Church and Religion, is there a differance?

[Donmech]

What is the difference between religion and the church? I have a nephew who is struggling with finding a good church because he see's religion as hypocritical, and for the most part worldly. He uses James 1:27 as his go to verse to judge the soundness of a church. I'm not sure the context would agree with him. What are your thoughts?

 

[OstrichSmiling]

What is the difference between religion and the church? I have a nephew who is struggling with finding a good church because he see's religion as hypocritical, and for the most part worldly. He uses James 1:27 as his go to verse to judge the soundness of a church. I'm not sure the context would agree with him. What are your thoughts?

There's that old quip, there's a reason Religion is categorized as an institution.

I think the James passage gives a great understanding of what our place of worship should be.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The body of the faithful are within Christ and are the "church". Where two or more are gathered there too is Christ among us. The whole world is an opportunity for us to gather and serve the will and desires of God.
Sometimes we can even sing while we're at it. OK, some of us in the shower because it will never tell how bad we sound.

 

[Ugly]

You could unofficially see it as the church vs The Church.
The first being the false religious system, the second being the true Church made up of true Christians.

It seems the church and false teachings are growing faster than ever. I see this as the result of churches stopping teaching people how to witness and instead telling them to invite their unsaved friends to church.
Its creates the wishy washy religion we see dominating church culture today.

Religion are the followers of a title. Some use this title as a weapon. Some as a false sense of spiritual security or as a magic genie granting wishes.
The (true) Church is the one that genuinely seeks God and strives to accordingly.

 

[mailmandan]

It is possible to be "religious" but not right with God. Just look at the Pharisees. Religion apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ is in vain.

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

 

[Donmech]

There's that old quip, there's a reason Religion is categorized as an institution.

I think the James passage gives a great understanding of what our place of worship should be.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The body of the faithful are within Christ and are the "church". Where two or more are gathered there too is Christ among us. The whole world is an opportunity for us to gather and serve the will and desires of God.
Sometimes we can even sing while we're at it. OK, some of us in the shower because it will never tell how bad we sound.

Thank you for you reply. I guess to be more specific, My nephew has used James 1: 27 to say that if the church is not performing what is accepted as pure religion in the afore mentioned passage then that church is not correctly following God's design and thusly you should avoid it. I tend to disagree that James is referring to the church as a whole but rather speaking to individuals, however, I do not disregard, the teaching in that it does apply to the entire body but should he use this as a litmus test to determine whether or not that church is obeying scripture correctly? Lets say this: if individually, the members of said church follow James 1:27 but maybe there is no evidence that the church is compliant, how should that be interpreted?

 

[OstrichSmiling]

Thank you for you reply. I guess to be more specific, My nephew has used James 1: 27 to say that if the church is not performing what is accepted as pure religion in the afore mentioned passage then that church is not correctly following God's design and thusly you should avoid it. I tend to disagree that James is referring to the church as a whole but rather speaking to individuals, however, I do not disregard, the teaching in that it does apply to the entire body but should he use this as a litmus test to determine whether or not that church is obeying scripture correctly? Lets say this: if individually, the members of said church follow James 1:27 but maybe there is no evidence that the church is compliant, how should that be interpreted?

John 13?
A Disciple is someone who follows a teacher. We'll be known as individuals,Disciples as some refer to themselves, by doing the work of our Father. The body is in Christ. Each believer makes the body that is the Ekklesia, the church.
God isn't contained by structures made with human hands. But we are the structure of the living truth of Christ everywhere we go.
See someone hungry? Feed them. See someone weeping, offer a shoulder. See someone in need, give.

Christian was not a positive in the days after Jesus ascension to Heaven. It was a cutting remark. But now we've transformed that negative to be and mean, Christ-like. Jesus said of his people, we will do the things he did and more. John 14. Matthew 21.
We always have an opportunity to spread the good news just by how we live and behave in this world.

 

[OneFaith]

What is the difference between religion and the church? I have a nephew who is struggling with finding a good church because he see's religion as hypocritical, and for the most part worldly. He uses James 1:27 as his go to verse to judge the soundness of a church. I'm not sure the context would agree with him. What are your thoughts?

The church is the body of Christ. Religion is what the body does...

Take your physical body for example, what does it do? It eats, sleeps, works, etc. (Feed the hungry, give rest to the overburdened, be active in Christ). What happens if a member of your body hurts, say your stomach. Then your whole body isn't able to relax until it heals. You put your hand on your stomach- you react with comforting and gentleness while trying to solve the problem. When a member of the church hurts, we all hurt. If one of our widows is in distress, we respond. If there is an orphan among us, we respond. (We respond to others outside the body also). The ability to respond is execising respons-ibility.

A finger does not live apart from the body. A foot does not live apart from the body. All the members of the body assemble together, and the blood flows throughout the body, bringing life to each member. In the same way, the body of Christ assembles together on the first day of the week, we partake of the Lord's Supper, and His blood flows through us all, bringing us contiual life. If a member separates from the body it will die apart from the body, because the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:14) and the blood is only in the body of Christ. It is a struggle to find the church that matches the bible, but you can't go church-less, and he who searches for the truth with all his heart will find it.

