Below is a Bible Study by Dr. Paul de Vries entitled, "Religion vs. The LORD." You can also download this study
as an Acrobat/PDF file (requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Recently I was asked to speak on "The Impact of Religion on Mankind." I started off commenting that religion's impact has been mixed. Much good has been done in the name of religion, and much evil as well. For example, because of my leadership for civil rights when I was a Baptist minister in central Virginia in the 1970s, my life was directly threatened twice. The people who wanted me dead thought that the impact of my religion was bad; I thought their religious impact was evil.
As a teacher, therefore, I would give religion a "C+" — or perhaps on a good day a "B-." However, I pointed out, the Bible grades religion as a failure — with an "F." All our best efforts cannot save us. In fact, religion is often a mask to help us avoid the real God-questions of life.
Here are 25 major historic moments recorded in the Bible in which religion is used as an escape from these truths — but where a vibrant relationship with the LORD is the real option.
May the Lord strengthen us all in our relationships with Him.
Historic Moment
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The LORD's Way |
Traditional Religion's "Contribution" |
The Point |
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The very beginning: Genesis 1-3
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Men and women were made in the LORD's image, to desire and experience personal guidance and communion with their almighty Creator. |
The earliest humans were eager to acquire their own "knowledge of good and evil," so that they would no longer need to walk with the LORD. |
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Shaping of Abrahamic Faith: Genesis chapters 14, 15
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After being blessed by Melchezedek, non-Jewish priest of the LORD, Abraham's personal faith/faithfulness in the LORD is labeled tzadak, right-relationship (righteousness). This saving faith precedes Abraham's circumcision. |
Abraham's principles have been "copied" by many who falsely claim that they share his personal relationship with the LORD. True children of Abraham are those who share his faith/faithfulness in right-relationship to the LORD, not his practice or religion. |
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Genesis 22
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The LORD radically tests Abraham's loyalty, then stops his sacrifice of his son, giving him grace (unmerited favor). |
Religion of Abraham's time demanded the sacrifice of people's own children, without divine saving grace. |
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Exodus 20: The giving of the Ten Commandments. See especially 20:18-20
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The whole nation is brought to the mountain to meet the LORD – the same place Moses met Him. His purpose is to make Israel a nation of priests, knowing and representing the LORD. |
All the people miss the LORD completely, and only see and hear the special effects. They ask that Moses simply give them the law – and that he tell God to shut-up. They want the Law, but not the LORD. |
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Deuteron. 29 and 30
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In his last sermon Moses emphasized the simplicity and immediacy of the relationship with the LORD. The ultimate truth was already in their mouths and hearts – that they should love the LORD, obey His voice, and cling to Him. |
Moses warns against empty and filthy religion, detached from the living and powerful LORD and also detached from our true selves – "because the LORD is your life." |
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Job
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Job had trusted the LORD without meeting Him. Then in adverse circumstances he called out to the LORD, Who eventually spoke with him. This encounter with the LORD satisfied Job's deep need to meet his Creator and Savior. |
Job's "friends" used traditional religion to "explain" his adverse and painful circumstances to him, as if Job was experiencing judgment from God. The LORD rejects the religious efforts of his "friends" – and forgives them only through Job's prayers |
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Psalms
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The Psalms focus on the extraordinary benefits of knowing and trusting the living LORD – the ultimate Good Shepherd, King, Potter, and such like. |
Mere religion is empty, for its promises of prosperity and success are empty. What we really desire, need, and long for is a personal restored right-relationship with the LORD. |
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Prophet Isaiah – especially chapters 1, 9, 58, and 64
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The LORD wants to know the people, and to see them behave with both fairness and love to others, and to be humble and accountable to Him. |
Good religion is unmasked as a cover-up for hard-hearted and hateful living. In fact, all our "righteous deeds are like filthy rags." (64:6) |
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Amos 5:21-24
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We should "let justice flow like a river and right-relationship flood everything like a torrent." {literal} |
The LORD hates religious show and pretense. Even worship hymns and songs can be mere noise to Him without right-relationships. |
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Micah
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The LORD looks for people who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. (6:6-8) |
Even correct sacrifices can be a stench in the LORD's nose. |
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Matthew 2; Luke 2
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The LORD (the Creator-Teacher) becomes one of the creatures, a part of His creation. The Infinite becomes an Infant; the Sovereign becomes a servant child – to bring hope and salvation to mankind. |
