Religion Verses Christianity

On April 16, 1999, I received and read a letter from a very hurt and depressed friend in California. I thought,
“why is he not thankful and joyful? Because of his many experiences with promise-breakers and being despised by
professing “Christians” for doing good for others (2 Timothy 3:3). I have felt and experienced the same as my
friend has and is. Several times, I have almost given up in attending church. In our country, we have many church-
goers, “Christian” TV station watchers, and “Christian” radio station listeners. We probably have more Bibles than
all of the rest of the world. But still our society is full of horrible sins which hurt many. Why? Because we have so
much of what God hates done in the name of “Christianity”-- Religion!! What are the characteristics of “religion”?
R -- ritual
E -- earnestness for superficiality
L -- legalistic
I -- ignorant of a lot of what is God-pleasing
G -- going on with un-Biblical tradition
I -- “I” problem especially in pride and selfishness
O -- obnoxious
N -- nasty, hypocritical, and condemnatory like the Pharisees of old

The exhortations by the Apostle Paul in Galatians and the following passage found in Colossians 2:20-23 could
be stated to most many present day professing “Christians”: “Therefore if you died with Christ to the basic
principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- ‘Do not touch;
do not taste; do not handle’, which all concern things which perish with the using-- according to the commandments
and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, and false
humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no affect against the indulgence of the flesh.”
But what should a true Christian do in relation to those who despise those who do good and to those religious
prideful “Christians”? What good does it do anyone to let such individuals influence us to be discouraged and
depressed? What good does it do in giving-up at least trying to encourage others in churches to love God and the
Bible much much more? Should a true Christian do as Jesus Christ commanded in Matthew 22:37-39 just before He
criticized the Jewish religious leaders? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” Should a true Christian be going for the consecration of the Great Awakening preacher
Jonathan Edwards:
“I claim no right to myself-- no right to this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me.
Neither do I have any right to this body or its members-- no right to this tongue, to these hands, feet,
ears, or eyes. I have given myself clear away and not retained anything of my own. I have been to
God this morning and told Him that I have given myself wholly to Him. I have given every power, so
that for the future I claim no right to myself in any respect. I have expressively promised Him, for by
His grace I will not fail. I take Him as my whole portion and felicity [great happiness; the joys of
Heaven; prosperity], looking upon nothing else as any part of my happiness. His Law is the constant
rule of my obedience. I will fight with all my might against the world, the flesh, and the devil to the
end of my life. I will adhere [stick] to the faith of the Gospel, however hazardous [or. dangerous] and
difficult the profession and practice of it may be. I receive the blessed Holy Spirit as my Teacher,
Sanctifier, and only Comforter, and cherish all monitions [cautions or warnings] to enlighten, purify,
confirm, comfort, and assist me. This I have done. I pray God, for the sake of others, to look upon me
as a self-dedication and receive me as His own. Henceforth I am not to act in any respect as my own.
I shall act as my own if I ever make use of any of my powers to do anything that is not to the glory of
God, or to fail to make the glorifying of Him my whole and entire business. If I murmur in the least at
afflictions, if I am in any way uncharitable, if I revenge my own case, if I do anything purely to please
myself or omit anything because it is a great denial, if I trust to myself, if I take any praise for any
good which Christ does by me, or if I am in any way proud, I shall act as my own and not God's.
Therefore, I purpose to be absolutely His.” [Emphases and definitions purposely added.]
Appropriate Scriptures are Psalm 103, Romans 12:1-3,1 Corinthians 15:22-31 and 2 Corinthians 4 and
Proverbs 3:5-6.
So what should be a true Christian's attitude about using each day of his or her God-provided lifetime on this
Earth? How should we respond to those who scorn or/and reject us? How can we keep from being religious or
having religious pride? How can we be more Christ-like?
Hoping for more examples of true Christianity,
Bill Stevenson