 

[OstrichSmiling]

I think James 1 offers great insight into being the faith, the religion, in service of God.

 

[Donmech]

The church is the body of Christ. Religion is what the body does...

Take your physical body for example, what does it do? It eats, sleeps, works, etc. (Feed the hungry, give rest to the overburdened, be active in Christ). What happens if a member of your body hurts, say your stomach. Then your whole body isn't able to relax until it heals. You put your hand on your stomach- you react with comforting and gentleness while trying to solve the problem. When a member of the church hurts, we all hurt. If one of our widows is in distress, we respond. If there is an orphan among us, we respond. (We respond to others outside the body also). The ability to respond is execising respons-ibility.

A finger does not live apart from the body. A foot does not live apart from the body. All the members of the body assemble together, and the blood flows throughout the body, bringing life to each member. In the same way, the body of Christ assembles together on the first day of the week, we partake of the Lord's Supper, and His blood flows through us all, bringing us contiual life. If a member separates from the body it will die apart from the body, because the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:14) and the blood is only in the body of Christ. It is a struggle to find the church that matches the bible, but you can't go church-less, and he who searches for the truth with all his heart will find it.

Thank you, all of the responses thus-far have been encouraging and up-lifting. I will continue to monitor further responses and look forward to having a more informed response for my nephew's concerns.

 

[Jachob]

James 1:27 is more of a rebuke to false religion that claims to honor God but does not consider the afflicted among them. Going to church every Sunday without fail but then refusing to visit the orphans and widows is hypocrisy at the very least.

In terms of finding a church, I have had some of the same issues. This is what I would say. First, you are probably not going to find a congregation that is in complete agreement with every bit of doctrine you hold to be true. However, I would find a church that believes the following things.

a) We believe the Bible to be the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.

b) We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

c) We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

d) We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, belief in Jesus as Savior and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential.

e) We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

f) We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved will be raised to everlasting life with the Lord, and they that are lost will be raised to everlasting separation from Him.

g) We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

These are just some essentials. What you want is a congregation being guided by pastor(s) and elders that adhere to Biblical doctrine concerning Christ and the Christian life.

As far as the works of the church, there should be ministries around you that are involved in the community. Look at their website, and give them a call to find out what they offer in terms of opportunities to serve.

In conclusion, remember that YOU are the body. YOU are the Church, and that doesn't change when you walk out of or into a building.

Pray, ask God to guide you to a good congregation and trust him to do just that.

God bless.

 

[Nehemiah6]

What is the difference between religion and the church? I have a nephew who is struggling with finding a good church because he see's religion as hypocritical, and for the most part worldly. He uses James 1:27 as his go to verse to judge the soundness of a church. I'm not sure the context would agree with him. What are your thoughts?

There are several things which need to be taken into account to obtain a proper answer:

1. What is religion without the New Birth and a genuine relationship to Christ?

2. What is Bible Christianity?

3. What is False Christianity?

4. What is the difference between "the Church" and "churches" (local assemblies)

5. What is a true New Testament church?

4. How does James 1:27 fit into all this?

When Christians contrast "religion" with true Christianity, they are speaking about people who are born again vs those who are not but believe that they are Christians. Bible Christianity and False Christianity (which includes "Holy Tradition") have existed side by side since the apostles departed to Heaven. But the Church (the true Church) is the whole Body of baptized believers who are genuine children of God, saved by grace, kept by the power of God, and obedient to Christ (regardless of church affiliation).

If a Christian is looking for a church which follows the biblical pattern, he must apply Acts 2 to any church and see that it corresponds. At the same time this church must uphold and clearly proclaim the true Gospel and true Bible doctrine. As to James 1:27, it tells us what it means to be a genuine Christian (NOT what a true church is).

So ask your nephew to study Acts 2 (along with the rest of the NT) and look for a sound evangelical or fundamental church which is solidly in tune with Scripture. It probably won't be a mega church.

 

[rlm68]

Religion is a general term, Muslims, Hare Krishna's, Jehova Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindu's are perfect examples of a general religion.

A true believer has a one on one personal walk/relationship (like best friends/marriage) with God without a church being attached. A true believer brings God with them to wherever they go.

Where in religion, you must go to a gathering to find what you are looking for.

 

[Miri]

There are good churches and bad churches.

If your relative is looking for the perfect church. He would spoil it
as soon as he joined!

 

[calibob]

Religion is a general term, Muslims, Hare Krishna's, Jehova Witnesses, Mormons, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindu's are perfect examples of a general religion.

A true believer has a one on one personal walk/relationship (like best friends/marriage) with God without a church being attached. A true believer brings God with them to wherever they go.

Where in religion, you must go to a gathering to find what you are looking for.

Oh my goodness. The doctrine become the central theme and the term religion has morphed into faster than bibles could keep up with. To some their political party, to others sports. Some worship Harley Davidson, others A.A. I just looked it up in a 4th grade dictionary. It's listed as both a noun and an adjective and among other things; devout, pious, dedicated beliefs concerning nature, science, the universe or the supernatural are listed. The Hell's Angels call going to club meetings going to church. The holy spirit goes with the saved no matter what name is hanging from the building. Amen?