One of the attractive features of religion is that it allows, even encourages, people to display their righteousness publicly. Either Jews and Christians who who claim to know their Bible have missed or ignored what God has said about keeping faith private, or they are unwilling to sacrifice the pride that religious activity generates for them. Either way, the things they do are evidence of fake faith because religion which can be seen is not the same thing as faith which cannot be seen.

STUDY TIPS: See these links for current examples of well-known sports personalities who use their celebrity status to tell the world about their exalted relationships with God:

• • • Facebook post by Carson Wentz December 11, 2017
    • Washington Post article about Nick Foles February 10, 2018
    • Christian Daily Post February 13, 2018: American figure skating couple credits Christian faith for victory over deadly health scare.
    • TEBOW’S BROAD PHYLACTERIES: Fake Faith post May 24, 2012

These public figures, along with all other Christians and Jews, violate scriptures about attracting attention to themselves through religious activity. Like the ancient Babylonians, they have found ways to make names for themselves through public religious activity, And, unlike Jesus, they think it is permissible and desirable to exploit every opportunity to build a reputation through public exposure.

STUDY TIP: See Public Religion for Jesus’ teachings and habits.

The practice of using religion for personal advancement is not limited to sport personalities. The world is full of famous people who advertise their religious beliefs. Their public religious behaviors appear righteous, but they are really only examples of commercial religion and religious Pride, Arrogance and Boasting.

Although religions of all kinds approve and encourage public displays of righteousness, God does not approve. To God, all public religious behavior is hypocrisy and pride that is enhanced by commercial rewards for religious leaders. Religious exhibitionists and the people who reward them with verbal praise and/or who purchase their products should be ashamed to learn that God considers their religious speech and behaviors to be Pharisaical hypocrisy.

Religious exhibitionists in all religions would do well to take scripture to heart if they want any credibility with God. Unless they do, they show that they are more concerned about receiving praise, glory and money from men than they are about receiving praise from God. They also show that their religious behaviors are motivated and directed by religious laws and traditions created by men according to the terms of Old/First Covenant  religion — not by God’s spiritual laws written on their hearts according to the terms of the New Covenant.

Continue reading;