Kendall the Fire

I’ve often heard Christians say “I’m not religious… I’m a follower of Jesus.” I get it. I think they are asserting that their spirituality is not characterized primarily by rituals… going to church whenever the doors are open, saying the right phrases (or prayers) over and over, giving the correct amount of money, or doing the prescribed ceremonies regularly. They mean, I think, that the dynamic of their standing with God is more relational—consisting of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not based on doing all the right things, it is grounded in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, living within them. It’s possible that they believe that not “having to be religious,” or living by a long list of rules is more appealing to non-believers—and they are probably right.

Perhaps, this is a matter of keeping “first things first.”  What I mean is that an active and dynamic relationship with the Lord through the Spirit is, and should always remain, the epicenter of what it means to connect with God. To be in right standing with God only happens because of the finished work of the crucified and living Lord Jesus Christ; it only continues as we remain in relationship with the Lord. No doubt, this is what the Apostle Paul meant by being “filled with the Spirit” Eph. 5:18).

On the other hand, when a person has a dynamic relationship with the Lord Jesus, there are obvious outward signs, or actions.  It could look like, to an outsider, that the actions are the efforts of one trying to satisfy God, or to be accepted/justified by a score-keeping God. The reality, however, is that the outward signs are merely the “fruit” of a life lived in joyful obedience to the Master-Jesus. Speaking to his disciples Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:7-8).

To be more blunt, it may look like “religion” to others, but it is that and more.  We should not be entirely afraid of the word “religion,” in so far as it means that our experience with God embraces some regular practices: worshipping God, gathering with others in Christian community, giving of ourselves in service and our financial resources to further the Kingdom, praying, studying the Word of God, and so on.

We come across the word “religion” only a few times in the New Testament. I’m not a Greek scholar, but I’ve taken enough Greek in seminary to have encountered the word Θρησκεία, which is transliterated “thréskeia.”

In classical Greek, religion or thréskeia was primarily “fear of the gods” as exemplified in religious worship, especially external, that which consisted of ceremonies/rituals. As stated, the word was rarely used in the New Testament. When it does appear, it is usually cast in a negative light.  It typically represents outward acts of pietism, such as those of Pharisees. Thus, Paul used the term to reference his life prior to encountering the Risen Christ. (See Acts 26:5)

Nevertheless, there is a right way to use the term “religion.” In fact, the New Testament calls us to acknowledge this when it says in James 1:27 “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”  So, the real key is how we answer the basic question, “why are we doing these religious things?” When they are the outflow of a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus, they are natural—even expected. But, when they are feeble attempts to gain God’s favor, they are pointless.

Therefore, an obvious conclusion to all of this is:

A genuine follower of Christ is one that is rooted in his or her relationship with Jesus and bearing the fruit of “pure religion.” So, be religious AND be constantly engaged in your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

It’s not either—or, it is definitely “both—and.”