Religion is not one of God's favorite words! If you look in the Bible, the word religion is mentioned 5 times. Only one of the five times, it has a positive connotation. Let us look at what God says about the word religion.

1) Acts 26:5 - Religion is describing a sect of the Pharisees.

2) Galatians 1:13 - Paul is calling the Jews' belief religion.

3) Galatians 1:14 - Same as number two.

4) James 1:26 - Religion is vain if a man cannot control his tongue.

5) James 1:27 - This is the positive connotation which the Bible explains that pure religion is visiting the widows and fatherless and keeping yourself unspotted from the world.

Religion is a man-made word! The world thinks that religion is what impresses God when in fact the relationship that we have with Jesus is what pleases God. Religion is a belief that a group of people hold to, almost like a denomination. There are many different religions in the world but very few that understand that religion is not what God wants. Religion causes almost robotic-like living. I live in Thailand and the religion here is Buddhism. What amazes me is that many people claim to be Buddhist and have no idea about what Buddha believes and do not live a life that would please Buddha. Many Americans claim to be religious and that alone proves ignorance because religion is not even used twice in a positive way in the Bible. Galatians tells us the fruits of the Spirit, which help us to understand spiritual things. Galatians also says that if you are spiritual, when you see someone fall, go and be an encourager to that person (Gal 6:1). Every question concerning spirituality and religion or lack thereof is answered by the only Book ever written by God. If I have a question about Michael Jordan, I do not ask Allen Iverson. If I have a question about religion or spirituality, I go to God, thus searching the Scriptures.

When a person is spiritual, that means that they have the Holy Spirit (the first 6 letters of the world). The only way to have the Holy Spirit is to be saved. The only way to be saved is to have trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior (Acts 4:12). Religion has nothing to do with it. Any member of any religion can go to Heaven if they go through the Door (John 10:7). There are many different roads to my house but only one key to get inside.

Religion has nothing to do with being spiritual. Relationship with the Holy Spirit has everything to do with it!

Learn more about this author, Edgar Arold.
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