Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Losing Your Religion

christianity is a religion.
christianity is a religion that offers the common man relationship with the divine.
christianity is not a relationship without a form of religion.

religion is this:
the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
and this:
something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience
it is also this:
a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe... usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
the bible says that bad religion is this:
"They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people."
2 Timothy 3:5 MSG
the bible says that good religion is this:
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
James 1:27 NIV

so why do we christians deny our religion? why are afraid of being associated with this term?

perhaps it's time to reclaim our religion and practice it righteously.


Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
I Timothy 4:16

6 comments:

I Began in Innocence said...

Very nicely said...

M.H. Media Group said...

I think that we have to be careful not to be stuck thinking its ok to just go with the flow of things, like religiously doing things just because we are christian and suppose to do things to define us. We as christains should live our lives wanting to glorify God in everything we do. :) I least thats what i think when talking about the difference between have a "religion" or "relationship" with God. If this is somthing you are not talking about, my bad. :)

Swodeck said...

Monique: I believe she is stating that "Relationship" is the true "religion" and not an either or. Structure and ritual is not bad in and of itself...but when the rituals and habits are unhealthy...then we have a problem. Healthy rituals (habits) and structures (like "look after orphans and widows") is exactly what God desires.

tither of innovation said...

what i'm saying is that Christianity is a religion, a religion that is hopefully carried out based on an intimate relationship with a divine being (God). it is a religion based on these words: "If you love Me, then obey my commands (instruction/directions)." this blog is in response to the teaching within the Church of "religion vs. relationship" and church goers who regularly claim that they aren't religious. it is not a "vs." situation and the fact that church goers attend church automatically makes them religious. it's like the song by the band the Killers... "are we human or are we dancers?" they're trying to make a point, but dancers are human & some humans are dancers;)
i just wanted to lay it out plain... Christianity is a religion.

Natalie said...

I appreciate how when there is authentic relationship between two people, it inspires them to act in love; serve one another, put the others needs and desires before their own, seek to know the other in a more intimate way, please one another, regularly, with energy and zeal, and when they don't feel like it, for a long, long time...religiously loving. I think that religiously loving God has to take form or it's just words.

Unknown said...

love that Natalie... "religiously loving God has to take form or it's just words." eloquently put;)