Subject: spiritual or religious? |
Bible Note: pberardi :: "Religion is a man-made thing while spirituality is of the Father." .......Col. 3.23 speaks of "self-made religion" and James 1:27 of "pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God." The Greek words that support the translation "religious" in both verses are quite different. In the former, the translaltion of "self-made religion" (NASB) does not carry the same meaning at all as "pure and undefiled religion" in the latter. Therefore, it cannot be argued that the word "religion"as Scripture uses it always has the negative connotation of being a "man-made thing." As there can be a true doctrine and a false doctrine, so can there be a true religion and a false religion. Orthodox Christianity is true religion, whereas pagan religions are false. When John Calvin chose to call his opus magnum, "The Institutes of the Christian Religion," one should not think that this great Reformer in any way intended to intimate that the Christian religion is a "man-made thing." I'm not sure exactly what you meant when you used the word "spirituality," according it a nobler place than the word "religion," but I am convinced that Scripture does not always use the word "religion" in a disparaging sense at all and neither should we. It all depends on the context. --Hank |