Religion. Finding the right religion was a major issue in my life. The only issue, one might say.

I never had to choose regarding non-Christian religions. The God of the Christians introduced Himself early. Unfortunately, there was still a lot to choose from within what is called Christian.

Which of the Christian religions? How to conform to that group’s teaching?

First a little more about the word "religion."

I am grateful for the revival in progress today. But inside the revival, as is true of every revival of history, there are things that need to be corrected. I am studying Randy Clark’s wonderful work in this area.

One bubble that needs to be burst is this idea that religion itself is bad.

The word is a neutral word, and mean nothing unless an adjective is with it. Good religion. Bad religion. Vain religion. Pure religion.

The Greek thrayskos, "religion," means “ceremonious in worship, pious, ceremonial observance, worshipping.”

Words like "Pious" sound bad to us because of the Popes that wore that name and were definitely not pious.

Popes wore the name "Innocent", too, and were not innocent. But none of us believe that innocence is a bad characteristic.Well, neither is piety or religion.

The end of James 1:27 says, "This man's religion is vain." You would think it said just the last part of that verse, "religion is vain," to hear people talk. But it's the man that makes the religion, not the other way around.

So when we are tempted to say about someone with a sneer, "He’s religious," better to say that he has a vain empty religion. Better yet to watch out about judging others.

Everyone is religious. We were made to worship and serve. Most people worship and serve themselves. What they do in terms of worship is often for others to see so people will think they are holy. This is FALSE empty religion.

But there is a true worship, a true religion, a heartfelt love of God and our family in Christ, and as we grow, we love the world outside too.