Religion is man’s attempt to come to God on his own terms. The opposite of religion is faith. Faith trusts and accepts God’s account of Himself. Faith accepts God’s standards as the absolute for civil, moral, ethical, familial, and spiritual standards when applied by His definition of love.
Religion can go in any extreme. It can have no absolutes, or it can accept God’s Word as absolute but applied independently of love. Today, Christian religionists define love independent of God’s Word or Jesus’ model. Therein, they create a liberal humanism using Christian terminology and condemn anyone who doesn’t accept their definition of love.
Religion, whether humanistic or legalistic, is always judgmental and even hostile to those who do not adhere to its view. In the absence of the peace of God in their heart, and the witness of the Holy Spirit for assurance, they seek a democracy. They seek positive feelings by gathering a majority to embrace their philosophy. Those who do not capitulate threaten their carnal sense of security, become the enemy, and must be converted or silenced!
Humanistic religion violates the core nature of God: “I change not!” This is one reason why iniquity/lawlessness is so deadly. If God’s views change with the changes in society then by default God has changed. By definition He is, therefore, not God! God’s Word and God’s character never change. The need to change God’s Word to adjust to the moral decay of society is repugnant to Him. Without faith (trust in God and what He has said), it is impossible to please God!
This process of twisting and redefining God’s Word makes it all but impossible to operate faith when faced with life’s challenges. After all, once we start down the slippery slope of questioning God there is no end to it.
JOIN ME this week and I will help you recover from your lack of trust for God and remove the boundaries to your faith!