Faith vs Religion: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? 3 FEB 2013

1. Faith vs Religion: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?3 FEB 2013

2. In a Nutshell… The way of Christ is a life of practical faith, anchored in a tangible, historical revelation of Christ and his kingdom. Faith is an interactive lifestyle, identified by its deeds. Religion is a man made system of beliefs, dogma and expected practices that is mediated by the religious elite. Religion is a closed system identified by its rules.

3. CONSIDER: What religion is God?

4. Blind Devotion… "All the classical styles are attempts to arrest the flux of conflict. But in actual combat the opponent doesn't wait for formalities. He's not a robot but a human being; fluid and alive... The fancy mess of martial arts solidifies what was once fluid. It is nothing but blind devotion to the systematic uselessness of routines that lead nowhere." • Bruce Lee • (paraphrased by Jason Scott Lee • in “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”)

5. It’s the destination, not the signpost!

6. Consider: How might ‘religion’ have robbed you at times of the full life Jesus is offering?

7. In the words of our secular prophets… JOHN LENNON – “IMAGINE”

8. A Vicious Cycle?

9. Religion does three key things: • It provides definition(this is good, that is bad) • It provides identity (I am a christian/ hindu/ atheist etc) • It justifies exclusion (these people are in, those are out) • …with the following effects: • removes the need to wrestle with life’s uncertainties & think for ourselves. (PHIL 2:12) • justifies exclusion & prejudice (MATT 22:36-40) • legitimises making our love conditional & excluding others until they meet our conditions (MATT 25:44-45) • empowers those who run the system & exploits those under the system(MATT 9:35)

10. Religion on trial? “Violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children: organized religion ought to have a great deal on its conscience.” – Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great.

11. Religion on trial? “[Religion] may speak about the bliss of the next world, but it wants power in this one. That is only to be expected. It is, after all, wholly man-made.” – Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great. Hitchens is suggesting the test of whether something is man-made or not, is simply to ask whether it craves power. Reflect on your own approach to Christianity. Where do you see yourself wishing you had the power to change (control) things vs where are you offering to just serve anyway and enable transformation by letting your life gently seep out?

12. Jesus’ accusation: “You are in error because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.” – Jesus, Matt 22:29.

13. Jesus speaking about religion in his day “Leave them; they are blind guides.” (Matt 15:14) “Woe to you…you hypocrites!” (Matt 23:14) “[Your converts] become twice as much a son of hell as you are.” (Matt 23:15) “Woe to you, blind guides!..You blind fools!” (Matt 23:16) “You strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel.” (Matt 23:24) “You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” (Matt 23:27) “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matt 23:33)

14. Jesus speaking about religion in his day “Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgement.” (John 7:24) “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone…” (John 8:7) “You are from below...you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:23-24) “I have much to say in judgement of you.” (John 8:26) “You belong to your own father, the devil.” (John 8:44) “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” (John 9:41) “...they have no excuse for their sin.” (John 15:22)

15. In short: Jesus did not come to start a new religion. He came to free us from religion.

16. In short: Religion is known by its words. Faith is known by its deeds (James 2:18). The world is asking questions religion cannot answer. The world needs deeds.

17. In the words of more secular prophets: BON JOVI – “HEY GOD”

18. In the words of more secular prophets: It’s not a contest between religions. It’s a war between the way of life & man’s way of death. Religion is part of the way of death. A life of faith is Jesus’ way of life.

19. In the words of scripture: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim.” 1 John 1:1

20. In the words of scripture: “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40 “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

21. In the words of one who knew Jesus: “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:18

22. In the words of a Christian artist: GROVER LEVY IF YOU WANT TO LEAD ME TO JESUS

23. Faith must be based on evidence “[T]raditional Christian theology has always regarded the miracles as the rational grounds by means of which reasonable men may believe truths which go beyond the power of reason to establish… [T]o ask a man to believe in a divine revelation and to show him no signs of its miraculous character would be to treat him as something less than a rational being.” Alan Richardson, Christian Apologetics (1947) “Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does…even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” - Jesus, John 10:37-38

24. Faith must be based on evidence “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15