One True God

“To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25 NKJ)

Religion. Ugh! I hate that word. I wish we could erase it from our vocabulary entirely. I was recently speaking on the phone with someone who said, “I know you have religious reasons.” Referring to a decision I recently made. There is technically nothing wrong with the word, but the mindset society has developed surrounding this word is an insult to the reality of the one true God. God is not to be lumped in with all of the false gods of the world, or reduced down to an activity to participate in.

I understand this is verbiage used to communicate a variety of belief systems around the world. But if there is only one God, then all the other religions are simply figments of the imagination and the work of the enemy, deceiving us; they do not exist. 

What does exist are dark spirits masquerading as gods, influencing us to do anything but worship the Christian God. In 1 Timothy 4:1, the apostle Paul warns us accordingly, “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” These false gods have no power to help us in our depravity. In fact, the result of following their teachings are sure to bring disaster and death. If you attach yourself to a bad vine, you are sure to produce bad fruit.

The Christian God is the only God. There is no other like Him and no other besides Him. Isaiah 45:5a says, “I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.” Here are just some of the ways our God stands apart:

•  He is the great I AM, which is existence or life itself. (strongs G1639, to be, exist, be present)

• He is the beginning and the end, God created all things and was before time began. All things are of Him, through Him and to Him (Romans 11:36)

•  He is all-powerful. God commands the wind, the waves, disease and death; nothing is impossible for Him (Mathew 19:26).

• He is Holy, holiness denotes pure moral quality (strongs G41). All things that are good originate in Him, you can find examples of His character in Galatians 5:22-23.

  
  

Although this word, Religion, seems relatively harmless, it drives in the narrative that there are multiple accepted gods and therefore multiple ways to heaven. But Jesus, the only God who conquered death, is the only way. Jesus Himself proclaimed, “No one comes to the Father except through Me”(John 14:6b). Furthermore, Christianity is the only “Religion” that does not demand righteous acts for salvation; we are simply to believe in the finished work of Jesus.

Religious acts are man-made constructs that fool us into thinking we could do enough to be right with God. Some religions offer food to deities, some sacrifice animals (even humans), and some pray at specific times toward a specific direction. But an outward act not fueled by God’s Spirit and His truth means nothing to God (John 4:24). The Pharisees gleamed from the outside but had no real love for God, and were called whitewashed tombs.

 Jesus calls us to true devotion from the heart. He urges His followers to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Mathew 22:37). This faith penetrates our very being, transforming every part of us. Through Christ, we are no longer strangers to the God who made us. We have the privilege of knowing the eternal God, living a life with His presence and being transformed by Him into His likeness. 

We have no need to perform specific acts to appease Him. Yes, we do act on behalf of our belief. James 1:27 tells us, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” This verse speaks of helping the helpless and keeping yourself pure. But what we do is not out of obligation but simply a result of the Love of God that is within us. 

So, the word Religion doesn’t quite cover what Christianity truly is. Christianity is not a set of beliefs we subscribe to, it is the revelation of the one true God. Since we cannot strike this word out of our language, maybe we can repurpose it.

We could see this word as an opportunity instead of an insult. The next time someone refers to Christianity as a religion, or mentions religion at all, let it prompt you to share why it is not. Share about God’s unique being, share the goodness of His character, share how Jesus conquered death and share the invitation to be restored through a relationship with the living God. 

Remember to prioritize firsthand Bible reading every day, only the Word has the power to transform. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV