RELIGION Religion is folk worship based on ideology of a person or tradition and culture of a people. Definition of religion is difficult. Clifford Geertz defined it as a cultural system. The world known ones are Judaism(Jews), Buddhism(India), Hinduism(India), Sikhism(India), Confucianism (China), Islam(Arabs), Heathenism(Germany and Austria), Roman Paganism(Italy) and Celtic Paganism which dots in many cultures and countries of Europe, Fetishism(Black Africans) and lots more. Christianity is named among religions of the world because of the law of Judaism practised by many so-called christian set ups. Christianity is not a religion but life of Christ. (Gal.2:20; Col.3:3) Emerging christian religion are Pentecostalism, Charismaticism and other recent movements which use the Christian faith and set ups but inject tradition and culture of group of people or of the same culture or tradition, race, colour, tribe, language, nation or trade such as business etc. The basic identity of all religion is righteousness and holiness by performance of set of laws, rules and dogmas which are governed by the fear of man or the leaders. Religious persons fear the leaders or the punitive measures of the movement which can be death or expulsion, and that guide them not to sin. The fear of God is not the reason why they would not sin. In the secret they do what they like but present themselves hypocratically in public as holy persons. Unlike true Christianity where righteousness and holiness are solely by the body of Jesus Christ through faith in Him. So the true christian believer does not fear or look at human to do right. She knows that he or she is righteous and holy not by performance and so keeps himself or herself from sin. (1.John 3:3) If a person knows that he or she is washed clean and pure, he or she keeps from filthiness. Many true Churches are turning into religion as the end draws near. The love of the LORD dwindles. Many forgets how the LORD has loved them and so they look to themselves and not the deeds of the LORD anymore.(Matt.24:12-13; 1.Tim.4:1) When that happens the worship becomes flesh or religious and all what was gained in Christ becomes vain, (Gal.3:1-4; Gal.5:1-4; Gal.2:20-21) Guide your Christian life which is solely by Faith in Christ and watch against traditions, culture and folks doctrines. There is nothing wrong when folks meet but when it turns into tradition or culture, then its religion.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:08:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015