I heard this question the other day: “What religion is the Bible?”
Most Christians will immediately identify their own religion as being THE religion of the Bible, right? While I do not want to underestimate the importance of the church, I think we must understand the danger of pigeonholing the Bible into a man-made name for religion like “Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc.” Jesus said In Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The Bible calls the church the body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:23)
The Bible is God’s Word and thus, the body that belongs to Christ should also speak His Word, right?
So what religion is the Bible? Well, ”religion” in its simplest form is the pursuit of an interest to which one ascribes supreme importance. Religions include consumerism, mammonism (worship of money), hedonism (worship of pleasure), etc. Jesus condemned all false religions—especially those pretending to represent Him—like the Sadducees and Pharisees. He said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”
Matthew 23:14-15
Strong words from Jesus. But these top religious leaders were not worshiping God; rather, they were using God to enable their worship of power, pride, and money. Many people claiming to be believers also fall into this trap—using the name of God to enable worship of a totally different god. We are all susceptible. I often check myself and ask myself hard questions:
“What am I ascribing supreme importance today?”
“What worries me the most?”
“What do I desire most and dream about attaining?”
“What gives me the hope to get out of bed and start the day?”
“What is the one thing that if I lost it, I would be wrecked?”
Is it a career, wealth, a political election, a child or spouse? Or, is our most priceless possession the strong and steady sense of God’s presence in our life and the opportunity to live for His glory?
My friend, don’t let the enemy pull the wool over your eyes!
The enemy has gained great victory by equating man-made religions with God’s Word. Many religions throw just enough God and hype in to draw a crowd but the heart of the people are just in it for what they can get out of God. We may refer to ourselves as “ Baptist,” “ Catholic,” “Methodist,” and even “nondenominational,” but that identity never equates to having a relationship with God. Unless we have accepted the gift of salvation as CLEARLY set forth in GOD’S WORD and have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, we do not belong to him.
No amount of “religion” will help us when we stand before God some day; we will either be standing IN Christ or—all alone.
We must get God’s Word right! HIS truth is critical for the eternity of every soul. Most people who make their way into one of our law offices, know very quickly that it is a place that has something to do with God. But when our conversation leads to a discussion about God, 95% of them will make a statement that infers that “religion” is equated to a relationship with God. I like to ask questions. [That’s what attorneys do.] So inevitably, I ask them what they mean by “religion?” Their answer almost always relates to some form of good works they need to perform in order to have a close relationship with God. My next question is typically “where did you get that idea from?“ Some of them are honest and admit they have no idea. Others say they got it from someone who was talking about the Bible.
This conversation always presents a ripe opportunity for the Gospel.
You see, there are many religions which claim to accurately represent God’s Word while simultaneously serving as a platform for a doctrine that drives humanity off the cliff into hell. Jesus said the proof that we are his disciples is if we live in loving obedience to Him. He told us that the first and second great Commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul and mine, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Because God is love—which is complete selflessness—it follows that the proof of our love, and our religion, is to live a completely selfless life, right?
Jesus lived a completely selfless life. He commanded us to make disciples. Discipleship is like raising children—indeed, the goal is to bring newborn babies in Christ into maturity. It requires sacrifice and more sacrifice; it requires love; it requires time; it requires using our resources for others; and it requires loving God so much that His will replaces ours.
What religion is the Bible? It is not a man-made religion of works. Indeed, it is a life which reflects truth in love. It is not a life dominated by mere service, ritual, or liturgy. When Christ is on the throne of our heart, we manifest the fruit of His Spirit and the attitudes of Christ. We live in the strength of his Spirit, and the wisdom of his Word.
The religion of the Bible is reflected when people look at us and see and hear Jesus, the Lord of the Bible.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
1 John 4:7-8
