. Apostle Paul clearly spoke of the followers of Christ being free and free born, and then being persecuted by those born of the bondwoman and bound by false religion saying, " For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all... . ...But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Gal 4:26-5:1). dJ-18

It was religious animals, who in a false religious zeal, crucified Christ, stoned Stephen, and put to death many others. Throughout history it was mostly blind religious animals, rather than those without any religion, who killed and persecuted the childlike and free children of God. It appears religious animals often are less sympathetic than those with no religion at all. Yet those who are religiously non religious, or religiously atheistical also are often cruel as they are somewhat just another kind of religious animal. Two vital and needful attributes that religious animals generally lack, are having a open mind and compassionate heart. Jesus told some haughty Pharisees who had closed hearts and eyes, if they were blind they would not have sin, but since they claimed they could see, their sin remained (John 9:41). Too often religious animals are so self confident and puffed up, that they seem to think they can see with their eyes shut, and thus their sin and blindness remains with them. dJ-20

Blind religious animals have portrayed our good God, as one who withholds the very best things of life from mankind, and which He Himself created to be enjoyed. Further they have very wrongly portrayed our good and merciful God as an unspeakably cruel tormenter, and even as one who will cast many into a never ending fire in undying and pain sensitive bodies, and without giving them a chance to be saved. Religious animals, don't know they are as such, because they are sadly blind. It is very sad that religious animals often feel they have done and borne much for their God and religion, and thus at the final judgment will say "Lord, Lord have we not done this and that for your sake", but will hear the dreadful words, "Depart, I never knew you". While on the other hand the freeborn and free disciple of Jesus who was walking in the glorious liberty of the children of God and who had the divine nature of love abiding within, will have done good without hardly even knowing they have done it. Such ones at the final judgment, and after hearing the wondrous words, "well done, ...enter thou into the joys of thy Lord", will ask, "Lord, when have we done this and that?" Oh, what a difference! dJ-21

Are you a personal disciple of Jesus, walking in the glorious liberty of the children of God, or a blind religious animal and who will hear the dreadful words, "Depart, I never knew you?" Let's honestly examine ourselves. Apostle Paul was a blind religious animal, before God changed him. How many need that change today? In conclusion may we all rather than being religious animals, be religiously compassionate, be religiously honest and considerate, and be religiously aware of our good God and of our need to be born of and transformed by Him to be like Him. dJ-22

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