Some words get a bad rap. I think “religion” is one of them. Over the last ten years or more, we’ve swung the pendulum away from that word to other words, like “spiritual” or “relationship.” My faith in God is based on a relationship with Jesus, that’s a fact. But I don’t think we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Religion can still be a positive word in the church.
Let me give you a quick and simple definition. Religion is the observable qualities of our faith. It’s about putting what we believe into action. Most of the time we do that in a church service, by praying or singing or bowing our head or reading the Bible together. It can be a baptism or a communion cup or a sermon. These are religious. But there’s more to religion than just words.
Practicing “true religion” according to James is more about how we share our lives with others. And in the first chapter of Isaiah, it goes even deeper. Our singing and your praying, our fasting, and your special events – they may be religious, but they’re meaningless if we aren’t serving and helping others. If we don’t take it from our heart to our hands, it’s not “true religion.”
And here’s the thing – all those religious expressions from reading the Bible to saying prayers to singing songs – they’re all about God’s love for the whole world. How he pours his grace out to all of us. How he paid such a high price in sending his only Son to die for us! When we sing and pray, we are proclaiming that truth. But do we back it up? A lot of times we say one thing but act another.
The observable practice of “true religion” is that we share our lives with the needy, the hurting, and the vulnerable in our community and our world. We make it the rhythm of our life. We find the needs around us and do what we can to meet them.
Where do you find the need in your community? Maybe there’s a widow or an older couple on your block, around the corner. Maybe they don’t have kids, or don’t have any living nearby. Maybe they could get a lot out of you raking their leaves, bringing them a meal, or just spending time with them and talking.
Where do you find the need in your country? How many kids go without families in the United States? Right now, there are over 400,000 kids in the foster system and 100,000 of them are actively waiting to be adopted. Each year 30,000 age out of the system, entering the real world without a real family. Have you ever asked what you can do to help them?
Where do you find the need in our world? Right now, 780 million people around the world are undernourished and lack access to clean water. It seems like such a big burden, a huge need, an insurmountable obstacle. But little by little we can change the world.
When your heart beats with the needs of others, your pulse will lead you into a rhythm of sharing. It starts with your neighbors right next door, but it spreads around the world. At the intersection of a stirred heart and opportunity, you will find “true religion.”
What can you do today to help someone in need? Who has inspired you to put your religion into action?
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.