Religion is dangerous

Questions: Before his conversion, why was Saul so adamant about persecuting people of The Way?  After Jesus transformed Saul to Paul, why were the Jews so adamant about killing Paul?  

Acts 21:27 ... some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, "Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place." 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)  ... 31 ... they were trying to kill him ...

 

Acts 23:12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here."

Acts 25:3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

Question:  What would cause people for whom one of their top ten most important laws reads, "Do not murder", to not once, but twice, conspire an ambush to kill someone (deception, collusion, premeditated murder)?

Answer: Religion.

The Jews had developed many additional rules and regulations for themselves beyond what God had originally given them, but more significantly, they lost sight of the main point of relationship with God.  They developed a religion through which they could reinforce self-righteousness.

I think it is tempting as humans to rationalize our behavior, and even people who profess to be "Christians" develop doctrine to justify their perspectives.

At lunch this past Sunday, I told some friends that Brandi and I want our kids to grow up with genuine relationship with God, not religion.  We want our kids to know the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.  We want our kids to live in constant fellowship with the Holy Trinity, dynamic conversation, and bold obedience.  Brandi and I want to live that for ourselves so that our home is an incubator and accelerator for their spiritual growth.

Father, thank you for your grace and mercy through Jesus, that we can abide with you as sons and daughters of God.  Jesus, thank you for your example and promise of abundant life.  Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence and power.  May we live in constant fellowship, conversation, and obedience with you today.  I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus.