If you use "religion" in the sense of meaningless motions, pointless prayers, and wearisome works, then it would be right to distance yourself from religion. Outward ritual, devoid of substance, is futile.
On the other hand, if you define "religion" as rendering to God the respect, adoration, and worship that is due to Him, then you should want to be immersed in it.
Baptismal water, for instance, is one thing into which we should want to be immersed. Outwardly, baptism is a purely physical, mechanical act of ritual. Yet it is commanded (not just recommended) of us. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter didn't say to just get wet; he said,
Repent AND be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
Baptism is a physical act with spiritual effects.
The same is true of the Eucharist. Jesus said,
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world (John 6:51).
No doubt about it--the Lord's Supper is imperative to the Christian life. But its rewards are not attained simply by chewing and swallowing.
Paul warned,
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment (1 Cor. 11:26-31).
We, as Christians, must never separate form from substance. "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:26). We mustn't eat the Body of Christ without doing so "worthily," but also we can't simply be worthy and not eat the Body of Christ. They go together.
Unfortunately, people tend to denigrate the formal "religion" of the Old Testament, yet that is where we first find the commandments to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourself (Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18). The Jewish religion's bad reputation came from the hypocrisy of its professed adherents, not from their careful obedience.
It is right along with all the animal sacrifices, priestly duties, and statutes in the Old Testament that we find the idea of relationship: "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people" (Lev. 26:12).
This relationship continues, and is deepened, for New Testament believers. Christianity is not an overthrow of the religion of the Jews; it is the fulfillment, the perfection, of it. We have Jesus as our ultimate once-for-all sacrifice. We still have specially appointed men who perform the priestly duties of teaching and administering the sacraments. We still have disciplines and holy days to keep us focused on Christ, such as fasting, prayers, convocations, Christmas, Easter, and so on.
As for whether we should consider Christianity a "religion," Scripture sets a precedent:
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).
Relationship should be the basis of our religion, composed of body and spirit to form the whole.
4 comments:
It sounds to me like you are trying to say that Jesus doesn't agree with all his christian people to take of his flesh and drink of his blood. You put certian restrictions on this. I do not agree. It say's as simple as it can that anyone who believes in me shall not perish but have everlasting life. Sorta sounds like your statements...but you contridict yourself. Jesus doesn't ask for us to be religious..he simply ask that we receive him as our Lord and Savior. What? You need to come down off your high horse and listen to what Christ really has instore for us. It's not all you proclaim it to be. There are all sorts of "religions" I am sure you know. But that is NOT what gets you in his kingdom. I don't think taking the body is a salvation issue either. It is a gift and an act of rememberance...or don't you read that section of it? God is not one to accept you just for your beliefs..but in Proverbs, he does speak of judgeing the heart of every man. You are not that judge. Nor is your church. And nobody will get to God except through me (JESUS) not through any other means. And to let you know one more point....Christianity...Christ...is a relationship. And if you don't think so...woe to you. I have a relationship with Christ. It is not ritual, it is not telling me I have to do this one way or that another...It is my faith and my love for Christ, it is my belief in the Holy Spirit. And it is also rewarded by my works. Anyone who claims Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is also saved. Not just the one's who are dipped in water or eat bread and wine. You make way too much out of the love of God. He loved us so much that he did give his son to die for us...for us...that's me too. And I am not a Catholic.
Hello Anonymous guy. You wrote,
"It is not ritual, it is not telling me I have to do this one way or that another...It is my faith and my love for Christ, it is my belief in the Holy Spirit. And it is also rewarded by my works. Anyone who claims Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is also saved. Not just the one's who are dipped in water or eat bread and wine."
Jesus said that not every who says "Lord, Lord" (i.e, claims him as Lord) will be saved.
As a Christian, you DO have to do certain things. Jesus commanded baptism. He demands obedience to the moral law--the Ten Commandments. Scripture also commands us to obey those who have authority over us (in the Church). James says that faith without works is dead.
Would you say you don't have to obey Jesus, or make a sincere effort to do so, to be saved?
I accidently deleted Terry's message, and there's no way to "undelete." So I'm reposting it for him below--DMC.
Yeah, Darren, "Get off your high horse". lol.... just kidding. I sense some hostility in Mr./Ms. Anonymous. Very bold words for someone who conviction stops at giving a name.
It seems to me that what we have here is the age-old argument of what it takes to get to "Heaven". As far as Christian religions go, I think there are three main beliefs. The Protestant (Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, plus uncountable others), belief in Jesus and "accepting him into your heart" is enough. The Church of Christ (may be others that I haven't heard of), only through living a "virtuous" life can you get to "Heaven". The Catholic (I am not too familiar with this one so correct me if I am wrong), dieing with out mortal sin (via confession) is the essential element to get to "Heaven". However, all of the Christian religions tend to share the belief that people should live morally, which seems to be the hardest part for most people.
Freud would love to get ahold of this thread.....
Post a Comment