Question: Hi Mark, I was watching the 49 Lies series, and you mentioned the word "religion" on there. What is your definition of the word "religion"? Thank you and blessings, Clark
Answer: Hmm, Clark. Good question. I can’t recall ever looking at every verse in the Bible on religion, so I asked my wife, Patti, "What is our definition of religion?" (It is truly a nice gift from God to be married to the smartest girl in our college graduating class!)
Patti's definition of “religion” (off the top of her head, or from the depths of her heart):
Man’s attempt to connect with God and appease Him by his own efforts and on his own terms.
Then I then looked up every verse in the KJV Bible with the word "religion" in it. That wasn’t hard, as there are only four.
Θρησκεία (thrēskeia – G2356)
Total KJV = 4 occurrences - G2356 is translated three times as religion and once as worshipping
- Religion, 3 times: Acts 26:5, James 1:26-27 (2)
- Worshipping, 1 time: Col. 2:18
- Thayer's definition of G2356: external worship which consists of ceremonies
Relationship
Christianity offers the alternative to religion, which is a relationship with God where God is the initiator and man receives and responds to God's love, wisdom, and direction. The focus is on the moving of the Holy Spirit within and upon mankind and man responding to the movement of God.
Notice how it is the working of the Holy Spirit and the energizing by God that is the center of the Christian experience in the 29 verses referenced in the two blogs below.
Truly, our faith is activated, empowered and sustained by His Spirit moving through us. Christ lives in us (Gal. 2:20) and it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28)!
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Related Resources:
How to Be Empowered by the Holy Spirit! How to Hear God's Voice! How to Recognize Counterfeit Movements
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