What is your definition of "religion"?

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Submitted by Mark Virkler on February 14, 2024 - 14:26

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)!
 

Fan the flames of revival by sharing this blog with your friends on social media! 

 

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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Rivers of Grace MP3s

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 5 Sessions

You can be the parent God wants you to be: loving, encouraging, trusting and able to raise up your children in the way they should go, fulfilling their own unique destinies. Parenting was not intended to be a burden, and anyone who tells you differently has bought into a lie. You will learn to enjoy parenting as an exciting, joy-filled, divinely-ordained opportunity, not a wearying responsibility.

Price: $11.97
Spirit-Anointed Teaching MP3s

Spirit-Anointed Teaching MP3s

by Mark Virkler | 3 Sessions

Spirit-Anointed Teaching Materials designed to strengthen ALL teachers including parents, Sunday school teachers, cell group leaders, pastors and educators in every field! These materials will give you the tools to become a Spirit-anointed trainer!

“They were amazed at His teaching; He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22)

Price: $6.97

Take Charge of Your Health MP3s

by Mark Virkler | 12 Sessions

Discover how you can take charge of your own health — keeping yourself young, energetic, attractive, and free of degenerative diseases! Discover the biblical injunctions on diet and health, and the amazing correlations between them and modern scientific research. Updated in 2015 with 20 years of fresh insights since recording the previous "Go Natural" series!

Price: $49.95

Through the Bible 1: Pentateuch MP3s

by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 10 Sessions

Dr. Andrew Hardy guides you from Genesis through Deuteronomy in 10 sessions. This is part one of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible.

Price: $14.95

Through the Bible 2: United Kingdom MP3s

by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 11 MP3 Downloads

Dr. Andrew Hardy guides you through Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel along with parts of 1 & 2 Chronicles and 1 Kings in 11 sessions. This is part two of our Through the Bible series, which gives you an overview of the entire Bible. 

In these books, which cover the United Kingdom, you will learn about the conquest of the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. Read about the early days of the nation of Israel as they lived under judges and kings. The nation prospered under righteous kings and languished under evil kings. Under Solomon, the nation of Israel reached its height in grandeur and glory. Discover what makes a nation prosper and what makes one fall. Learn how one person, living in obedience to Almighty God, can change the direction of a nation! Let us learn from history. 

Pray for God to give you revelation knowledge in your heart and mind as you meditate on His Word (Eph. 1:17,18).

Price: $14.95
Through the Bible III: Divided Kingdom - MP3s

Through the Bible 3: Divided Kingdom MP3s

by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 11 Sessions | Produced 2013

Dr. Andrew Hardy guides you through 17 Old Testament books in 11 sessions. This is part three of our Through the Bible series, which provides you an overview of the entire Bible.

Price: $14.95
Through the Bible IV Poetry and Wisdom Literature MP3s

Through the Bible 4: Poetry and Wisdom Literature MP3s

by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 11 MP3s

Dr. Andrew Hardy guides you through the Poetry and Wisdom books of the Bible in 11 sessions. This is part four of our Through the Bible series, which provides an overview of the entire Bible.

Price: $14.95
Through the Bible V Major Prophets MP3s

Through the Bible 5: Major Prophets MP3s

by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 10 Sessions

Dr. Andrew Hardy guides you through the Major Prophets in 10 sessions. This is part five of our Through the Bible series, which provides an overview of the entire Bible.

Price: $14.95
Through the Bible 6: Life of Christ - MP3s

Through the Bible 6: Life of Christ MP3s

by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 10 Sessions

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through the Gospels, the Life of Christ, in 10 sessions. This is part six of our Through The Bible series,  which provide you an in-depth overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ, and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

Why are there four Gospels describing Jesus' life? How are the three synoptic Gospels different from John? What does God want to say to me through the life of Jesus? Can I really imitate Christ and be like him? Yes, Jesus came to model the lifestyle God has empowered us to live!

Price: $14.95

Through the Bible 7: Acts and Epistles MP3s

by Dr. Andrew Hardy | 10 Sessions

Dr. Andrew Hardy takes you through Acts and the General Epistles in 10 sessions. This is part seven of our Through the Bible series, which provides you an in-depth overview of the entire Bible. You may choose to begin with the Life of Christ, and work your way through the entire New Testament, and then follow this up by going through the Old Testament.

In the book of Acts you discover the vibrancy of the early Church. The Holy Spirit descended upon them in Pentecost and filled them and the room in which they were seated. Empowered by the Holy Ghost, they immediatey won 3000 to the Lord. Miracles followed, many were healed, and the world was transformed by these anointed disciples. 

In the General Epistles we learn of the struggles the early Church faced, and the amazing teaching the Apostle Paul provided to keep them on track. You receive a glimpse into the heart of Paul as he passionately encourages his readers to know who they are in Christ and ascend into the heavenlies, where they are seated with Him in heavenly places, ruling and reigning. These books take you into the depths of Scriptural truth as revealed by the Holy Spirit. Pray for God to give you revelation knowledge in your heart and mind as you meditate on His Word (Eph. 1:17,18).

Price: $14.95

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