When Being Good Isn't Good Enough: 21 Days of GraceExemplo

Christianity that Isn’t

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Religion is a dangerous thing. It can become an excuse for the violence of human nature. It can also become an excuse for tolerance and elitism. Religion can be used as an excuse for a critical spirit. It can also be used as an excuse for withdrawing from the world. Religion can do service in the court of politics. Religion can be a method for obtaining power. Religion can be a way to achieve wealth. And more.

The point is this: If we are ever going to be free in the biblical sense of the word, we must distinguish between what people say and what God says. Or to put it another way, organized religion (the institutional functions of human understanding of God and efforts to please Him) and religion in the biblical sense (a relationship of joy, obedience, and worship of the Creator by His creatures) should be understood as two different things. If we aren’t able to separate the two, we will remain bound to forms that kill our freedom.

Paul spoke of those who have “a form of godliness but [who deny] its power” (2 Tim. 3:5). Jeremiah spoke his “Thus saith the Lord” against the forms of religion without the meaning:

For what purpose to Me

Comes frankincense from Sheba,

And sweet cane from a far country?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,

Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me. (Jer. 6:20)

Now don’t get me wrong. Religion is necessary. I’m not for a moment suggesting that we close down the churches (I do have some rather important vested interest here) or that we junk our liturgies or that we all get a backpack and become flower children again. To the contrary. Outward forms do express inward reality. Because we are social and communicative beings, formal religion will always be a vital part of every culture. The problem comes when the outward forms take the place of the inward reality. It is that confusion from which Jesus redeemed us and for which He died.