Powerless Religion

Let me illustrate this further. Who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. [Mark 3.27]

Jesus is speaking here in context of having been accused of casting our demons by the power of Satan. Jesus refuted that accusation with common sense: "you can't tie up a strong man unless you are stronger than that strong man!"

Herein lies another bit of teaching if we will see it. Since Jesus said you have to be stronger than the strong man to overcome him, it is an indictment to us today if we are being tossed around by Satan's schemes and methods. It is an indictment to "believers" when they are unable to cast out evil spirits.

Of course we could devise doctrines and theology to justify our powerlessness, but we do so in opposition to everything Jesus taught. The problem lies in our refusal to "judge our own tree by its fruit." In Matthew's account of this same event, Jesus is on record of having said the following in the same conversation:

“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. [Matthew 12.33]

If we put together the scriptures referred to here, we may conclude, "if we cannot cast out the strong man, our "fruit" is that we are weak and in need of strength."

This seems to sum up the condition of the Church at large, and particularly so in the West.

What shall we do? We need to repent for looking without seeing and hearing without listening. We need change in the way we approach God's Word and change because we approach God's Word. Otherwise, all we have is meaningless, powerless religion.

If my fruit does not have the look, texture, and taste of Jesus Christ (as demonstrated in all the Gospels), then I should stop deceiving myself that my tree is good. I need to call my life what it is: meaningless and powerless when it is so obviously Christ-less.

From this revelation of Christ-less-ness, my only course of action is repentance followed by genuine submission. Jesus said it this way: "take up your cross and follow Me." Then, in that undivided submission, His life will manifest in all the works He is documented to have performed and, in even greater works.

Father, forgive me for being content in my powerlessness.