Volume 46 Number 4 December 2003
There are many today that make much about the supposed "wrongness" of mixing a person's religion with things such as teaching in the government school system, influencing the laws by which our society is governed, and other things that influence our culture. These same people attempt to say our country's constitution demands "freedom from religion". Well, first our constitution says no such thing, but what I think it does say is the state cannot force a religion upon its citizens. That does change the argument somewhat, but this is not what I wish to discuss in this article.
I think one of the problems leading to this confusion comes from a lack of understanding what religion actually is. Too often people define religion as worshipping a specified god-i.e............ the Lord of Heaven, a piece of wood or stone, etc. This narrow definition does not allow for worship of ideas, philosophies, or other mindsets that many use to guide their lives. These philosophies can be as much a religion as worshipping the Lord of Heaven. Paul referred to this type of religion by equating idolatry and covetousness in Colossians 3:5.
Religion is a philosophy/mindset/worldview that motivates a person to shape their guiding principles and decisions. This is that person's belief system. This in essence is a person's religion. Jesus taught this principle in Luke 6:45 regarding speaking, but this same principle could be applied to every action and intent of a person. It is these principles in a person's heart that drives that person. It is these principles that set that person's priorities and desires. It is these principles that define a person's religion.
Within the context of the religion of our worshipping our Creator, it is the influence of the Lord through His divine Word and His Spirit that shape our lives. This godly influence gives us drive for our priorities and desires. In essence they define our lives by providing a foundation by which we can function in this world. This is what religion does for us.
But there are other types of religions. Granted they are false, and accordingly full of lies, but these false religions give those who follow them drive for their priorities and desires as well, however false and misleading they can be. These religions must include philosophies that deny God. Doesn't this philosophy guide those who deny the Lord? Doesn't it lead them to conclusions based on this false philosophy? After all, this is what religions does-it grants us a basis for our lives.
Consider those who have as a religion a desire to worship the earth. They refuse to call their philosophy a religion, but that is exactly what it is by the proper definition of a religion. It guides their priorities as only religion can. It is because they refuse to accept it as a religion that allows them to manipulate society with their philosophy supposedly "free" from the stigma of religion.
Consider the example of those that put their trust in physical science? It is this trust (philosophy) that is the foundation of their belief system. They believe that God did not create the earth, and their priorities and desires are motivated by this religion. Again, it is because they also refuse to accept it as religion that allows them to manipulate society free from the stigma of religion.
The point is-Everyone has a philosophy that guides their lives. They may not acknowledge their particular life-affecting philosophy as a religion, but it does the same thing as a religion.
With these thoughts in mind, we need to understand that when we are taught things such as the supposed origin of the earth, or unrighteous laws to which we are expected to accept or even conform to, etc, that teaching is motivated by someone's religion even if it is not called such. The next article will proceed with the idea that since all of us are guided by religion of some sort, it is ridiculous to assume our religion will not be a guiding principle for all we do.