Meditations on Religion
Over the years, "religion" in Christianity had become a byword. "Christianity is a relationship with God, not a religion." Or so they say.
The standard argument was "religion = legalism + self-righteousness, therefore religion is not compatible with salvation by faith in Jesus".
Well that's a rather compartmentalised way of interpreting Scripture. How so?
For starters, how is religion defined? Man reaching God? A set of rituals associated with belief in a higher being or existence? A set of beliefs that stems from the worship of a certain being? A way of life?
Personally I found none of the definition to be satisfactory. Where there is a human being who could not fully perceive a higher being, there will be religion to bridge the incomprehensible divide.
I started out in the camp that plainly accepts that "religion kills, but relationship brings life". But after much musing, I found it amusing.
Suppose there was a lady who dutifully (or some say, religiously) plants a flower because she believed that it will put a smile on Jesus's face. And she did that every year. Religiously.
Now, what would Jesus do? I do not know for certain His response, but I highly doubt that He would smite her for her religious act of gardening.
Herein lies my point: it is hard to divorce acts from faith. Religion isn't criminal. Otherwise James 1:26-27 would not distinguish between hollow religiosity and true religion:
"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
And although the Gospels spell out the various showdowns between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day, He loved them.
Yes, He loved them to the extent that when He prayed "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) in His dying breath, He included the religious leaders in His prayer.
The problem isn't religiosity. It's the hardness of heart, the complacent self-assurance, the haughty self-righteousness and the foolish sense of security one places in religious activities that blinds and alienates one from the Lord.
Jesus wasn't angry at religion per se; He was able to see into the hearts of men (John 2:23-25) and it was the hardness of hearts that frustrates Him to no end (Mark 3:5).
There's true religion rooted in a Truth and grace, and then there's hollow ones replete in a lack of understanding of the Truth and the hardness of hearts.
In all things, get into the heart of the matter rather than give in to maxims. Religion doesn't kill, but the surest road to perdition is by harbouring hardened hearts.
Psalm 51:16-17 NIV
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."
The standard argument was "religion = legalism + self-righteousness, therefore religion is not compatible with salvation by faith in Jesus".
Well that's a rather compartmentalised way of interpreting Scripture. How so?
For starters, how is religion defined? Man reaching God? A set of rituals associated with belief in a higher being or existence? A set of beliefs that stems from the worship of a certain being? A way of life?
Personally I found none of the definition to be satisfactory. Where there is a human being who could not fully perceive a higher being, there will be religion to bridge the incomprehensible divide.
I started out in the camp that plainly accepts that "religion kills, but relationship brings life". But after much musing, I found it amusing.
Suppose there was a lady who dutifully (or some say, religiously) plants a flower because she believed that it will put a smile on Jesus's face. And she did that every year. Religiously.
Now, what would Jesus do? I do not know for certain His response, but I highly doubt that He would smite her for her religious act of gardening.
Herein lies my point: it is hard to divorce acts from faith. Religion isn't criminal. Otherwise James 1:26-27 would not distinguish between hollow religiosity and true religion:
"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
And although the Gospels spell out the various showdowns between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day, He loved them.
Yes, He loved them to the extent that when He prayed "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) in His dying breath, He included the religious leaders in His prayer.
The problem isn't religiosity. It's the hardness of heart, the complacent self-assurance, the haughty self-righteousness and the foolish sense of security one places in religious activities that blinds and alienates one from the Lord.
Jesus wasn't angry at religion per se; He was able to see into the hearts of men (John 2:23-25) and it was the hardness of hearts that frustrates Him to no end (Mark 3:5).
There's true religion rooted in a Truth and grace, and then there's hollow ones replete in a lack of understanding of the Truth and the hardness of hearts.
In all things, get into the heart of the matter rather than give in to maxims. Religion doesn't kill, but the surest road to perdition is by harbouring hardened hearts.
Psalm 51:16-17 NIV
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."
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