Warning Against Hypocrisy
"Beware of all pride and vainglory. Keep yourselves from the wisdom of this world and the prudence of the flesh. For the spirit of the flesh is desirous and very eager for words but does little to carry them out. And it does not seek the interior spirit of religion and holiness but desires of religion and holiness only what is outwardly apparent to people. It is these that the Lord says, 'In truth I tell you, they have had their reward' (Mt 6:2). But the Spirit of the Lord wants the flesh to be mortified and despised, worthless and rejected. And it struggles for humility and patience, and the pure and simple and true peace of the spiritual person. And above all else it is always yearning for the divine fear and wisdom and love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." --St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Chapter XVII
This is the problem with "religion"--it puffs up the flesh. It is a relationship that God desires with us--not a set of rules that we can take pride in keeping. The body of Christ--the church--is merely a collection of people united in their relationship with God. We are meant to encourage and help one another as we serve God and grow in His love.
"Beware of all pride and vainglory. Keep yourselves from the wisdom of this world and the prudence of the flesh. For the spirit of the flesh is desirous and very eager for words but does little to carry them out. And it does not seek the interior spirit of religion and holiness but desires of religion and holiness only what is outwardly apparent to people. It is these that the Lord says, 'In truth I tell you, they have had their reward' (Mt 6:2). But the Spirit of the Lord wants the flesh to be mortified and despised, worthless and rejected. And it struggles for humility and patience, and the pure and simple and true peace of the spiritual person. And above all else it is always yearning for the divine fear and wisdom and love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." --St. Francis, Rule of 1221, Chapter XVII
This is the problem with "religion"--it puffs up the flesh. It is a relationship that God desires with us--not a set of rules that we can take pride in keeping. The body of Christ--the church--is merely a collection of people united in their relationship with God. We are meant to encourage and help one another as we serve God and grow in His love.
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