Have you ever seen those shirts that have cool catch phrases on them? A friend of mine has a really cool that says "it's against my relationship, to have a religion". I always thought that was the best ever! I mean, that breaks it down to what it's all about, doesn't it? This whole thing, this whole life is about ONE goal, getting as close to God as possible. I mean Paul the apostle said
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider it all garbage that I may gain Christ."
David broke down the goal of his life this way:
"The one thing I ask of the LORD the ONE thing I seek most is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord's perfections and meditating in his Temple." (psalm27:4)
It does seem like Religion has lost this goal, doesn't it. Today, it seems to be more intent on keeping God off your back, until you need Him to do something for you, like some lucky charm, than about growing to know and love God more and more. Even during Christ's time, the religious leaders seemed so intent on keeping up with their "religious service" to God that they paid God Himself no attention at all…..even when He was standing right in front of them! But this wasn't always the meaning behind "religion". Was it?
In fact, originally translated from its Latin roots, religion has a much different and clearer point.
the "-ligion" in the word comes from the Latin root "ligare" which means "to connect, or to attach" this is also where we get the word "ligament" , which refers to the tissue that connects the bones in your body, and holds you together. And everyone knows what the prefix "re-" means, right? "again, back, anew" as in reborn, reopen, remake,etc.
So the word "religion" literally means "to reconnect, or to attach again" but reconnect what?
Back around 8,000 years ago, a very important connection was lost, a very close connected relationship with the Creator and His beloved creation; between God and man. So the whole point of true religion is to reconnect creation to its creator, to rebuild a relationship that was lost.
In essence, you could say that "Religion" was accomplished and fulfilled the day Christ came to earth in human form. After all, He said Himself that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. It is almost as though every tradition and ceremony of religious service was all linked to, and fulfilled by what He was here to do. It's amazing to think that everything God did from talking to Abraham in Genesis, to building the temple, to sending His Son to die, even as far as literally bringing heaven to earth in Revelation is all about ONE thing… connecting himself with us again.....I guess when you think about it the Bible is just one big love story, telling of a loving Father's plan to rebuild His relationship with His long lost children!
So when you consider the real meaning behind religion. It makes it more difficult to use that word to describe the fake empty ceremonies you see performed in some churches today.
let's make the whole point of our religion to attach us to Christ in order to have a relationship with him.
