UFC: Faith vs. Religion

Salvation by faith alone is one of the five necessary ingredients that make up the foundation of the Christian faith.  Remove this ingredient and your foundation will crumble.  Almost six years ago my beliefs were challenged and this ingredient was missing.  I had replaced it with hope, religion, blissful ignorance, and anything else that seemed good that I could throw into the mix.  When Erika brought me Scripture and shared with me that salvation is a free gift of God given by grace through faith alone(Eph 2:8-9); it was as if a great earthquake shook my beliefs to the core.  The foundation of my religion cracked in half and the life that I built for 23 years based on truth mixed with religion collapsed in ruins.  So having spent the better part of two decades worshiping God through the door of religion, and roughly six years now worshiping God through the door of faith, I have noticed great differences.

Faith and Religion are the keepers who open the door to worship. 

For those who love her, Faith breathes life into our dead bodies (Ezekiel 37:1-14, Eph 2:1).  Faith opens the door to the King and guards our unending inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4).  Faith unlocks mysteries in the Bible and makes seemingly contradictory statements become absolute truths (Heb 11:3).   Many think Faith first appeared in the New Testament, but she has been active and alive since the beginning.  Faith was in the garden and made a promise about the One who will destroy Religion (Gen 3:15).  Faith empowered Noah in reverent fear to construct the ark (Gen 6:22, Heb 11:7).  She made Abraham look forward to the city whose designer and builder is God (Heb 11:10).  Faith made the thief on the cross hopeful as he hung condemned, unable to do anything (Luke 23:43).  Faith strengthened Martin Luther as he, an unassuming priest, challenged the Pope and exulted Faith over Religion.

Religion is the queen of perversion.  She beckons all who walk by to worship God in whatever way suits them.  She flatters all and says “bring your reasoning, rules, and good deeds.”  She teaches that God delights in a cheerful law abider.  Religion hides a seed of error in her batter and glazes it over with truth.  She confused Eve in the garden and thus Eve made her own rule saying, “you shall not touch” (Gen 3:3).  Religion was with Pharaoh, hardening his heart against the true King (Exodus 9:17).  She convinced the rich young ruler that Faith by herself is not worth it (Luke 18:18-30).  Religion cunningly deceived God’s people into handing over God to be killed (Mark 15:18-20).  Religion blended into the early church and taught that God loves Faith but only when she is with her more attractive sister Works (Galatians 5:1-6). 

Today, Religion continues to teach ways that we can please God.  Meanwhile God said 2,000 years ago that it is impossible to please him without Faith (Hebrews 11:6). 

Listen closely because Faith and Religion speak to each of us daily.  Faith and Religion speak on the radio, TV, the street corner; they come to your door- Faith with empty hands and a mouth that dispenses Scripture; Religion with a Bible and a rule.

So when you sit down at your house of worship (church, temple, synagogue, sofa) pay attention.  If Faith is honored you are blessed.  If she is condemned then run because chances are so are you.