Religion: a system of belief

For some time now I’ve endured this air of discontent for the word religion or what it represents by many. Now to my understanding, the word religion merely means a system of belief or worship. However, it has been deemed a taboo word amongst many Christians. Their argument is that religion is a man-made vile which has made a mess of things and even try to separate it from Jesus, their “beliefs” and such. BUT is that a fair assumption?

A few minutes ago, I watched a video of a poet exclaiming his disillusions about religion and separating it from true Christianity. Now I have concerns about this. The word religion is NOT an evil force which fueled the crusades… MAN’S VICIOUS THIRST FOR EVIL AND POWER DID THAT! Religion is like water—it can heal or kill. Water on its own is not evil or good—it’s the purpose behind it is the motivator of its actions. Religion: a system of belief and worship outside of the LOVE OF GOD IS EVIL! To try and amputate religion and Christianity is silly and futile. To separate religion from any other system of belief and worship is also futile. WHY? Because religion is simply that—a system of belief.

I know I am treading on thin ice here but if we stop to think, we’d realize that man’s ways and heart are continuously evil. One operating outside of the perfect will of God is evil. One acting in God’s name, yet living in his own will is evil. BUT if we truly abide in the will of God, this “religion” would be true.

My point for ramble is this: don’t get caught up by terms of segregation. Instead, ensure your intentions are pure and true. Serve God with all your heart and seek his will for your life. Don’t smear THE TRUE RELIGION just because you confuse it with the COUNTERFEIT.

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the [a]false circumcision; 3for we are the true [b]circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to therighteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss [c]in view of the surpassing value of[d]knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, [e]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ,the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and [f]the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 [g]in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on [h]so that I may lay hold of that [i]for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what liesbehind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are[j]perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep [k]living by that same standard to which we have attained.

 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you evenweeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their [l]appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our [m]citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform [n]the body of our humble state into conformity with [o]the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

—Philippians 3, NASB