Old-Time Religion?

Job 22:

15 Hast thou marked THE OLD WAY which wicked men have trodden?

 

Galatians 1:

13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' RELIGION, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jew's RELIGION above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the TRADITIONS OF MY FATHERS.

 

We often hear cries from "IFB" preachers (or is it FBI? After all, many of them are busybodies in other men's matters) about the need to stick with "The Old-Time Religion". The way this cliché gets worn out with use in certain circles you would think it was an actual admonition in the word of God. But... its not.

 

First of all, just because something is old does not mean that it is good and right. The devil is pretty old. The Roman Catholic Church is old. The so-called "oldest and best manuscripts" (Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticans) are corrupt. The religious traditions of men can be very old and yet very wrong. Before he was saved, Paul was very zealous of the old traditions of his fathers. Sadly, there are Christians today that are far more zealous of their religious traditions than they are the pure word of God. Like the Pharisees, they get offended at Bible teaching that is contrary to their traditions (Matt. 15:12). This proves they don't really the love the word of God as much as they claim (Ps. 119:165). Both the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul were considered heretics by religious people because they did not stick to the old-time religion of the Pharisees.

 

Yes, I am aware of the "old paths" verse in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. Despite what some think, that verse is not talking about American-style Christianity in the 1950's. The old paths Jeremiah was talking about were the paths laid out in the law of God for Israel to walk in. The people said, "We will not walk therein". They were rejecting the words of God and His law (Jer. 6:19). The old paths in Jer. 6:16 has nothing to do with things like only wearing white dress shirts or not using technology. It always "cracks me up" to hear preachers talk against technology over a PA system in an air-conditioned auditorium.

 

The word "religion" is only found five times in the Bible! Every reference concerns ISRAEL. It has to do with outward observances and rituals. The apostle Paul only referred to religion three times and never in a positive light. He used the word in the context of how he lived BEFORE he was saved. In the light of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, Paul counted his former religion as "dung" (see Phil. 3:1-11). Biblical Christianity is not about religion, it is about KNOWING Christ in a personal relationship. It is not about our little man-made list of "Do's" and "Don'ts". It is about Christ living His life through us (Gal. 2:20). We are complete in Him (Col. 2:10). Beware of men who would spoil you through tradition and judge you for not walking according to their religion (see Col. 2).

 

Yes, I am aware of the "pure religion" verse in James. To whom was James writing?

 

James 1:

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the TWELVE TRIBES which are scattered abroad, greeting.

 

There are no twelve tribes in the church which is the body of Christ (Col. 3:11)! While all scripture is for us (2 Tim. 3:16), it was not all written to us and about us. That is why we must rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). Despite false accusations and straw-dummy arguments, I can find spiritual applications throughout the whole Bible and get a blessing from all 66 books. But it is wrong to claim that "every promise in the book is mine".

The key words in the epistle of James are: "faith" (16 times), "works" (13 times), and "law" (10 times). James is exhorting Jews, whose faith is being tried (1:3), to have true faith that works according to the law (2:12) and endures patiently to the end (Matt. 24:13-14). This epistle teaches pure RELIGION (1:25-27). In the Bible, the word “religion” is always used in reference to the works of the law (Acts 26:5; Gal. 1:13-14; the “Jews religion” included their traditions). Notice that “pure religion” is to DO and continue in “the perfect law of liberty” (1:25). What is the “law of liberty”? The epistle of James was one of the first New Testament books to be written. The only law they could "look into" was the written law of God. Many think that the law of liberty cannot be a reference to the Law of Moses because that was called a “yoke of bondage” by Peter and Paul (Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1). The law was a “yoke of bondage” to those who were required to obey it in order to be saved. Although the law itself cannot save (Rom. 3:20) it was at one time required for salvation (Luke 1:5-6). As a nation, Israel failed under the old covenant but will be saved when God makes a new covenant with them when the kingdom is set up (Heb. 8:6-13). Under the new covenant, Israel will keep the law from the heart because they will be filled with the Holy Spirit. If the law is kept from the heart it is not a “yoke of bondage” but a “law of liberty” (Ps. 119:32, 45; Jn. 8:31-32). The Jews to whom James was writing were filled with the Spirit. The kingdom church of Acts was a preview of Israel in the Kingdom Age (Ezek. 36:24-28). The kingdom church lived by the law (Acts 2:1, 46; 3:1; 5:42; 21:20). God has not killed the law (Christ fulfilled it for us, Rom. 10:1-4). Christ will rule by the law in the future Kingdom Age (Isa. 2:1-5).

 

The body of Christ is not under the law, but grace! Is that my opinion? No, that's what the apostle to the Gentiles said by inspiration of God.
 

Romans 6:
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  

 

Religion is a performance based system by which man tries to find acceptance with God. We are already accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6)! By the grace of God, we just need to work out by faith what He has worked in us (Phil. 2:12-13). I don't need to perform. The Lord performs for me (Phil. 1:6).