Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Faith and/or Religion
Mark Daniels posted one of his sermons a while back contrasting Mary who washed Christ's feet and Judas as exemplars of "faith" and "religion." He makes four primary points on this contrast:
Submission, resulting in change, resulting in action. Yet it is that first step, submission, that we find so hard. Sometimes we must take off our religion to gain our faith, which will in turn re-establish our religion on our hearts.
- "religion focuses on outward deeds for appearance sake...”; but faith focuses on our internal relationship with Christ.
- religion never breaks out of old boundaries and rules, but faith does extravagant things because of its love for Jesus
- religion loves ruts of standards and habits; but faith jumps at the unexpected chances to live for Christ that everyday life brings
- religion always looks to others with criticism and judgment; faith moves toward others with love.
These are stark contrasts, cutting deeply and oh so right on. At their heart lies on key distinction. We hold to religion, but faith changes us.
One is external, the other internal; one we control, the other controls us; one we bend to suit our will, the other we submit to. As I write these words, I am struck by the following scriptures:
James 2:20 - But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?Despite the contrast in these two things, faith and religion, they need each other; the real key is to hold them is the proper relation one to another - faith first, then religion.
Rom 3:31 - Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Submission, resulting in change, resulting in action. Yet it is that first step, submission, that we find so hard. Sometimes we must take off our religion to gain our faith, which will in turn re-establish our religion on our hearts.
Ps 40:8 - I delight to do Thy will, O my God; Thy Law is within my heart."Related Tags: transformation, religion, faith, law, heart
