Jesus did not come for the healthy, but for the sick. However, many today are still stuck in the mindset that God is after our religiosity instead of our hearts.
In a recent sermon, Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church drew a sharp distinction between authentic faith in Christ and the bondage of man-made religion. Preaching from Mark 2, Locke challenged the traditions that often replace true relationship with Jesus, declaring, “Religion and Jesus are not Siamese twins. They are not compatible in the Bible. Never have been, never will be.”
Locke spoke passionately about this danger of religious legalism. “The most difficult people you will ever deal with are not demons,” Locke said. “But religious people—and they act just about the same.” According to Locke, it was not sinners but religious leaders who continually opposed Jesus during His earthly ministry. “The same people that killed Jesus by way of religion still hate Jesus to this day,” he emphasized.
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Locke unpacked a powerful moment from Scripture when Jesus was questioned about why His disciples didn’t fast like the Pharisees or the followers of John the Baptist. Locke highlighted the religious mindset behind the question: “One of the great things religion will do is try to make you feel convicted because you don’t worship like everybody else.” He warned against the pressure to conform to religious norms, urging believers instead to follow Jesus authentically. “The point of Christianity is not to be like other churches. It’s to be like Jesus, ’cause He’s the head of the church.”
Locke drew attention to Jesus’ response in verse 19, where He likens His presence to a bridegroom at a wedding. This was not the time for Jesus’ disciples to be fasting because he was there. Instead, it was time to get to work. Locke went on to say that Jesus’ words reveal a sense of urgency—a call to action while the presence of God is near. “I expect God to show up when we walk in. If we don’t expect it, we’ll never see it,” he declared, calling on the church to stop living with a defeated mindset.
Jesus wasn’t just confronting tradition, Locke said—He was shattering it. “Jesus was wildly a renegade in His day,” Locke proclaimed. “He walked right into synagogues on the Sabbath to pick a fight with religious people.” That boldness, Locke suggested, is still needed today to combat a system that prioritizes control and appearances over the transformative power of the gospel.
Ultimately, Locke warned that many people hear the truth but don’t receive it because of their perception. “How you perceive someone is how you receive someone,” he said. “There will be people that hear me but they cannot receive from me.” Like Jesus, Locke said, true preachers will always face resistance from the religious spirit—but that shouldn’t stop them from preaching the uncompromising truth of the gospel.
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In this urgent hour, the church cannot afford to be silent or subdued. The battle is not merely against darkness in the world but against the lifeless traditions that have dulled the edge of true faith. A form of godliness without power will never drive out demons or transform lives.
The world is watching—and the church must decide whether to maintain appearances or unleash the fire of God.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
