Defining religion is like defining culture, endless nuance is necessary. Religion is a neutral term, positive for one, yet negative for another, all based on personal and cultural perspective. Religion can be kind and loving for some, or it can be brutal and dangerous for others. Jesus cut thru the mess, and said to love. Love God and love your neighbor.
Lee taught "Christ vs. Religion," and hence every LCer I know hates religion, yet what they live is a religion, yet I'm not saying that their life is bad. In his epistle James basically defines religion as good works. Each religion has its own commonalities. Outsiders comparing Catholic mass and LC Table meeting would say they are basically the same religion. Insiders would protest, saying nothing compares. Both are right.
Jesus, however, did not condemn "religion." At times He even positively portrayed Judaism. He did, however, oppose hypocrisy, deception, unbelief, corruption, etc. He exposed the evil of the heart, while dismissing nearly all externalities, eg. He exposed the hypocrisy of washing hands while having an uncleansed heart.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
I would say religion is attempting to serve God but without God.
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I no longer find this easy to accept. How can I know someone's heart? What if I am loving or serving someone, yet I am not "in Christ?" How can I know when others serve God without God, when I am not even sure about myself? Lee basically used this definition to condemn all outside the LC. That definitely gave me a judgmental heart.