Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 22
October 1, 1970
NUMBER 21, PAGE 5b-6

Religionism

Thomas F. Shropshire

The heading of this article does not mean that we are opposed to religion as such. The term religion, is defined thus by Webster: "belief in a divine or super-human power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator and ruler of the universe. 2. expression of this belief in conduct and ritual. 3. a) any specific system of belief, worship, conduct, etc., often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy: as, the Christian religion, the Buddhist religion, etc., b) loosely, any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc., resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system: as humanism is his religion." etc.

The Greek terms, translated religion, as appearing in Acts 26:5, as defined by Thayer, "religious discipline, religion," as in James 1:27, "fearing or worshipping God, religious;" and in Gal. 1:13, 14, "the Jewish faith and worship, the religion of the Jews, Judaism."

What we have reference to in our heading, religionism, is the belief in and acceptance of anything and everything religious; all forms and kinds of religion which are professed to have to do with God and/or Christ. This is the religion which we have reference to and the "ism" means it is false.

According to the definitions, both by Webster and by Thayer, the term has reference to a system or systems of worship or service to God as applied to the "Christian religion," as that term is used. Belief in and acceptance of any and all systems of service and worship of God seems to be the order of the day. It has become extremely unpopular to criticize or question anyone or anything in religion.

Religious unity is advocated today on every hand, on the basis of love and good-will toward each other, with little or no consideration of what is true or false — right or wrong. Not that we advocate a lack of love and goodwill toward our fellow-man. But certainly, if we truly love our fellow-man and have his best interest at heart, we must realize that a false religion will cause him to lose his soul in hell.

This matter of faith in and acceptance of any and all forms of religious faith and practice, involves the most basic principle relative to eternal and spiritual matters. It raises the question of authority in religion. Is there a standard of authority in religious matters or has God left it up to man to worship and serve Him according to man's wisdom — each one doing that which is "right in his own eyes?" The latter is the course which is generally followed in the religious world today. What we hear today are expressions such as, "worship God in your own way," "the church of your choice," etc. People do a lot of talking about God and about faith in Him and serving Him. There is a lot of talk about religion in general. But one seldom hears anyone say anything about what the Bible teaches.

There are so many different systems of religion in the world which are supposed to have God as the source of their existence and the object of their service, and so many various acts, all the way from engaging in some secular trade to earn a living, to the counting of beads in a ritual; engaged in as religious activity, that one would despair of becoming specific in consideration of them.

We wish to examine this matter of religion, as we have described it, in the light of the scriptures. Since religion is a "system of belief, worship and conduct," there needs to be some basis for it. Since it involves belief or faith, in order for it to have any semblance of divine sanction, it must have its basis in divine revelation. Paul said, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," Rom. 10:17 and "We walk by faith and not by sight." 2 Cor. 5:7. According to these statements, there is a divine standard of authority in religion and that standard of authority is the word of God. And the word of God is in the Bible.

It is not enough just to be religious. It is not enough to simply believe something and do something religious. It does make a vast difference what one believes and what one does in religion. Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, who were extremely religious, "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." What they believed was wrong because their heart was wrong — far from the Lord. This is true because "with the heart man believeth" Rom. 10:10. Their teaching was wrong because it consisted of the doctrines and commandments of men. Their conduct was wrong because it conformed to the commandments of men which they taught.

In religion, anything which is not taught by God in the Bible or that which is a perversion of what is taught by God in the Bible, is the doctrines and commandments of men. Most men in religion today, seem to have no scruples against adding to or subtracting from the word of God, as condemned in Rev. 22:18, 19; or against perverting the word of God, as condemned in Gal. 1:6-9; or against not abiding in the teaching of Christ, as condemned in 2 John 9.

In His word, the Lord has given commandments as to what one must do to be saved. Religious people have ignored these commands and have taught and practiced every imagination of their hearts with the claim of salvation thereby. In His word, the Lord, who is "head over all things to the church" (Eph. 1:22), has set forth the work, worship and organization of the church. Religious people have disregarded the Lord's teaching with reference to these things and seem not to feel the slightest need to give scriptural authority for what they do in any of them. They have perverted the work of the church, all the way from the incorporation of recreation and entertainment on the part of many of the churches of Christ down to the control of world affairs, political and otherwise, where possible, by the Catholic church. They have ignored the simple New Testament organization of the church (each congregation having its own divinely authorized organization of elders and deacons (Phil. 1:1) with each church independent of every other church in function), all the way from the consolidation of the work of the church in a human organization supported by churches and/or under the elders of a "sponsoring church," on the part of churches of Christ, to the organization under a universal bishop (the Pope) by the Catholic church.

When people once get away from the idea of the necessity of having scriptural authority for that which is believed, taught and practiced in religion, there are no bounds or limits to exclude anything under the sun. The tremendous task with which the faithful people of God are faced, is getting people to come back to this one basic principle, that is, to feel the necessity and urgency for scriptural authority in all matters religious. Until one is brought to see this necessity, it is utterly useless to discuss with him what is right or wrong in religion. It has already been demonstrated, as witnessed by the religious world today, that when people simply do in religion what is right in their own eyes, anything can be right.

This matter of scriptural authority for everything in religion is vital to every individual, not only for the sake of his own soul, but for the sake of the souls of those who may be influenced by him, either in word or in deed.

My religious friend, it is time for you to search the scriptures with reference to what you believe, and when you have found the truth, stand on it and for it. Be not moved from it, to the right hand or to the left.