Religion is of the Devil (Column)

Religion is of the devil. Satan loves religion. Rituals and obedience to law that do not draw us closer to God are of no value. Rather, they are dangerous and the devil knows it. He laughs at us who practice religion knowing he has deceived us into thinking we are pleasing God. We will be shocked when God says to us, “I never knew you.” What God desires is not religion. He desires a relationship. He calls, “Come to me.” He invites us to love. He invites us into a relationship where we are known intimately and can know him intimately. Rituals, practices and disciplines are only of value if they draw us closer to God, if they invite him to know us and guide us to know him. The Apostle Paul told us that religion and law are garbage, something to be discarded and burned. He gave up religion so that he could know Jesus and him crucified. Nothing was of greater value to Paul.

(Phil 3:8 NIV) What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

(Phil 3:9 NIV) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.