BEING RELIGIOUS IS NOT
THE SAME AS BEING RIGHTEOUS!
A great many souls are religious. They often defend their allegiance with an unshakable defense. So loyal are they to their belief that when confronted with any challenge to that religion, their reply is often with vehement conviction that they are righteous regardless of what evidence one may show to the contrary. They honestly contend their religious life is righteous and those who challenge it in any scriptural way are “judging” them without authority. For generations, their family has upheld the convictions of their religion, and what was “righteous” for their forefathers is “righteous” for them. Yet, they cannot find the name of their religion within scripture; neither can they support the practices of their religion with scriptural authority from the New Testament. Many of them will utilize scriptures of the Old Testament to defend their religious practices, contending as well that the New Testament is an “addition” to the Old Law rather than understanding the Old Law was fulfilled and taken away at the death of Jesus Christ (John 19:30; Hebrews 10:1 – 10). Thus, these precious souls believe being RELIGIOUS and being RIGHTEOUS are two in the same thing. Let’s examine the scriptures and see if they are right.
In the Bible, the word “religion” appears only five times. The first appears when the apostle Paul was explaining his conversion to King Agrippa (Acts 26:1 – 29). In the course of this discussion, Paul said, “My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee.” Obviously, Paul’s being “religious” was not equated with being “righteous.” Galatians 1: 13 – 14 confirms this in Paul’s own words! James also shows that “religious” and “righteous” are not synonymous terms. Notice James’ inspired writing: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1: 26 – 27)
For the sake of complete transparency, let’s examine the two times the word “religious” appears in scripture. In the context of Acts 13:43 – 52, we learn that Paul was preaching the gospel at Antioch in Pisidia. We note there were “religious proselytes” who followed Paul and Barnabas. Yet these, as well as any others, would not be called “righteous” until they obeyed the gospel which Paul preached; obeying it by hearing, believing, repenting of their sins, confessing Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and being immersed into Christ for the remission of their sins as is the case in every recorded conversion of souls in the book of Acts. The only other time the word “religious” is found in the New Testament has already been stated above (James 1: 26) at which place the “religious” actions of the soul must agree with the righteous commandments of our Lord.
Therefore, we must conclude that being “religious” is not synonymous with being “righteous.” Look at what John says about this matter: “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7) God is the One to Whom John refers. Is God the Father merely “religious” or is He “righteous?” Does His word permit comprise of any degree regarding what we may say or do? (Colossians 3:17) To be “righteous” requires one to be RIGHT in what he says and does. Therefore, God’s authority (the righteousness of God) must be presented to prove all that we say and do (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Can you prove the name of your religion with God’s authority? Can you prove your practice of worship with God’s authority? Can you prove your convictions of what one must do to be eternally saved with God’s authority? If not, then why do you continue believing and practicing what you cannot authorize with God’s authority? Can’t you see that being “religious” is NOT the same as being “righteous?”
Google reports that more than 370 different religious organizations exist in the United States, while some estimate more than 1000 religions. Regardless of the number present, it is evident that while “religious” those comprising these varying groups are diverse one from the other and therefore they cannot all be “righteous.” Further, Jesus declared He would build but ONE church (Matthew 16:18). Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:17 – 23, Ephesians 4: 1 – 6, 1 Corinthians 12: 12 – 13, et al speak of only ONE body, ONE church of which Christ Jesus is the ONE head. Also, each time one reads the word “doctrine” in the New Testament, he is reading of GOD’S commandments; when you read the word “doctrines” (plural) you are reading of man’s ideas. Notice that only GOD’S doctrine (the apostles' doctrine, the doctrine of Christ, etc.) is found to be RIGHTEOUS. We ask again, is the religion of which you are a part able to prove its name, practice, doctrine, etc. with authority from God’s word alone, or must you admit that your religion is in error, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men? (Matthew 15:9)
It is not our intent to be caustic or nasty in bringing this matter to your attention, but rather to beg you to study God’s word, and thereby PROVE what you say and do religiously – and instead of being merely “religious” become RIGHTEOUS in what you say and do! We care for your soul, and like God, are not desirous that any should perish, but rather that all souls should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). We want only to help you come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). By the way, we cannot ask you to do what we are unwilling to do ourselves. Therefore, we also search the scriptures daily to see that these things are so (cf. Acts 17:11). Are you as willing to search God’s truth? If so, we stand ready, willing, and able to study with you from God’s word only!