Pompus?

Reading James the other day I was quite surprised to find the word “religious”. There in the midst of my favourite book of the Bible was a word that frequent readers of my blog will know often raises some comment from myself, if not my hackles, especially in a 21st century context. So, when I saw it there, having never noticed it before for some reason, I had to do some digging (vernacular for research) on why this word was used. A quick search revealed that “religious”, or “religion” is not a common word in the Bible, in fact it is only used 6 times, twice in James in quick session, three times in Acts, once in Colossians. Referring to one of the heavy tombs available to me in the form of Strong's Concordance - in fact although I do possess a copy I cheated and enquired of it online - I discovered that in Greek religious was θρησκὸς (thrēskos) and that it “refers probably to a careful observance of religious restrictions” and in a limited sense, it may mean devout. Further enquiry of the word “religious” used subsequently in James 1:27 revealed that it meant “reverence or worship of the gods”, “worship as expressed in ritual acts”. 

So, this word is relevant for use in the 21st century and can also refer to the worship of, or observing the laws set out by Yahweh, Allah, Shiva and Vishnu, in fact and god or gods, or the Triune God that we Christians follow. However today there is layer upon layer of man-made practices and observances, and centuries of mistakes and misconduct that obscure the faith that we choose to express so that those on the outside cannot see the beauty and truth of our living God which is why I don’t want to associate myself with the word religion and when asked I reply that I do not consider myself as “religious”. Perhaps when people ask me if I am religious, I shouldn’t respond with, “no, but I have faith, which is different” but with, “Yes, in a 1st century but not 21st century context.” Whilst that may be true such a response does sound somewhat pompous and doesn’t really roll off the tongue. 😊

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