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For most people, the word "religion" has connotations of "church-going"
(or something similar) and "religious activities and holidays." For
many, it refers to activities done in an attempt to earn God's favor, or to
appease or gain something from him. Many of these things are simply an offense to God; some of
them may be
acceptable, if one's genuine obligations - which are not religious
- are first met. Very little of what is called "religious" is actually
commanded by God, but is of human invention.
Everything we need for appeasing God's wrath and for restoring our
relationship with him has already been done by Jesus Christ. Adding
anything "religious" to his already-accomplished work is an offense and insult
to God. For the disciple of Jesus, the only "religion" we can acknowledge as
legitimate is the "religion" described in James 1:27. In this passage,
we see examples of:
1) love for people (caring for widows and orphans), and 2) love for God (a life
of moral purity). These things are an expression
of love that results from what God has already done in our hearts, and do
not in any way add to it. [Even under the Old Covenant (Old Testament), when
religious activities such as sacrifices were required, people had to trust God,
not the rituals, for salvation. Otherwise the religious activities became an
offense to God.]
Note the distinction between obedience to God and religious activities (such as
Old Testament sacrifices or modern-day "church activities"). God makes such a distinction, so we must
also do so. According to God, loving and obeying God, as well as loving (and
obeying, as applicable) one's neighbor always takes precedence over
religious activities. If a person is unable to do both, he must choose the
expression of love (and
obedience) and omit the religious activity. This has always been the only
legitimate option. (In both
Old and New Testaments, God always condemned those who exalted "religion"
over love and obedience.)
Does this mean that all "religious" activities and observances are sinful?
No, but they have limited value.
They are very close to the bottom of our priorities, according to God. Any religious activity, observance or holiday that is not endorsed in the New Testament
is not morally binding - and this includes nearly all of them. Though we may be free to practice
such
things (if
we don't neglect our genuine obligations), we have no right to "push" them
on others or to condemn people who don't participate in them.
The Place of "Religion" |
The world normally defines "religion" in a way that is incompatible with the
Bible. Remember that the Bible's concept of "Christianity" (being a disciple or follower
of Jesus) is not
"religion." (In contrast, fake "Christianity" can
accurately be called a
"religion," for that is just about all it is.) |
Religion, Love and Obedience to God |
A few comments about the distinction between obedience
and religion, as an expression of love for God. |
HTML / PDF |
"Religion" vs. Obedience -
a Study of 1 Samuel 15:22 |
This is part of a series of studies on "values" and how
they relate to each other. Some of the study questions require the use
of a "values chart" (a link is provided), but most of them can be answered
without it. |
HTML / A
PDF version can be found on this page:
"Values Series" Bible Studies
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Religious Activities and Sin in One's Life |
When sin is present, and a person is unwilling to deal
with it, God hates his religious activities. This is because
obedience and religion are not the same thing. |
HTML / PDF |
Specific Religious Activities |
Though some "religious activities" may be remotely
related to "obedience to
God," they are not the same thing. Man-made religions tend to distort this
fact. |
Fasting (= "to abstain from
eating food") |
Two verse lists are provided as a study help,
for those who wish to examine what the Bible says about fasting. [The
HTML file has the verse references placed in one column, with space to the
right of them for writing notes; the PDF file comes in two different
formats.]
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HTML /
PDF (condensed to one page) /
PDF (verses placed in one column) |
Religious Holidays - How are we to respond to them? |
Many people celebrate religious holidays, such as Christmas. This is
not necessarily wrong, but we must not forget that the celebrating of such holidays
is not required by Scripture. They are not commanded. Nor are
they forbidden - unless the holidays are given priority over what God does require, or if
they have a focus that dishonors or ignores God. This
means that those who celebrate religious holidays are not to look down
on those who don't, and those who don't are not to condemn those
who do (unless those doing it are sinning). [Regretfully, we live in a
society that does choose to celebrate religious holidays in ways
that dishonor God.] |
What can we give to Jesus
this Christmas? |
After all, doesn't he deserve something, if we're
going to celebrate Christmas as his birthday? (I realize that there
is no way we can know the actual date of Jesus' birth, but most
people celebrate it on Christmas.) The answer to this question is "a
sacrifice"! This short article mentions 5 verses that use the word
"sacrifice" in reference to things we ought to be giving Jesus - a
"sacrifice" of praise (Hebrews 13:15), our bodies as a "living
sacrifice" (Romans 12:1), etc. Jesus deserves these "sacrifices" - and
actually, he deserves them every day of the year! |
HTML / PDF |
Christmas Is ... |
People may try to suppress the significance of Jesus'
birth, but they will never totally succeed. In the end, every knee
will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. [Be
sure to read the "disclaimer" about some of the extraneous
traditions that people have attached to Christmas. I am not defending these!] |
HTML / PDF |
Who is this Jesus? |
A look at the names given to Jesus around the time of
his birth. The PDF files can be used as Christmas card inserts, if desired.
This article is located in the section about Jesus Christ. |
To That Article |
The Christian and Halloween |
I really wasn't sure where to put this. To some,
Halloween is religious; to some, it is "neutral" (though I'm not sure there
really is such thing as "neutrality" in this matter); and to some, it is
totally pagan. I personally have nothing to do with it. But some try to
focus on aspects that are not totally incompatible with Christ; or they find
themselves in situations in which they cannot avoid it. Currently, I have
two articles on this topic. The following link takes you to an explanation
of what they are about: |
Articles about Halloween |
Jesus says...
"If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15)
Concerning religious activities (an example from the
Old Testament) ...
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22b)
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