The following commentary is not intended to condemn any Christian denomination or to discourage any believer to abandon their physical church. How one chooses to assemble in worship of their God is their free choice. This is being written for the sole purpose of presenting to its readers an opportunity to examine their spiritual walk with the Lord (food for thought if you will) and bring into question how and where we seek the truth and who’s teachings are we following? It is my belief that organized religion is one of the main reasons there is so much disunity within the Body of Christ.
By its definition alone, organized religion is not the way of God but rather the way of man. One of the major problems with organized religion is that it is under constant scrutiny and continually required to defend its doctrines and motivations. Another problem is “winning souls for Christ” or “Bringing souls to Christ” These practices are not of the Word.
John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” We are to be a witness, not with our mouths, but by the way we live our lives. Our words may condemn us but we will be known it truth by our fruits. Read James Chapter 3 to better receive this wisdom.
The World English dictionary defines Religion this way: 1. People’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life. 2. A particular institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine.
When someone is seeking the truth on any matter it is usually done through the study of as much data as there is available on the subject, usually by scientific methodology.
The Human intellect however, is limited in its ability to discern truth in matters of a spiritual nature without a spiritual interpreter. This then brings into question the validity of the interpreter, which negates the scientific process of reasoning and becomes once again a matter of faith.
The word faith has become a form of cop-out among most religious institutions. For example, when a Christian is asked why he or she believes in this or that, the common religious response is, “Because I have faith in God’s Word.” It’s true that the Bible says, (Rom 10-17) “So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Notice that it says hearing not reading. How do we hear the Word of a spiritual God? We have to understand that the term ‘Word’ does not refer to a written document, the Bible didn’t even exist at the time Paul made this statement. The Word must therefore refer to Jesus Himself. God is not a concept that can be understood by the Human intellect, God can only be confirmed through one’s spiritual connection with the Holy Spirit.
Man must keep in mind that God is the Supreme Spiritual Being and therefore beyond our human understanding. If this were not true then why would Jesus say, Jhn 14:26 “But the Comforter,[which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”?
The Bible is merely the written Word inspired by the Holy Spirit. Why would you want to have a human interpretation of a spiritually written text? Jesus Himself is the true spiritual Word of God and only the Holy Spirit can translate the Scriptures. This is why it was said that God would write His laws in their inner most parts and in their hearts (spirits).
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of G od. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Doesn’t it make sense then, that to understand the Way of God we should first seek Jesus, who is the Way the Truth and the Life? We must not reduce God to a man made religious icon. True Christianity is not a religion. It is a way of (to) life.
John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.”
The ‘Life’ Jesus is speaking of is not the physical life, but the spiritual life (the light of the world if you will), which those who believe, will experience after resurrection. Those who choose not to believe the ‘Word’ will remain in the outer darkness (spiritual death) forever separated from God.
