The Religious Test Part 1
by Pastor Mark Downey
Scripture Reading: Exodus 19:3-8
When Moses received the test question from God, the people answered in the affirmative. This was a religious test even though the words religion and religious are misnomers. A misnomer is something that is named in error. One of the first things I learned in Christian Identity is that Christianity is not a religion; it’s a way of life. Religions are man-made. Christianity is made by God. The word religion comes from the Latin ‘religio’ and means ‘to bind anew.’ This word seems originally to have signified an oath or vow to the gods, or an obligation, which was held to be very sacred during the Roman Empire. However, 200 years ago in America, religion was often synonymous with Christianity for all intents and purposes. It was the test itself that was the principle of controversy in more recent times.
The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary goes so far to say, “Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man's obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion.” The modern Merriam-Webster puts a much blander rendition of defining religion: “the service and worship of God or the supernatural; commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance.” From these two historical perspectives of religion, we can assert that there are two distinct categories i.e. Christianity in contrast to a million other gods.