Life Or Religion

Life Or Religion

I want to repeat something for you that I have said often and that I think is very important to hear. Two hundred times in the Old Testament the prophets and the holy men spoke of life that God had given us in the creation, and of the life that He wants to give us. In the New Testament about 150 times life is similarly discussed. Jesus Christ Himself spoke of life about 90 or 95 times in the Gospels. “I have come that you might have life; I am the life,” and on and on. Never one time, according to the Bible, did Jesus Christ use the word religion. I know that there is a pure religion and undefiled, and I know that there are people who are grieved with those who say that Christianity is not about religion. But, my friend, it is true. Religion is a very small part of the Gospel. It is a part, but a small part; so small that Jesus, who almost one hundred times talked about the importance of life, never talked about the importance of religion. Religion is only mentioned once in the New Testament in a positive light. In the entire Old Testament writing the word religion is never used. Christianity is about life, and life is all-encompassing. There is no truth, there is nothing that is important that is outside of Jesus Christ.

“Well,” you say, “I’m not interested in Jesus Christ and I’m not interested with what He’s got to say.” Then by your own admission you are not interested in life and you are not interested in truth.

The book of Colossians says that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The western mind has come to believe that Christianity and the Bible are only about religion and there is this other thing — this universe of knowledge out here. It is not so. Every truth, every answer, everything anywhere that is of any importance is in Jesus Christ who has inherited everything. That means everything belongs to Him. Everything exists by Him. Everything that is of any importance is in him and is only known and participated in through Him. All of the questions that exist in the minds of people; how they relate to the various aspects of life — all of that truth, wisdom, and eventual success for those who seek — it is all in Jesus Christ.

Rev. D. Earl Cripe, Ph.D. (1934-2011)