Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

re .44

Ace,

I found your reply insightful and gives good reasons for not having a
professional clergy.

However, I don't understand your reasoning in your conclusion, though
I have heard this view before.

;The whole religious system is an affront to God's people and God's 
;economy. Today's situation in Christianity is not unlike that of 2000 
;years ago in Jerusalem. Christ is verses religion.

Let me explain, it was God who initially installed the Jewish religious
system through Moses. Further, Jesus fulfilled the prophesy that "zeal 
for your house has eaten me up" (Psalms 69:9a NWT compare Matthew 21:12). 
Jesus visited the temple in Jerusalem as part of his worship. He told the 
Samaritan woman "God is a spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with
spirit and truth." John 4:24 NWT. One dictionary says that religion can
be defined as "the (organized) service and worship of a god, gods, or
the supernatural". Jesus promoted true worship and the serving of God.
So he wasn't against religion, but rather against false religion for
it was not being directed towards God but other gods (compare John 8:44).
As the apostle Paul wrote "For I bear witness that they have a zeal for
God but not according to accurate knowledge;" (Romans 10:2 NWT), so zeal, 
worship and service is not at all frowned upon by God's Word but rather 
one must worship God with spirit and truth and not falsehood.

Jesus being pictured as the highpriest (Hebrews 6:20) shows in itself that 
there is indeed a religion that is holy and acceptable in God's eyes. The
Jewish religion as instituted by God was shadow of the one come to with
Jesus serving as highpriest (compare Hebrews 10:1). The rest of Hebrews
10 shows the importance of recognising Jesus as highpriest of whom
is the Chief Agent (Hebrews 12:2) of the true religion.

Ace, do you not worship God yourself and accept Jesus as the highpriest
to Our God?. If so, then I can't see how you are not practising a religion
yourself.

Phil. 
 

re.54

Hi Phil,

I see your confusion.   8*)

> One dictionary says that religion can
>be defined as "the (organized) service and worship of a god, gods, or
>the supernatural".

I agree with this definition of religion and contrast it to the same verse
you referenced (John 4:24).

"God is Spirit: and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and reality".
Recovery Version - Living Stream Ministry

True worship of God is in spirit and reality. God is an organic being but
religion is an organization. They are not the same. By illustration a tree
is not a table. Both are made of wood but one is living and one is dead.
One is organic and one is organized. God is organic, living, experiential
and when we worship Him in spirit and reality we experience Him in the same
way. This is the proper worship of God . The "organization of God" is 
merely doctrines, thoughts, and liturgy about God, but lacks the reality
of God Himself. Organizing God is both dead and deadening. As human beings
we have a natural propensity to organize things. Religion is the systematic
organizing of God and things about God but lacking life, reality, and enduring
substance. 

As regards the OT form of worship as a religion. In fact, it was not intended
to be a religion, rather it was a process whereby the nation of Israel 
could receive a direct visitation from God Himself (though it only be once
a year). God's personal visitation was the centerpiece of the OT form
of worship. Of course all the offerings, tabernacle furnishings and coverings,
priesthood, etc. are shadows and types of Christ pointing to Christ. 
When Christ came, they should have dropped their types and shadows and
follow Christ as the disciples did. Instead they chose to keep the dead 
table and missed the living tree (to extend my analogy). Furthermore, their 
zeal for their dead religion caused them to crucify the living Lord.   

Many today bearing the name of christian still miss Christ Himself, opting
instead to hold on to their dead religion with it's doctrines, practices,
and liturgies. 

Hope this helps clarify what I mean,
Ace