Religion and Christianity Contrasted
Religion
(Latin religare) to tie, (ligare to bind, obligate)
Man’s way of trying to please God:
- Man’s way of trying to please God
- External
- Physical
- Outward stimulation
- Based on performance
- Do!
- Controls
- Confines
- Dominates
- Conforms
- Our appearance is important
- We choose
- Legal, law of rules and ordinances
- Rules to keep
- Joined
- Organized
- Officially members or adherents
- Attend in body
- Seeks to earn and deserve
- Driven by duty
- Uses guilt and shame
- Something you are part of
- Obligated
- Ruled
- Striving and Straining
- Working for God
- Outward form
- We see ourselves as owners
- Competitive
- Must see results
- Size, appearance, “many things”
- Can use and abuse
- Patronizing
- Visible and obvious
- Security in doing what’s “right”
- Rely on leaders, works etc.
- Hierarchy, clergy & laity
- Using natural abilities
- Knowledge of a holy book
- Head based
- Impersonal
- Earthly
- Dead
Christ
(Gk. christos anointed, Heb. mashiah anointed)
God’s Way and Satisfaction
- Internal
- Spiritual
- Internal motivation
- Based on what Christ has done
- Done!
- Releases
- Empowers
- Serves
- Transforms
- Our disappearance is important
- We are chosen
- Law of Love and Life
- Relationship to treasure
- Birthed
- Organic
- Unofficially inseparable
- Joined as One in spirit
- Earns nothing, receives everything
- Moved by love
- Accepted
- Someone you are part of
- Liberated
- Loved
- Resting and Rejoicing
- Working from God
- Inward truth
- We see ourselves as stewards
- Unwarranted approval
- Unseen results
- One thing is necessary
- Loves and will not force
- Paternal and familial
- Invisible and often hidden
- Being in the One Who is Right
- Rely on Christ
- Family, brothers and sisters
- Availability to do all things
- Knowing Christ (the Word of God)
- Heart based
- Intimately personal
- Heavenly
- Alive