There are words that have been used to describe the journey we are on that have been taken out of context, come under attack, and are misunderstood. One I have heard a lot lately is “religious”. Religious means repetitive, or repeating. We meet one morning a week at the same place and the same time – repetitively. That word gets teamed up with the word “spirit” and is given a negative twist. The phrase “religious spirit” is used to define the actions and attitudes of people who believe that their particular repetitive acts are required for salvation. Using the example above; the religious spirit would say that you must attend their services, every time they have a service, and no other service to be saved. It isn’t the repetitive action that constitutes a religious spirit, but the attitude and intent.

Repetitive acts are used to learn to play an instrument, to learn the alphabet, how to read, how to do math functions, to exercise, etc. The same can be true of our spiritual walk; repetitive acts in the physical can be used to teach us things about the spirit. The negative is when those acts are taught as the way to salvation. Another negative is to say, because someone else does repetitive acts that are different than the ones we do, they are not saved (or they have a religious spirit). Grace is the way to salvation and the Christ is the way of grace. Salvation is a heart things; a spiritual thing that happens in our heart – between God’s heart and our heart.

Another word is correction. Correction is a course change. Correction has been referred to as condemnation, and they are not the same thing. There is no condemnation in Christ, but there is correction. We are on a journey and from time to time we need to correct our course to stay on target. When we refuse to make the change and a brother or sister in the Lord mentions the need for a change, we tend to look at it as condemnation. As we spoke of above, there is negative and the negative will bring with it condemnation. The condemnation is not in the correction, but in not making a needed course change and getting off course (wandering into condemnation). There is no condemnation is giving direction. And God will send direction through another person, if we have gotten off course and are not listening to Him.

Questioning the person who God uses to bring the course change is not the answer. God will give someone something to share with another without revealing anymore than what to share. God can give an animal or the wind in the trees a message for someone. He once sent a small flock of birds, and had them fly into the wind, to show me I was being stubborn about something. It would have done me no good to challenge the birds; instead I asked God. As soon as I did, the birds turned and went with the wind and glided away. I needed to make a course change in my heart and God used birds to show me. Some times when we refuse to hear from God through a brother or sister, we condemn the brother or sister by accusing them of being condemning. Grace and forgiveness will get us back on track.

Lately I have seen the two of these ideas used together. When correction is brought the reaction is to condemn the one bringing correction by accusing them of having a religious spirit. Another way I have seen the two together is when someone tries to correct someone who has repetitive acts different from their own, by calling the act the result of a religious spirit. If I worship on Saturday, that does not constitute a negative religious spirit; but telling someone else they are damned because they do not observe one day greater than another just might. The same is true of worshipping on Sunday. In fact it is proper to worship everyday and all the time. When we have agape grace and forgiveness, we are worshipping all the time; without words or music, because we are remembering the sacrifice of Jesus and walking in the promise.

God first gave this to me; as direction. Years ago He told me that the things He shares with me are not just for me, but are also testimonies. That is why I write and post writing where others can read and share. It is not because I believe I have all the answers. God shares with me without showing me the heart that needs to change (who needs the course change – except for my own heart), and He is not telling me people secrets. God is sharing His heart with me. To give direction, it is good to know where you are starting from; where you are helps define the path you take to where you are going. God knows where His people are, and God knows where they need to go.

© 2010, Tim D. Coulter Sr.