Maybe it sounds a little foolish
to write an article defending the Christian religion, since it needs no defense.
But it is recently, and perhaps has always been, an easy target for ridicule.
Stand up for spiritual ideas and you will be attacked as bigoted. The
anti-religious chorus seems to be gaining steam. Last month I made mention of
Mr. Ventura's disparaging remarks towards "organized religion." A week or so
later, I was reading an interview with a cutting edge computer guru who
remarked, "religious people really scare me." I thought to myself, what is so
scary about religion?
To make matters worse, so-called
Christians have adopted similar language with statements like, "I don't want
religion, I want a relationship." These people should know that God has given us His
true religion. When people say, "I believe in God, but I don't want any of that
religion", they mean they don't want anything that requires commitment, nothing that
ties them down, and nothing that is judgmental.
Not all religion is right. Religion is
mentioned in the Bible in both positive and negative terms. The Apostle Paul praised the
Athenians as being "very religious" (Acts 17:22). He then showed them their
religious error and pointed them unto true religion. The term can refer to a variety of
beliefs, and each has its own practices. The Apostle Paul, referring to his past, said he
lived according to the "strictest sect of our religion" (Acts 26:5; cf. Acts
25:19). There is nothing inherently wrong or distasteful with the term
"religion." That isn't to say that all religions are equal. Unless God is
confused, or unless he is purposely causing confusion, the source of all religion can not
be God.
The problem may be that the present age
is full of self-made religion. Self-made religion serves the function of making people
feel spiritual and good. It also permits them to [instead of God] determine the boundaries
or parameters by which they live. The Apostle Paul makes mention of certain practices that
have "the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion,... but are of no value against
fleshly indulgence" (Col 2:23). The consequences of self-made religion are all about
us. It is why America can be religious as it sinks ever deeper into a moral abyss. In
self-made religion, man becomes the focus, rather than God. When man starts making
religion to appease the conscience, without regard for the will of God, the result is
devastating.
Church growth "experts"
counsel church leaders to orchestrate a worship that is aesthetically and emotionally
appealing. More times than not, these efforts are misguided attempts to fill the pews.
Can't talk about sin, can't judge, can't be negative, but DO talk about love; this is the
common mantra. Paul's words ring true, this religion is, "of no value against fleshly
indulgences." It is pure and undefiled religion that changes lives.
Some reading this may wish to believe
that the present day criticism is really only against the false religion that I make
mention of and that I am drawing undue attention to this matter. It is true that some
religions deserve the scrutiny, but the anti-religious crowd is also speaking out against
all religion that teaches the biblical model on marriage, on sanctity of life issues, on
personal responsibility and sexual immorality issues. Like it or not, Jesus' church is the
target of the criticism when it stands up for truth.
Christians want the religion of the
Bible. Religion that originates from God is without contradictions, but it is also
"pure and undefiled." When you practice true religion it shows in your life
(James 1:26). The religion that is "pure and undefiled" involves in good deeds
and the practice of self-control; namely, keeping oneself unstained from the world.
Religion that doesn't change your life is worthless (James 1:26). The self-made religion
that is so prominent in modern America may make people feel good, but it doesn't make them
holy. Religion is given a bad name by the hypocrites who preach such religion.
True religion recognizes the absolute
authority of the Creator. He alone can decide how to communicate his will unto mankind.
His message has come to us through His son, Jesus Christ. He completely reveals the will
and character of God through his life, words, and resurrection. His religion is about
salvation, and it demands faith and obedience. When Jesus talks, men listen and obey (John
14:15; 15:14). Spiritual men take nothing for granted in their approach to God. They
assume no liberties that are not specified in the New Testament; for, that would be
presumptuous. The religion of the New Testament is the perfect blueprint to follow. Stray
from the blueprint, and a brand new religion is in the making.
We can't stop the world from talking,
but Believers in Christ had best not back away from the "pure and undefiled
religion" of the Bible. Show me a man who is Born Again by the grace of God through
faith, and I will show you a religious man. It can't be any other way. And if a man isn't
religious, then he doesn't know a thing about God.