Grace Versus Toxic Religion – Steve Orr

Matters of the Heart

Religion: The Latin root means, “A return to bondage.” In religare. “re” means again and “ligare” means to bind. (From “The Extortionist” introduction to “God Without Religion” by Andrew Farley.)

In the New Testament, religion is typically translated from the Greek word “threskeia,” which means “to show an external demonstration of worship”. It is only found four times in the New Testament: James 1:26:27, Colossians 2:18 & Acts 26:5. Regarding the translation of James 1, the word religion is more properly translated as an expression of worship, as it is in Colossians 2:18. In the Acts 26:5 passage, Paul is referring to his having conformed to the strictest sect of the Jewish religion as a Pharisee.

Christianity is NOT a Religion! *

Christianity is NOT a religion; it is the proclamation of the end of religion. Religion is a human activity dedicated to the effort of reconciling God to humanity and humanity to itself. The Gospel, however – the Good News of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – is the astonishing announcement that God has done the whole work of reconciliation without a scrap of human assistance. It is the bizarre proclamation that religion is over – period.

For Christians, therefore, the entire religion shop has been closed, boarded up, and forgotten. The church is not in the religion business. It never has been, and it never will be, despite all the ecclesiastical turkeys through two thousand years who have acted as if religion was their stock in trade. The church, instead, is in the Gospel-proclaiming business. It is not here to bring the world the bad news that God will think kindly about us only after we have gone through certain creedal, liturgical, and ethical wickets; it is here to bring the world the Good News that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.” It is here, in short, for no religious purpose at all, only to announce the Gospel of free grace.

Christianity is not a religion; it is the announcement of the end of religion. Religion consists of all the things (believing, behaving, worshiping, sacrificing) the human race has ever thought it had to do to get right with God. About those things, Christianity has only two comments to make. The first is that none of them ever had the least chance of doing the trick: the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins (see the Epistle to the Hebrews) and no effort of ours to keep the law of God can ever succeed (see the Epistle to the Romans). The second is that everything religion tried (and failed) to do has been perfectly done, once and for all, by Jesus in his death and resurrection.

* Selected quotes of famed author Robert Farrar Capon whose classic Christian books include: “The Supper of the Lamb;” “Between Noon and Three: Romance, Law, and the Outrage of Grace;” Book Trilogy of Jesus’ parables: “The Parables of Grace”; “The Parables of the Kingdom”; “The Parables of Judgment”

The distinctions between religion and Christianity:

  • · Religion: God is holding out on you. Christianity: God gave you everything through His Son.
  • · Religion: You must work to please God. Christianity: God is pleased with you.
  • · Religion is a poverty mentality. Christianity is about the riches we receive through God’s Son.
  • · Religion is based on human works. Christianity is faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
  • · Religion is studying about God. Christianity is knowing God in relationship with Him.

The Stark Contrast between Religion and Authentic Christianity

  • Religion – Based on Law – – – – – – – – – Christianity – Based on Grace
  • Religion enslaves. – – – – – – – – – – – – Christ liberates!
  • Religion condemns. – – – – – – – – – – – Christ pardons!
  • Religions brings pain, heartache and tears.– Christ heals and wipes away all our tears.
  • Searches for meaning in life. – – – – – – – Christ, who is our life is our meaning.
  • Teaches its cherished and unique truths – – Christ is the truth. He is Truth Incarnate!
  • We must earn God’s favor or be condemned.– God saves us out of His Goodness
  • About doing things to earn God’s favor. – – It is Done! We receive unmerited favor freely through Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
  • Working out your own salvation. – – – – – Resting on the finished work of our Savior.
  • Is about following rules. – – – – – – – – – Is about celebrating life!
  • Religious work is never-ending to do list. – Our work is merely to believe. (Jn 6:29)
  • Religion is Humans hoping to save themselves. – – Christianity is God saving hopeless humans.
  • Religion is trusting self. (Luke 18:9) – – – Christianity is trusting Christ (Eph 1:12-13)
  • Religion is trying harder. – – – – – – – – Christianity is simple faith in God. (Heb 11:6)
  • Religion is about doing something. – – – Christianity is about knowing Someone.
  • Religion is man trying to reach up to the heavens to be like God. – – Christianity is God reaching down to earth and becoming the Son of Man.
  • Religion – Human boasting. (Luke 18:11-12) – Christianity – Boasting in God. (1 Cor. 1:29-31; Eph. 2:9)
  • Religion – “I gotta get my act together.”– – Christianity – “I’ve been reborn.”
  • A religious person tries to achieve their own righteousness. (Rom.10:3) – – Christians are fully satisfied with the perfect righteousness of Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21)
  • Religion says the cause of salvation is good works. – – Scripture says the result of salvation is good works. (James 2:14-16)
  • The religious person, “I think I maybe saved.” – – Christians, “I know I am saved.”
  • Glory is found at the top of a religious hierarchy. – – Christ in you is the hope of glory.
  • Religion is a human attempt to know good and evil, – – Christians reject the evil one and accept the Good Shepherd.
  • Religion hates grace! – – – – – – – – Christianity celebrates the riches of God’s Grace.
  • Religion is about knowing good and evil. – – Christianity is knowing the Good Shepherd and resisting the evil one.

Religion is man trying to be like God. It is the work of Satan which started in the Garden, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Religion is often unkind and prone to violence. Religious leaders often “lord it over” their followers.

This is the same Old Testament mentality that Jesus was confronted with. This religious spirit is toxic; it repels people.

Why do religious people resist the pure message of grace? Is it because they don’t like the idea of certain people receiving grace? Maybe they don’t like the idea of those sinners getting off so easy. Could it be they are good at religion? Could it be that they’ve worked hard at keeping up appearances so they could feel superior by looking down on others?

The teachings of Jesus are the alternative to this false religion.

Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship.

Grace is kind, friendly, refreshing, and uplifting.

This is why we here at Plain Truth Ministries practice Christianity Without the Religion.

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