If I can't come up with them myself-

I rob them from my friends....
A great quote sent to me by Pastor Dale Reece
Amen
“Ours is not a fragile faith --- it is tough stuff.”

A.W. Tozer said, “My flame may be small, but it is real.”

Whatever happened to the word "Religion"?

In my younger days the classics of literature were mostly pressed on me, forced on me or required as part of a daily balanced diet that I abhorred. Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Moby-Dick, Little Women, The Call of the Wild, Animal Farm (which I actually liked). For all but the first and the last I had to go to Wikipedia to find because I couldn’t even remember the names.
I remember my Aunt Mina who was a good Christian, giving this then drug using wild child “The Chronicles of Narnia” hoping it might inspire me to consider “religion”. I actually tried it (the book) and found it too mild for my tastes. Today I applaud her attempts at my conversion. Still I spent the next twenty years swirling down the drain of human dysfunction.
Don’t misunderstand, I was an avid reader even then. Tolkien, Orwell, Bradbury, Castaneda and many others. Dysfunction, drug addiction and being misguided do not necessarily mean lack of intelligence or depth of knowledge. The last an anthropologist with a cult following that studied the Yaqui Indians sorcery and use of Peyote and other “natural” drugs. That in itself tells some of the scene. I actually read most of Louis L’Amour’s books but that started in jail.
Now I find myself at 52 years of age, perhaps even older than many of the ones who were my teachers and leaders and possible role models who pushed some of this literature on me, with a deep desire to read these classics and more. I have read at least three of Mark Twains novels and started “The Brothers Karamazov” I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis but have yet to read The “Chronicles of Narnia” I have read half a dozen other of his books, deeper more theological stuff I suppose. I have reread “Animal Farm” more than once and I hear they still assign it in schools. I have gone back to Bradbury and even read a book on writing of his. My dad gave me Leon Uris novels and for a real sweet treat I read Grisham (it’s a shame he can’t write as fast as I read).

Right now I am taken by “Pilgrim’s Progress” regarded as one of the most significant works of English literature. Not only Christian literature mind you, but “English literature” and has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print since 1678.

When I say taken by it, I mean it can consume a great amount of my disposable time. Making my disposable time very well used. What sticks out to me is the author’s use of the word religion. It seems that in Bunyan’s time and for many years after the word “religion” was a very grand word. In my time religion it seems is despised and ill spoken of. Even in Christian circles and even in mine. Such a negative connotation is drawn that whole sermons, discussions and teachings can be spent deriding religion until at last every speck is cleaned from our presence. Maybe it’s only me, but I think not.
Religion in Bunyan’s time seemed to mean a person committed to the way of Christ and that being evident to the people around. The people could tell by the change in behavior and commitment to holiness and the way of Christ. Truly leaving all to follow the way, enduring difficulty and doing without. The only complaint about religion in his day was that they were missing the fun of it all at Vanity Fair. Well maybe some points of view are still the same. Just shared by the church more now than back then.
Often religion is used by those on the outside of spiritual circles to describe those inside. While we on the inside are screaming “No, Noooo!!” Ever try to explain to a non-believer that says you are religious, that you are not? Have you left as confused as I? Have you felt very futile? Even that you have betrayed your mission? Me too!!
As I read through the Pilgrim’s Progress I am saddened and almost grief stricken at how the word “religion” has fallen. Where did we lose it? When did it become an almost ugly word? When did Christians start saying they weren’t religious? How did the saying “I’m not religious, I have a relationship with God” come into being? Why did the meaning have to become separate?
I am not an expert on the nuts and bolts of these things? I don’t really know the history, dates and societal evolutions that have taken place. Nevertheless I think it is a valid question to ask. Why did we have to lose the grand old meaning to the word religion?
It leaves a bad taste to the world as a whole. But the blame lies with the “religious” community. It has become like a brand of toothpaste. It promises to whiten and put a smile on your face, all the while excluding those whose teeth are the wrong shade of gleaming. This was never intended but then good intentions never got anyone home. We have ended up with the actions that come from intent. Aha! This may be where it’s lost. Religion has become an epitaph for those with intent and no actions or perhaps those with the actions but no good intent. Both smell the same.
With intent and no actions you get plenty of “religious” words, books, tapes(CDs), bumper stickers and shirts and the one that consumes these, is so often the one that pushes his cart right in your way. To be the first one to have it is now the main goal. To recite the words, to recount the sermon by the great name. To reminisce about the great conference. In Ezekiel’s river where the water goes in and doesn’t come out it will become swampy Ezekiel 47:11 and will not be healed. Where the river flows out it will teem with life and be healed. It will be pleasant and people will flock to it, not just be a flock.
With actions and no intent or good motive it becomes obvious to all. Where’s the payoff? What’s in it for me? I’ll do the good deed as long as it works out well for me! If I’m not the hero why should I do the good deed? This one smells bad to even those that are like this. Come on now confess along with me. I’ve had these thoughts but my prayer is real different. Lord, help me be like you! He gave us His Son whether we wanted Him or not. He said Father forgive them, they know not what they do.
Perhaps both can be summed up by James’ words “I will show you my faith by my works” James 2:15-18Oh, I thought of one more. I think I might have it, where religion got it’s bad name. It’s the big conferences with big names to make big churches and make us better people. The really sharp suits, the special effects. The sea of people in mega churches with mega star pastors. Yes, Jesus preached to thousands but check this out. Without electricity He fed every one and He was the special effect!
Ah religion, such a grand old word. Let’s resurrect it and breath into it life. Let’s act on our faith and pray when no ones looking. Help people that can’t or won’t help back. Let’s ask someone’s name that we don’t really want to know. Let’s lose our lives for sake of the Gospel. Let’s give when it hurts and believe what Jesus said. Let’s not only teach them but let us observe all the things that Jesus commanded and then maybe just maybe we will be disciples indeed. Let’s stop wagging our fingers and noses at the world as a whole, decrying it’s evils especially this perhaps our greatest sin of all, disliking religion and trying to ban it from every nook and cranny. Let’s just go live it and see what can happen. Let us embrace those who hate us and leave our politics home.
Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. James 1:26-27 (MSG)