6.20-6.20-pure religion

 6,20-

This pure religion is not wired through anyone to us.  It comes to us after observing nature or being taught by someone or through a chaos and crisis of some sort.  It is not dependent upon humans.  Humans at best have struggles staying aligned with God's love.

It doesn't matter what institution is doing the teaching it is true that it will be limited by human weakness.

Galations 5.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 

One of the issues with these intermediary agencies is that most of them depend upon money.  God is not limited to needing money to accomplish His work.

There are people that have a great deal of money, but it doesn't actually give them the wisdom to even enjoy the money without its destructive power.

Ecc. 6.

6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread [a]among mankind: 2 a person to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to [b]enjoy these things, but a foreigner [c]enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction. 

Proverbs 16.

16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When [e]he has no sense?

The thief of life uses religious leaders who don't know Jesus to lead their institutions in ways that are off track from Jesus.  Some leaders have good days where they are aligned with Jesus and with our Father, but it is critical that we understand He intends to be our personal shepherds.  He knows us.  We know His voice.

Jesus gives us an abundant life.  He directs our lives and things can change for the better.  He reminds us that doors can close but they can also open.  When we extend mercy and compassion to people good things can happen.

Acts 14.

17 yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, [o]satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And even by saying these things, only with difficulty did they restrain the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

Acts 17.

22 So Paul stood in the midst of the [t]Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. 23 For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and [u]exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. 30 So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 31 because He has set a day on which He will judge [v]the world in righteousness [w]through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people [x]by raising Him from the dead.”