Featured Being religious vs. being spiritual

Religious = following man's methods to relate to Elohim (Their rules, customs, decrees, etc)

Spiritual = following Elohim's commandments with sincerity and intent

 

There is no difference. We are all wretched, standing before God the Father. We are found righteous only in Christ who ransomed us from our own condemnation.
Once our spirit is made alive we can have access to the throne of God. Until then we are just white washing our filthy walls.

 

There is a difference, but not to the extent that many try to claim. It just comes down to the fact that we are not made right in the eyes of God by following every jot and tittle of the law, because everyone fails in that way. Rather we defeat the accusations of sin by cleansing of Jesus' blood by proclaiming him as our Lord.

Nevertheless, daily prayers, weekly hymns and songs, regular study of the Word, taking communion... I don't think it can really be argued that such thing are religious practice.

 

It's best differentiated in the sermon on the mount.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled."

Mattthew 5:6 CSB​

 

I would say that we have to investigate the postmodern judgements and language games involved in those words.

Religious is only allowed to be used to describe non-religious things favorably. You can be a religious runner, or drink coffee religiously. And that's ok. But being religious about your religion is somehow bad.

The word spiritual has its own set of baggage. But now people who never have time to attend a meeting or assembly can use it to feel superior to people who ar3 actually part of a local church.

 

The reason I say no difference is because the unregenerate claim both. I hear pagans talking about their spirituality and I hear self-identifying persons claim religious affiliation, but neither of the group has been reconciled and made alive in Christ. We are either in the body of Christ or we are dead men walking.

 

Lots claim to be religious, have the spirit, and know the truth, but their works don't back up their claims and Yeshua never knew them. Only those who walk according to the word are doers of the truth and that is true religion.

Jas 1:25 But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.

 

Jason, your spirit is dead. You are merely a religious person trying to please God by your own efforts. You are failing miserably.

 

Why are you so lawless marcion follower?

 

The law has been perfectly fulfilled in Christ oh Judaiser.

 

Fulfilled never meant ended. Yeshua's own words testify to this fact in the same passage.

The lawless ones hate the Creator. The lawless ones are condemned. The lawless will perish in the 2nd death.

 

If you are a liberal and believe in God you are "spiritual". If you are a conservative and believe in God you are a "religious fanatic".

 

I am in Christ. The law is fulfilled by my Redeemer. I have nothing but joyous praise for my Redeemer.
Meanwhile you work yourself to hell and think God is pleased.

 

Being "in christ" means you are in "the word" which means you are in "torah obedience". These are all synonyms. Anything else is false gnosististic foolish theology with no substance.

Obedience is what pleases the Creator. Disobedience displeases Him. Do not mess up His formula or you will suffer the consequences. You have to read all of the book to get the picture, not just a few key phrases.

 

Being in Christ means being in Christ.
You are far away from YHWH, Jason.

 

oh, ok. It all makes sense now. Thanks for clearing that up!

 

The Bible tells us that it is foolishness to those that are perishing. I expect you to consider the gospel to be foolish. I still hope that God gives life to your dead heart, Jason.

 

Not at all. I just understand what sin is and what is required of me. Stony hearts don't listen or obey, instead they rebel against the voice of the Father (torah). Its deception and foolish to think you can enter life without obedience.

Psa_10:13 Why do the wrong scorn Elohim? He has said in his heart, “It is not required.”

 

The Bible definition of "sincerity" is "uncontaminated" or "legitimate" or "genuine". An unregenerate person can not be "sincere" according to the Biblical definition. 62 places the New Testament calls regenerate persons "holy" or "saint" (the same Greek word). There is no one who is partially holy, or partially sincere. Scottish Common Sense Realism ruined the word "sincerity", by making "sincerity" a subjective sliding scale. Before Scottish Common Sense Realism, Christians understood "sincerity" as only possible with a heart that had been supernaturally changed by God in regeneration. Today, most Christians think "sincerity" is "a desire that is stronger than contrary desires". This comes from Scottish Common Sense Realism. This is what John Witherspoon taught his students: “an unregenerate person is said to have no true love to God or his neighbor only because it is not the most dominant love, and only the most dominant love will be accepted as true or sincere”. The reason there is so much confusion regarding salvation is Scottish Common Sense Realism infected Calvinist theology (and thereby, all evangelicals, because Presbyterian ministers were the vanguard of mass evangelism in the 19th century), and made salvation a purely psychological process. It is no wonder we are confused...we can't even agree on the Biblical meaning of fundamental terms. God bless you. Patrick.