Being religious or being a Christian

[Thunderrr-mental]

View attachment 259098

hi gorgeous

 

[posthuman]

No Magenta, Jesus' religion was definitely not Judaism, which is actually based on the traditions of men (as He told the Pharisees). Jesus was a Torah observant Hebrew who went far beyond the letter of the Law. He healed on Sabbath days and was hated for it. But He kept the Law like no one else -- perfectly.

His "religion" was ((is)) to visit the widow and the immigrant and the stranger, and to show mercy to the poor and the broken.
in the sense scripture defines religion.

in the sense mankind defines religion, i don't think @Magenta and i myself also am wrong - as scripture says, He was born a man, under the Law, and what scripture means by "the Law" is 100% every time the entire Mosaic covenant, which as man defines religion, equals Judaism.

i agree with what you said too tho - as mankind defines Judaism, they ((we?)) add whatever traditions the orthodox rabbinical schools teach - - i want to point out tho, we add that 'because they sit in the seat of Moses'

what precisely is Judaism is something we need to sort out how to define from scripture. it may end up with Magenta's question/statement being negated - or it may not. i want to point out the example that Jesus paid the temple tax so that the pharisees would not be offended - not because the Law demanded it. so what He acquiesced to isn't the same as what He 'obeyed' - one is more inclusive than the other.

He did more than th minimum, i tewe all agree - so "why" did He do this? what principle did He live by which says "not only this, but also this"?
and does that principle fulfill what scripture calls 'Judaism' or doesn't it.

i don't think these are very easy questions;
i don't have ready answers

 

[Nehemiah6]

what precisely is Judaism is something we need to sort out how to define from scripture.

There is no question that "Judaism" is a corruption of Torah observance (God's commandments). That is how Christ viewed it and the Gospel of John calls it "the religion of the Jews" (as does Paul) as distinct from true Torah observance. IOW this was not Christ's and the apostles religion. Why? because the rabbis, scribes, and Pharisees added the "tradition of the elders" or the "traditions of men" and in fact gave them higher priority than what is actually in the Bible.

Paul makes this perfectly clear in Gal 1:14 since he was formerly a strict Pharisee: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. Of course, we know that he turned his back on all this after he met Christ.

Christ condemned Judaism in no uncertain terms: Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he [Christ] answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?... And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. (Mt 15:2,3,6)There are many similar passages in the NT.

And after 70 AD, the unbelieving Jews developed the Talmud. And today it has equal (or almost equal) status with the Torah. But The Talmud is full of the traditions and teachings of the rabbis. The biggest issue with Judaism is the rejection of Jesus Christ as their true Messiah. Orthodox Jews are waiting for who they believe will be their true Messiah, and sadly they will be deceived. God will send strong delusion upon the earth at that time.

However, when you do a Google search for Judaism, the secular sources try to equate it with the true Hebrew religion because they don't know better..

 

[Thunderrr-mental]

His "religion" was ((is)) to visit the widow and the immigrant and the stranger, and to show mercy to the poor and the broken.
in the sense scripture defines religion.

in the sense mankind defines religion, i don't think @Magenta and i myself also am wrong - as scripture says, He was born a man, under the Law, and what scripture means by "the Law" is 100% every time the entire Mosaic covenant, which as man defines religion, equals Judaism.

i agree with what you said too tho - as mankind defines Judaism, they ((we?)) add whatever traditions the orthodox rabbinical schools teach - - i want to point out tho, we add that 'because they sit in the seat of Moses'

what precisely is Judaism is something we need to sort out how to define from scripture. it may end up with Magenta's question/statement being negated - or it may not. i want to point out the example that Jesus paid the temple tax so that the pharisees would not be offended - not because the Law demanded it. so what He acquiesced to isn't the same as what He 'obeyed' - one is more inclusive than the other.

He did more than th minimum, i tewe all agree - so "why" did He do this? what principle did He live by which says "not only this, but also this"?
and does that principle fulfill what scripture calls 'Judaism' or doesn't it.

i don't think these are very easy questions;
i don't have ready answers

I agree but I feel he advanced the religion of Judaism to gen-jew-erism 😋

 

[mailmandan]

It is possible to be "religious, but not right with God." Just look at the Pharisees.

James 1:26 - If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. This man's religion is vain, empty, devoid of power, lacking in content, nonproductive, dead and of no eternal value.

James 1:27 - Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

There is nothing wrong with "pure and undefiled religion" but there is certainly something wrong with impure and defiled religion.

 

[Lanolin]

There are huge numbers of widows and orphans thanks to wars and pandemics...churches can be havens for some, but others are like, we only welcome fully functioning families or those that can pay per pew.