Since When Is "Religious" A Bad Word? Part Two...

I received a very gracious reply from the Pastor of The Spiritual But Not Religious Church, he having read my previous post of the above title. The Pastor was well reasoned, kind, and extended a wise suggestion that he and I should have coffee. I agree with him that personal discourse rises far and above internet communication. I responded and accepted his offer. I am waiting for him to call.

I will be careful not to use this follow-up to renege on that offer. But, I will say that he recognized my use of rhetoric to make a point. In other words, we agree on the true definition of "religious." His assertion, of course, is that the definition has changed and that to some it means "holier than thou". At our coffee, I would like to ask him how the anti-religious visitors they reach react when they realize there are requirements to following Christ and that becoming holy, in essence, means they must become holier than they are. The natural course of this is that they eventually become the "holier than thou."

Most who have an aversion to anything religious do so because they desire to stay the way they are. Most do not like religious people, not because the people have a self righteous attitude, but because the religious person shines light on the sinful state of their unholy lives. It is called light and darkness. Being religious is being the salt for this hurting world. Salt preserves and flavors but it also can sting. I'm afraid that the use of the redefined "religious" to mean"holier than thou" does not reach the anti-church or the un-churched, but rather is a shingle for pseudo religious people who want to continue living carnal lives with no consequences. Isn't this just a form of political correctness? Wouldn't this same method require the elimination of the very word "sin" and other objectionable religious words because of their inherent offensiveness?

Of course, I do not stand on a platform of personally indicting this particular church, its pastors, or the effectiveness of their ministry. I have not met them. I am simply editorializing on the methods of evangelism that would communicate an easy Christian life. The discourse should be, "To follow Christ, you must give up everything you are and die to self." They should be told, "Straight is the path and narrow is the way that leads to salvation and few there be that find it." Contrary to what some teach, salvation is not free, rather, it is unmerited. We receive the love of God, but we are "crucified with Christ."

So, we are remiss when we present an easy, non religious Christianity when our brothers across the world have been martyred by the millions and are being martyred at this very hour for their religious lives. Christians are the most martyred group on the planet and we in the West continue to tickle the ears of potential converts. Whatever happened to, "Choose you this day whom you will serve?" We would do better to prepare all within the sound of our voice for the day when they will be called upon to deny Christ or die. It is already happening in public discourses with cries of "bring back the lions", with militant homosexuals storming churches, with religious freedoms being eroded and revisionist history taking its place, and with Islamic radicals sworn to our destruction. And slogans are what we have to offer?

"The Spiritual But Not Religious Church"

"The Church Where Exciting Things Are Happening"

"The Church Where Everyone is Welcome"

"A Program For Everybody"

"No God -- No Peace. Know God -- Know Peace"

"Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!"

"Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."


"Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"


"Fight truth decay -- study the Bible daily."


"How will you spend eternity -- Smoking or Non-smoking?"


"Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives"

"Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."

"If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."


"If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."


"Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon."


"This is a ch_ _ ch. What is missing? U R"



"If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.""In the dark? Follow the Son."

"Running low on faith? Stop in for a fill-up."

Maybe this is when "religious" is a bad word.