THE RELIGION OF RELIGION part 2

Religion has become of huge part of the human experience.

Almost everyone practices some form of institutionalized Religion.

According to a world report done in 2020 which displayed that more than 20 Religions are adhered to by 100% of the population.

The top 5 Religions that are practiced in the world based on population are Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and other.

Here they are in ranking order; #1 Christianity – 31%, #2 Islam – 24%.

Most of us are not surprised that these two are the most prevalent ones.

However, many will likely be surprised by #3.  Can you guess which it is?

Here’s a hint. Its not Buddhism or Hinduism. Wow! Who knew?

Yep, Its Other. The #3 world Religion is Other, also called non-religious, irreligious, or unaffiliated, having 15% with 1.2 billion people in adherence.

We are seeing a growing number of people who do not want to be associated with Religion.

Which brings us to this point, many people want to intertwine Religion with Faith.

As though they are interchangeable. They are not.

Religion is something that was crafted by human hands, as a coalition or organization that would be separate from secular society, for people who worshiped their god. Whatever their god.

Having faith and belief in the same god are what make up a community of worshippers in that god.

Some religions have several gods they worship. Still yet, others worship only one god.

Yet Faith, should not automatically be linked to Religion.

Religion or religious at its core just means repetitiveness. For example, Jimmy religiously washes his car every Saturday morning. Notice, there’s no mention of worshipping God referenced here.

Faith, on the other hand, is regarding a relationship, which speaks of loyalty, trust, fidelity, and commitment to one held in a high regard.

It takes courage to have Faith in the Living God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, You, and me.

Courage to be willing to step away from the safety of conventional knowledge and the usual way of gathering information.

Courage to step into an unknown, unseen, not concise, realm of shadows, mysteries, and ancient writings and trust it with everything in you.

Courage to declare that I believe that the creator of the universe is God, My Heavenly Father.

The very definition of Faith is described as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of the unseen.

Many ascribe to the notion that by using this definition of Faith, one can hope or believe for anything, and it will happen.

That would be Hocus Pocus, not Faith.

The definition of Faith is not referring to one’s personal, and self-serving ambitions.

It refers to having conviction to stand, and believe, in the unseen things that God has promised to us in his word.

Though I cannot see it now, yet I believe it to be so, because You have said it Lord.

That is Faith. Believing without having to see it first.

Faith is irrational to the natural mindset. But so too was flying, or a driverless car.

Faith cannot be rationalized; it must be realized.

Religion can be very restrictive in terms of expression and conduct.

Religion preaches unwavering uniformity, which is impossible for uniquely created individuals.

Religion requires repetitiveness, wear this, pray this, say that, do this, etc., etc., etc.

God says only, Come unto me all who are tired (tired of) and I will give you rest.

Interesting enough, Religion or Religious is never mentioned once in the Old Testament.

And only in 3 places in the New Testament, with all having a negative connotation.

Here is a message that Jesus offered to those who were religious in his day.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and seas to win a single convert, and once you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are”

Those who love and worship God, will do so in Spirit and in Truth, not in an organization.

Too often we are eager to go, and gather in a building, or in a meeting, in front of others, to profess our love and commitment for God, before we have first gathered in our heart, before God and shared that affirmation with him privately.

Religious people killed Jesus because he did not subscribe to their code of conduct.

I don’t desire to be Religious with God, but I do desire to be Faithful to Him.

                                                           This is a Thompson Truth