Life Ministries

“More Relationship - Less Religion”

    A 19th-century Danish theologian identified two kinds of religion – Religion A and Religion B. The first is “faith” in the name of religion only (2 Tim. 3:5 ) “They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly.” It’s the practice of attending church without having genuine faith in the living God. Webster defines “Religion” as “a particular system of belief or worship built around God, moral ideals, a philosophy of life, etc.” Religion B, on the other hand, is a life-transforming, destiny-chang-ing experience. It’s a definite commitment to the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a gracious God. There are a lot of “Religions” in the world that have nothing to do with God.  There are also a lot of people with “Religions” that will never take them to Heaven…
    The Pharisees had a Biblical Religion but they rejected the very one that their religion was centered around, Jesus! Religion alone focuses on the things others can see and forgets that God can see everything about them. (Luke 1:39-40) “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are still filthy--full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?”
    Religion alone worries about what others may think and wants to be perfect. (Luke 11:42-43) “But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God.”

    Religion alone finds the LOOPHOLES in the regulations in order to avoid obeying them. (Luke 11:46 ) "Yes," said Jesus, "how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden.”
    Religion alone honors heroes of the past but rejects God’s work in the PRESENT. (Luke 11:47) “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them.
    Religion Alone seeks to control the Bible in order to be in control. (Luke 11:52 “How terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the King-dom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”
    Religion ALONE prevents people from becoming GENUINE Christians! (Romans 2:17-29) “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;  if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;  if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,  an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—  you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?  As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.  So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?  The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.  No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.”
    How can we learn to develop more characteristics of true spirituality and less law and tradition directed religion? Especially in a world where many people see religion as a set of rules, regulations and restrictions. Paul teaches us the meaning of true spirituality. The great apostle wanted the Roman church to realize that true religion is not interested in observing a long list of laws to find favor with God. Paul saw the law as a schoolmaster that leads us to Christ. He taught that the law is a means to an end instead of it being the goal of religion.
    Paul reasoned that the law was to be used as a helper to bring people to learn how to trust and obey the Lord out of love instead of out of blind obedience. The Romans needed to learn that the directives of scripture are given to help us grow in all aspects into Christ. Many of the Jews wanted to use the Law to force the Gentiles to conform to their religious standards. Paul recognized that perfect obedience to the law could not be done without an inward change of heart or mind.
    True spirituality lives more by grace and not by law. Religion alone oriented people tend to look for faults in others, but spiritually relational people look to build one another up as they grow together in grace and knowledge of Jesus. True spirituality helps people realize that judgment is the sole responsibility of God. We are all sinners in need of grace and a life-transforming, destiny-changing experience with the living Savior!.