#5 - That Old-Time Religion Ain't Good Enough For Me - Part 1
In previous articles, I've attempted to lay the groundwork for what may be for many of us a new way of looking at Christianity. We have seen that God Himself embodies paradox and tension between seemingly contradictory attributes, which in turn sets the pattern for all of creation. Without a clear understanding of this universal truth, the world and our lives simply don't make sense; we can only reconcile reality by adopting God's point of view.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of religion. Religion is defined (www.dictionary.com) as "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs." Sociologist John Milton Yinger describes religion as "a system of beliefs and practices by means of which a group of people struggle with the ultimate problem of human life." Yinger also, quite correctly, states that a system of belief does not have to involve a deity to be, for all intents and purposes, a "religion" which depends on "faith" in something which cannot be scientifically proven. Thus, the view that human ingenuity or self-awareness alone can explain, if not solve, the mysteries of life is just as much a "religious" belief system as one which requires the assumption of a "higher power."
A right understanding of the true nature of religion is so important because it brings into sharp focus the fatal weakness of all belief systems which are ultimately humanistic--that is, focused on human actions or behavior. A belief system can presuppose the existence of God and still be humanistic, if it demands "ritual observances" and "a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs." This is because these rituals and codes are almost without exception the product of human opinion or invention to one degree or another. And if there's one truth the Bible strongly reiterates, it is that humanity is incapable of saving or redeeming itself, not even by "doing the right thing":
"There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." - Proverbs 14:12, NLT
"I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born." - Psalm 51:5 - MSG
"When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." - Titus 3:4-5, NLT
Any belief system which depends on human effort is spiritually worthless, regardless of the label.
I know that the above statement is provocative and contrary to what many of us have consciously or not come to accept as truth. That is not by accident. As I asserted in my first article, "In order to [encounter God], we will need to reexamine many of our long-held assumptions and beliefs, and in the process learn to look at life from a new perspective. [We must] move beyond our comfort levels into a new level of maturity. That will never happen until we're willing to do what we've never done, go where we've never gone, and open our hearts and minds to fresh insights from God's anointed Word."
In the next post, we will begin to examine evidence that proves Jesus Christ never intended Christianity to be a "religion."
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