Religion

Every definition listed in the Webster's Collegiate Dictionary for the word religion covers belief, manifestation of belief, devotion, or a system of devotion. Every use of the word in Scripture validates these definitions. Yet many in the Church act as if religion means lifelessness, or Phariseeism, or anti-Biblical traditions of men. I've heard this thundered by several preachers over the years: "God hates religion!" A popular worship song yearns for the day when "religion finally dies." A bumper sticker proudly proclaims: "I'm not religious, just Christian." Why do we think we can turn words upside-down and confuse seekers this way? Christianese is hard enough to master without turning good words into bad. Leave that to the gay people.