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In a Nutshell The way of Christ is a life of practical faith, anchored in a tangible, historical revelation of Christ and his kingdom. Faith is an interactive lifestyle, identified by its deeds. Religion is a man made system of beliefs, dogma and expected practices that is mediated by the religious elite. Religion is a closed system identified by its rules.

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CONSIDER: What religion is God?

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Blind Devotion "All the classical styles are attempts to arrest the flux of conflict. But in actual combat the opponent doesn't wait for formalities. He's not a robot but a human being; fluid and alive... The fancy mess of martial arts solidifies what was once fluid. It is nothing but blind devotion to the systematic uselessness of routines that lead nowhere." -Bruce Lee (paraphrased by Jason Scott Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story)

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Its the destination, not the signpost!

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Consider: How might religion have robbed you at times of the full life Jesus is offering?

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In the words of our secular prophets

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A Vicious Cycle?

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Religion does three key things: It provides definition (this is good, that is bad) It provides identity (I am a christian/ hindu/ atheist etc) It justifies exclusion (these people are in, those are out) with the following effects: removes the need to wrestle with lifes uncertainties & think for ourselves. (PHIL 2:12) justifies exclusion & prejudice (MATT 22:36-40) legitimises making our love conditional & excluding others until they meet our conditions (MATT 25:44-45) empowers those who run the system & exploits those under the system (MATT 9:35)

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Religion on trial? Violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children: organized religion ought to have a great deal on its conscience. Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great.

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Religion on trial? [Religion] may speak about the bliss of the next world, but it wants power in this one. That is only to be expected. It is, after all, wholly man-made. Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great. Hitchens is suggesting the test of whether something is man-made or not, is simply to ask whether it craves power. Reflect on your own approach to Christianity. Where do you see yourself wishing you had the power to change (control) things vs where are you offering to just serve anyway and enable transformation by letting your life gently seep out?

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Jesus accusation: You are in error because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. Jesus, Matt 22:29.

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Jesus speaking about religion in his day Leave them; they are blind guides. (Matt 15:14) Woe to youyou hypocrites! (Matt 23:14) [Your converts] become twice as much a son of hell as you are. (Matt 23:15) Woe to you, blind guides!..You blind fools! (Matt 23:16) You strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel. (Matt 23:24) You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead mens bones and everything unclean. (Matt 23:27) You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matt 23:33)

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Jesus speaking about religion in his day Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgement. (John 7:24) If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone (John 8:7) You are from below...you will indeed die in your sins. (John 8:23-24) I have much to say in judgement of you. (John 8:26) You belong to your own father, the devil. (John 8:44) If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. (John 9:41) ...they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)

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In short: Jesus did not come to start a new religion. He came to free us from religion.

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In short: Religion is known by its words. Faith is known by its deeds (James 2:18). The world is asking questions religion cannot answer. The world needs deeds.

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In the words of more secular prophets:

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