Something Better then Religion Part 1

Religion has been the bane of Christianity for religion has been from man's point of view. What man says and what he does about God. Religions in general are man made, they put people in bondage. When Jesus Christ came to the earth He said it was truth that would set man free, not religion. So often religion is mixed with the truth so that those looking to be set free by truth cannot be, nor tell which is right.

There is an excellent record of this in J0hn chapter 8 that clearly shows Religion vs. Truth and how one sets people free and one puts them in bondage.

John 8:3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

The Pharisees has all the markings and making of religion. Instead of letting the scriptures bring about a change of heart, which is repentance. They lauded their knowledge to put people in bondage and to control them Jesus Christ did just the opposite, setting people free.

They caught this woman in adultery and were only concerned with the letter of the law. They looked for ways to accuse people, Jesus and now this woman. So they come to Jesus says the Law (the law God gave to Moses) says stone here but what do you say?

They did not care what Jesus thought they only wanted to capture him in his words and deeds always looking for how he was breaking tradition of the elders or some other man-made law. These religious leaders were not looking to help this woman or her need. Thy only searched for fault.
Lets see how Jesus responds.

John 8:7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”

Jesus was without sin, if any man had the right to stone her he did! But what did he do? He did not condemn her. He forgave her and by doing so he freed her, he restored her dignity, her self esteem. Yes he told her to go and sin no more and the record does not tell us what she did in the future. Jesus is a true man's man one who walked in truth and one who set people free by it .

He came to set you free to from any bondage or anything that keeps you from being and living the best in life. See part 2 for the closing on subject.