Gal 3:1-5

1          O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2          This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3          Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

4          Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

5          He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

In one of the Godfather Movies, the Godfather said, “Just when I thought that I was out,  they pull me back in!!!!!”

Michael Corleone, the Godfather was always trying to go legitimate.  He was always trying to get free of the gangster life.  He was always trying to become a real business man.  No matter how hard he tried though, the streets kept calling him back to La Cosa Nostra.

Be careful.  The spirit of religion is very similar to the Mafia.  The second that you think that you are serving the Lord for pure reasons, religion sneaks into the equation.  The minute your highest value is what people think, religious organizations, public image or reputation, you have been “hit” by the “Religious Mafia”.

As Paul said in Ephesians, “Walk circumspectly”.  Stay straight.  Walk legitimately.  Stay clear of the “Church Mafia”.  We walk circumspectly by ALWAYS remembering that it is about our personal relationship with Jesus the Christ.