BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE ...
Are Religion and Faith Synonymous?
What is your religion? We identify with one denomination or another with thousands of other denominations all claiming to follow the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – He who established but ONE assembly – His people. Read that again.
A friend spoke about the fact that there are more than a few Christian denominations. That got me thinking. What is religion? Why do religions exist? Abraham didn’t have a religion. Neither did David. Paul said there was no longer Jew nor Greek. Yet, here we are.
Are the denominations so different that they need to remain separate? If the various denominations use the same collection of books called the Bible, why do they believe differently from each other? Why is religion a different word from Faith? Did the apostles start a new ‘religion’? I cannot attempt to answer all of these questions at once, but will begin with religion vs. faith. First some droll background to make sure we understand the terms. Religion is defined thusly (using several different sources): “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices”; “archaic: scrupulous conformity; a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith”; “a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects”. (And, one that makes me chuckle.) “There is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion.” The ‘archaic’ definition could actually apply to those who put their faith in government, Science, Medicine, ad infinitim. But, no other definition includes the word Faith, as in the ‘faith once delivered to the saints’ (Jude 1:3). Surprisingly, the origins of the word ‘religion’ are not agreed upon, but this is what I can decipher. The Latin dictionary states religio or religare mean to: bind fast, moor, and tie out of the way. Another definition is binding together. These words were first used for Roman polytheism, not Christianity. As Latin became the church's official language, as well as the basis of many European languages, the spelling and meaning of religion evolved. But, while Latin was the language of Roman nobility and of the arts, Greek and Aramaic were the languages of the Roman citizen and New Testament (although ancient texts of the book of Matthew in Hebrew have been discovered). Greek was not the language of the Judean; so, the Judean apostles probably didn’t write in Greek; except for Paul who was raised in Tarsus and had a vastly different education as a son of a Pharisee. Is the word ‘religion’ used in the New Testament? Yes; at least in the English translations. I found these verses: “Instead they had some disagreements with him about their own religion (deisidaimonais) and about a certain Jesus, a dead man Paul claimed to be alive.” (Acts 25:19) “They had previously known me for quite some time, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion (threskeais) I lived as a Pharisee.” (Acts 26:5) “If anyone thinks he is religious (threskos) without controlling his tongue, then his religion (threskeai) is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion (threskeai) before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:26-27) |
In Acts 25:19, the word deisidaimonias may be correctly translated as religion or superstition, depending upon the context. Reread the entire passage, understanding that Rome was polytheistic, and you decide which is an appropriate definition. However, Acts 26:5 and James 1:26-27 are mistranslated! The meaning of threskeia/threskos is ‘worship’. Strong’s claims it is ‘religious worship’ and ‘religion’. An example of why I don't trust Strong’s.
You can go ahead and correct your ‘inerrant’ Bible. I believe the Word is inerrant, just not the translators! What about faith? When I search the word with biblegateway.com (a great tool), it would take too long to count the number of times the word is used – in English. But, there is no word faith (or faithful) in Hebrew. The Hebrew word translated for us as Faith is understood as an action. It is not passively believing the Creator exists, but acting ‘with firmness toward’ His will. What is His will? After years of study, I believe it has always been obedience. “The Hebrew root aman means firm, something that is supported or secure. This word is used in Isaiah 22:23 for a nail that is fastened to a ‘secure’ place. Derived from this root is the word emun, meaning craftsman. A craftsman is one who is firm and secure in his talent. The feminine form of emun is the word emunah meaning firmness, something or someone that is firm in their actions. When the Hebrew word emunah is translated as "faith," as it often is, misconceptions of its meaning occur. Faith is usually perceived as a knowing while the Hebrew emunah is a firm action. To have faith in Elohiym is not knowing that Elohiym exists or knowing that he will act, rather it is that the one with emunah will act with firmness toward Elohiym's will.” (Ancient-Hebrew.org) In the New Testament Greek, the word oligopisto (little faith) is used 4 times and pistin (conviction of the truth of anything, belief), 55 times. There you have it. Religion is not faith. Faith is not religion. Religion is an “institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices”. Religion is indoctrination and control. Religion tells you what to believe based on manmade doctrines. Faith is acting out your belief in the God of Creation because you have conviction based on the truth from His Word. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) There is little action in planting yourself in a seat on sun-god worship day while a human being teaches the doctrines and traditions of men, much like the Pharisees and Rabbis Jesus called whitewashed tombs. Many of today’s sermons twist and destroy the Word. Yes, I have sat there, squirming in my seat, horrified as I continued to read past where the Pastor had stopped, realizing what he was teaching contradicted the rest of the very same verse! We are blessed with the Scriptures, the holy writings, to inform and instruct us. We were given the Holy Spirit to guide us into Truth. And, in this day and age, we have the internet with all kinds of tools to help us study. Is punching the clock on Sun-day what He desires? Judah went to the Temple as required, but most hearts were far from God. We are to live the Truth of His Word, walk as Jesus walked, and stand firm. In order to do so, diligent study is required – rightly dividing the Word unto understanding. |
I say this in love. I do not want to hear, nor do I want you to hear, ‘I never knew you’.
Until then, May Yehovah bless and protect you, May Yehovah make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may Yehovah look with favor on you and give you peace. “ In this way they will pronounce My name over the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:24-27)
Until then, May Yehovah bless and protect you, May Yehovah make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may Yehovah look with favor on you and give you peace. “ In this way they will pronounce My name over the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:24-27)
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