Religion as an ally of state power seeks to locate and destroy the humble baby who is born "É the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) |
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Luke 10:25-37
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The Good Samaritan skillfully responded to a need, demonstrating the LORD's command to "Love your neighbor as yourself." |
Two religious leaders walked by the man who was beat up, robbed, and left for dead – even going to the other side of the road to pass by the victim. |
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John 4:19-26
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Right relationship with God is available anywhere, as we receive Him into our hearts. True worshipers worship Him "in Spirit and Truth." |
Religions debate the right location of worship. |
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Matthew 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 22-24; John 11-21
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The LORD (the Creator-Teacher) uses numerous means to guarantee that He will die for humanity – and then also conquers death for humanity. This is the greatest grace to us. |
As unknowing participants in the LORD's plans, religions leaders plot His death and seek to prevent His resurrection. |
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Acts 7
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Stephen is empowered by the LORD and boldly speaks the truth about religion. He points to the emptiness of even "correct" religion, and to the faithfulness of the LORD. Before dying from stoning, Stephen is filled with the Spirit and sees God the Father and Jesus at His right hand. |
When Stephen had reminded the religious leaders about the history of religious people's rejection and killing of the LORD's messen-gers, they then kill Stephen. Offended by Stephen's references to religion's failures, they stone him to death, additionally proving Stephen's point about religion. |
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Acts 8:1-9:31
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Saul (later called Paul) sees Stephen's bold witness, contributes to his death, continues to persecute those who know the LORD, and then is totally transformed when the LORD Himself encounters him on the Damascus Road. |
When he was deeply committed to "correct" religion, Paul had sought to suppress those who were born again in vibrant faith in the LORD – to the point of even seeking to plot their death. |
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Acts 10
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Saint Peter discovers that the LORD of the universe can change the regulations He gave at an earlier time. |
The tug of religion is strong. Even though Peter had spent months with Jesus, he is deeply tied to traditional religion. |
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Acts 17
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Paul in Athens outlines the good work of the Living LORD, who gives life, breath, and all things to mortals. He will judge fairly through the One He raised from the dead. |
The LORD is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything, and He has overlooked religious ignorance – but now He calls all people to repent and turn to Him. |
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Romans 1 and 2
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The LORD's power and divine nature are clearly shown through His creation, and so the people who are in right-relationship [righteous] will live by faith. |
Religious people exchanged the glory of the LORD for idols, perverted sex, craftiness, violence, strife, hypocrisy, and judgmental behavior. |
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1 Corinthians 13
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Simple Godly faith (faithfulness), hope, and love last forever and make all the difference. Loving the LORD and others matters most. |
Miracles, prophetic powers, total devotion – these religious practices are empty and useless apart from love. |
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2 Corinthians 3
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Veils and masks are removed when we meet and know the living LORD. Where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17) |
Religion can double-blind us to reality, masking (veiling) both the glory of the living LORD as well as the ugliness of our failures. |
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Galatians
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Independent of religion, we are spiritually crucified with Christ and live in new life because of Him. (2:19-21) In the Gospel, the LORD sets us free for freedom. (5:1) |
The Gospel of the LORD's grace does not depend on obedience to traditional religion. Any addition to the Gospel is really a subtraction. |
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Philippians 3:1-11
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Nothing compares with "the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ my LORD." |
Paul understood that all his religious accomplishments were like "rubbish." |
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Revelation 1-3
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Jesus is LORD of the universe and the church, and asks everyone to be an "overcomer" when faced with challenges and temptations. He Himself is the resource for overcomers. |
Even the good churches are already so wrapped up in their programs that they do not even hear the LORD Jesus when He knocks on the door, desiring fellowship with all. (3:14-22) |
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Revelation 21 and 22
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Heaven is the living presence of the LORD, whether we are in this life or the next. |
There is no temple in heaven, and no religion, for the LORD is present with his power, wisdom, love, and light. (21:22-27) |
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