When people find out that you read the Bible, they will invariably ask the question, “Are you religious?”. Although I suspect they mean well when they ask the question, I still really hate being asked it. I usually respond, “No, not at all – I am a Christian.”
Jesus Christ constantly had confrontations with religious people. Here is one from the Book of Matthew.
Matthew 15:1, 2
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. [KJV]
He was speaking to what might be called “very religious people” – the scribes and Pharisees. They were accusing his disciples of not washing their hands before they ate their food. Let’s see how he responds.
Matthew 15:3
But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? [KJV]
These “religious” people were actually breaking God’s commandments through their traditions. Tradition had become more important to them than the Scriptures. Let’s see what else he said.
Matthew 15:7, 8
Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, these people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [KJV]
They were saying all the right words but their hearts were far from God.
Matthew 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. [KJV]
In their minds, teaching the commandments of men was worship! They had forsaken the Scriptures and come up with their own man-made traditions. And that is the problem with religion.
Religion considers the teachings, traditions, rules, regulations, and edicts of men to be greater than the Scriptures. And in doing that, it finds itself far away from the heart of God.
- It is religion that invents labels: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Lutheran … and so on. You certainly won’t find those labels in the Bible.
- It is religion that allows popes and pontiffs to hold more sway than the Word of God
- It is religion that is more concerned about what people think than what God thinks
- It is religion that bends the Scriptures to align with society, and not the other way around
- It is religion that relishes the praise of men more than the praise of God
- It is religion that invents amulets, beads, figurines, and idols to displace God
- It is religion that teaches people to venerate and even pray to saints who have long since diedIt is religion that replaces grace with works, God’s power with platitudes, and righteousness with guilt and condemnation
- And it was the top leaders of the religious echelon that had Jesus Christ crucified – that should be enough to convince you of the evil that religion fosters
So, am I religious? No, not all. And if you are, I would encourage you to stop being religious.
- Pay no mind to the labels that society chooses to use
- Trust God and His Word over the opinions of men
- Align your thinking and practice to the Scriptures
- Relish God’s praise over the praise of men
- Stay far away from idolatry
- Pray to God and God alone
- Walk in God’s grace, power, and righteousness, and let God judge
- Live as a servant to the Lord Jesus Christ
Give religion no place in your life.