True Religion
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:26-27
I recently found two articles in my file on the subject “Religion.” One was from a local newspaper and the other from U.S. News and World Report. This last one started out great referring to the pilgrims as defining themselves as a nation under God, ordering their lives and laws according to “widely shared principles informed by a rich tapestry of religious traditions.” The last phrase is an error because the early pilgrims were committed to the Word of God and not the religious traditions of the world.
Both articles were aimed at bringing all “religions” under one umbrella with an emphasis on tolerance. Christianity, Islam Buddhists, Hindu and Judaism were all considered equal with all beliefs leading to God.
In our text, the word religion (θρησκεία / thrace-ki’-ah) simply refers to ceremonial observance as in worship. Whatever mankind worships can be considered religious. Some people worship the sun, moon and stars while others worship themselves, their money of any number of different things. The emphasis in the two articles was that “we are all in the same boat.”
The word “religion” or “religious” in our text has to do with ceremonial worship in the outward sense which is considered in vain or useless. This form of worship has to do with external patterns of behavior based on spiritual or religious beliefs. A person can be very pious, observing all kinds of religious ceremonies and come to the end of his life only to discover that he has deceived himself.
In I Samuel 15:22, after Saul disobeyed the Lord, Samuel said to him, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. In fact, obeying God would be considered a genuine part of worship.
Our text references the practical outworking of that which is within the person, in particular outward behavior based on the new birth. That places the emphasis on relationship and not religion. If a person’s relationship is right with God, there will be outward manifestations expressed in love and holiness.
The question then relates to whether or not God has actually changed your life inwardly? Does it manifest outwardly what God has done in your soul?
Both articles stated that most Americans considered religion as important in their lives. Both of them referenced God but neither of them spoke of the work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross on our behalf. Note two major problems:
- There is only one God while the articles indicated a plurality of gods like the gods of the people in Athens in Acts 17, even unknown gods.
- None of the religions of the world deal with man’s most serious problem – SIN. Only Christ can forgive us of our sins. All who follow these useless religions will come to the end of their lives still possessing their sin.
There is another group of people who want nothing to do with religion. One spokesman stated, “Religion has killed so many people.” Others feel that religion is a man made invention and places people in bondage.
There is some logic to the atheistic statement above, except for the fact that religion has been established by Satan himself in opposition to God’s plan and purposes for mankind. Note the following familiar statements:
- Religion says “do,” while Jesus said, “done!”
- Religion makes you a slave while Jesus sets you free.
- Religion causes blindness while Jesus, as the light of the world, makes you able to see.
- Religion is man searching for God while true Christianity is God seeking man. The emphasis is on the word “true,” since there are so many imitations of Christianity in the world.
- In Christ, we have forgiveness of sin and everlasting life. Neither are based on anything we could do.
- On Calvary’s Cross, Jesus thought of each of us when He said, “It is finished” and there is nothing more than can be added to it.
True Christianity involves a relationship between God and mankind through the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with Him (John 14:23).
George Stiekes serves as a Lay Pastor at Bethany Bible Church in Hendersonville, NC. See here for a more complete bio of brother Stiekes extensive ministry. We republish his material by permission.