Daily Journal: 25 May

What is Religion?

Religion as a noun, is described by Oxford Languages as “the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.”

It also explains it as “a particular system of faith and worship” and “a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion.”

There is a saying, ‘sport is the new religion’, and another saying that someone can do something with ‘religious zeal’ or ‘religious fervour’.

Many Christians, I’ve been one of them, have said, “I’m not religious, I have a faith”. In fact, a faith system is a religion. In not wanting to be associated with being ‘religious’ we become pious without recognising what we’re doing. Ironically, when we say we’re not religious because we want to show the Christian faith as being different, we show ourselves to be deeply religious. The definition given for pious is “deeply religious”.

Well, is that a bad thing? To all intents and purposes, I should want to be deeply religious if I worship God with great devotion. However, no matter what the definitions given, what is my intent?

The bible has a definition of religion and it is this definition I should consider most.

James 1:26-27

(NASB) If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

(GWT) If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless. Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.

These scriptures say we have to be careful not to deceive our own heart, or fool ourselves. If my religion is a faith, my faith must mean enough that I do what I say I believe.

James 2:22-24 (GWT)

You see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was shown to be genuine by what he did. The Scripture passage came true. It says, “Abraham believed God, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abraham’s approval by God.” So Abraham was called God’s friend. You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes.

I pray that as we grow in our faith, we grow in our devotion to our faith’s principles of doing good and being of good moral, unstained character before God, not people. I pray we set out to be approved of by God, who wants us to genuinely care for others with a compassionate and undivided heart.