When Faith turns into Religion.

When Faith turns into Religion. Romans 14:14-23.

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Romans 14:14 (NKJV)

The church must concentrate to not let a church experience turn into a religion. You may ask, "What is the difference between going to church and religion?" and to that this study is devoted to.

In our modern society, the word religion has morphed into a very broad term and can best be defined by saying that a religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience.

Christianity is often lumped into all religions, it was never meant to be a religion. Christianity was not to be a practice of cultural traditions, or practices of ritual; yet many have turned it in to just that. The first church never intended for their practices to become formalized and doctrines created from them. They were a group of believers who were waiting on the return of the Lord and their teachings were to seek to find a restored relationship with God, establishing a difference between religion and relationship.

Jesus taught these that God was their Father and that believers were to seek Him with their spirit and in truth. The very word Father signifies a type of relationship that children share, where children never have to earn their status by keeping rituals and rules. Children, regardless of keeping the rules or not keeping the rules, are still children and a parent's love should not be contingent on whether the child is obedient or disobedient; however, every parent wants a relationship of respect and children who willingly obey.

Paul's Christianity was interpreted as a religion right from the beginning. Judaism had become a ritualistic observance of historical scripture; an organized religion that people were accepted into if they followed the ways of Judaism in honor to the church hierarchy.

Paul had to answer the inquiries about the way Christians acted and why they did not observe customary beliefs. Christians were eating foods considered unclean to Jews and doing things that Jews were not allowed to do. The religious Jew would criticize any person getting close to Christians for they kept their distance from people they considered unclean.

In addition, Paul had to urge Christians to seek a relationship with God and not to form a religion. The Jewish converts were used to a way of life and Paul was teaching them to worship God with honor and not by doing things that earned honor, but through having a relationship.

So there was a great buzz about the lawless Christians and it was being met with the talk of self righteousness; each side accusing the others. The contention was great and at times caused trouble for Christians, so Paul thought it best to avoid confrontations completely.

Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Romans 14:15-18 (NKJV)

To the Corinthian church Paul wrote, But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 (NKJV)

What Paul never intended was for people to debate on things they could do and things they could not do; however, throughout the history of the church, many church leaders have debated what the conduct of Christians should be.

Counsels have banned activities to make the church separate from the world in an attempt to do good; yet, in their attempts they have created church divisions. Today the Christians church is divided into so many groups that on lookers question, "Who holds the truth?" Yet what Paul was trying to do is make every person responsible for their own actions and he never intended to declare church dogmas.

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:19-23 (NKJV)

In this study, one last observation must be shared. In the mix of church leadership that debates appropriate conduct, the ones who become most offended are people who consider themselves pious Christians who look down on new generations of people.

The world is every changing and our youth is going to develop lifestyles of their own; their music will be different and they will be attracted to new technologies. Trying to fit people into a mold created by a stuffy church counsel is not mentioned in scriptures at all.

Instead of focusing on traditions, we need to teach them a relationship with God, who is holy, and let His spirit convict them of their sins. The mistake is made when people try to play to big of a role when entering leadership. A leader should model traditional values, not enforce them. A leader should teach the word as it is written and pray for others as Christ prayed for us.

We are not to be like Paul, or any other great Christians; we are to be ourselves and be a God loving Christian where God directs us.

Many great works of God were not immediately accepted by others. When the Holy Spirit told Philip to leave his job in the growing church of Jerusalem and head to the dessert for no apparent reason, Philip obeyed; yet if he were to announce his plans to others, they would not understand why he was leaving when the obvious work of God needed workers like Philip. Yet Philip had a relationship with God where He could be directed.

In our relationship with God, God will direct us personally and individually. So when dealing with others, we do not have to tell them how to be like us, God will do that as they too come close to Him. Trying to mold Christians in to Godly men by creating rules of how to live life moves a person further from relationship. Yet be careful not to stumble others as you live according to God's leading for God will defy logic and move you into places others will not go. Be assured, if you are lead by His spirit, you have received Christ indeed.