What would be your answer, if you have asked yourself, is Christianity a religion?

Are Christians – religious people?

My answer is “no.” But let us look into the Word of God. Is there any religion mentioned? Yes, it is. For example, in the New Testament we can find religion mentioned in the Book of Acts.

Acts 17, 16-23:

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) 22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

The Greek word “deisidaimonesteros”, translated here „too superstitious“ has meaning “too religious”. Thus, people of Athens are very religious. Religious person worships the God he does not know. Religious person simply keeps to the rituals known to him and acts as it is customarily in society he lives. Christian in contrary is God’s child and has a personal relationship with God. He personally knows God whom he worships and he does not need temples, various visual elements and profit-making intermediaries between him and his Father. Therefore one of the accusations for early Christians in Roman Empire was that they are not religious. This being not religious simply eroded the foundations of the state, because the state dictated who and how had to be worshiped and made profit from these rituals. Religion then as well as know was very closely intertwined, just woven into the life of society.

We know from history, that only a few centuries passed and Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire. This was great tactics of satan. New, so-called Christian state dictated who and how must be worshiped, the pantheon of gods had changed, rituals had been adapted. And now the catholic ceremony of Mass is being celebrated in the place of Roman Pantheon – in the temple that was built “for all gods” in the times of Roman Empire.

Religion at all the times openly or secretly acts together with the state; to be exact religion manages the state, shows its direction and dictates its customs and traditions. And if you remember that whore women, which is described in the book of Acts, she sits on the beast of state. In our country religion officially is separated form the state and we have no the state religion, at least so it is declared. In fact, we have a few recognised religion organisations but one of them is clearly dominating, catholics. Many religion organizations seek the state recognition. The state recognition means support, first of all financial support, money.

It is written in Lithuanian Wikipedia:

“Recognition means that the recognized by state religious community has its social, spiritual and cultural heritage, which is supported by the state.”

If religion is recognized that means it is supported and respected and it can have influence on the political and cultural life, it can make some profit and to merchandise gold, slaves and the human souls.

In different states different branches of so called Christian religion dominate and make influence to the state governance.

The Russian Orthodox dominates in Russia.

Catholics are the most powerful branch of religion in European Union and maybe even in America.

Catholicism is a mother of all so called Christian religious communities and the vast majority of religious organisations seek collaborate with it. The appearance of ecumenism brings no good; it tries to connect the different parts of Babylon and leads people to bigger confusion, further from the Truth.

As I have mentioned already, in Lithuania we have only one religion community dominating and it is very closely related to the state. Lithuania is called the catholic country and that is true. For example, on feast days in one of the “holy places” in Lithuania, Šiluva, the orders came into some schools and other budgetary institutions, for example, police stations to collect certain numbers of people into these festivities.

It is inevitable that religion manipulates people and dictates who, when, how and where should be worshiped and tries to use secular power for achieving its goals and it goes on like that for thousands of years. Officially it is said that all the means are good if the goal is to bring people close to God. But what God is it? Is it not mammon? Who profits from numerous visiting of the feasts and recollections? To whom makes profit religious people, some even not willingly, but “because it must be so”. I am sure that such things have no right to be called Christianity; it is not according to the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Let us remember Jesus, as He is described in the New Testament. Did He seek to make a new religion? Did He try to persuade Pilot, or to please Herod, or high priests? Did He try to attract the crowds? It is written that Herod wanted to see Jesus and his miracles, but Jesus had not intention to ingratiate any worldly power, neither state, nor religious. Jesus had no relation with the state power, He only said “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's” (Mathew 22,21) As for the religious leaders, Jesus said them truth and that truth often was embarrassing:

Mathew 23, 27-28:

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Mathew 23, 15:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Strict are the words of Jesus – “ye make him twofold more the child of hell”, because religion is one of the best of instruments of satan. Religion has no truth and Christianity is not a religion. Christianity and religion are incompatible things.

I remember, when I was lead out of Catholicism, I was naïvely thinking that all the Christians are automatically in truth because they are not catholics, bear the right name, speak tongues and read the Bible – the Word of God. I was waiting to what true religious community the Lord will bring me. I was looking for my place in the right community, who will be my home and where I will worship God and share my worries and joys with my brothers and sisters. And God showed me many communities and some even did not show, only giving warning that it would be better not to go. My husband and I were given a chance to take a look at various communities of so-called Christian religion and of course that was only a part of all the communities. There is a large diversity of various communities in this not narrow road.

If we look into Christianity as a religion, we see a lot of big and small religious communities, all of which are saying that they are going the right way and they teach you some rules how you should act to earn the eternity. All of them speak about Jesus, more or less, but all have something added besides Jesus. Of course, there is no community that could overtake the catholics in abundance of idols. They have thousands of idols who differ by age and sanctity and a lot of various teachings, so covering the teaching of Jesus Christ and Apostles, that it is corrupted totally. Catholics have the pope, who is “vicar of Christ” and do not make any mistakes according to dogma of papal infallibility. They also have some queen of Heaven and lots of other strange teachings and beliefs (that are more widely talked about in other articles here).

Other Christian religious organisations also have their leaders and “infallible” prophets and practically all of them besides God serves also mammon.

In spiritual level this religious system has wide variety of things to offer. As you remember, it is said in the word of God that Babylon “is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Rev. 18,2). Babylon can make an offer of temptation to anyone according to the desire of his or her heart. And the results of the things that a person has chosen spiritually can be seen through bodily eyes. Catholics usually attend their ritual in the beautiful building with many statues every Sunday, and then they are feeling calm that they already had given their tribute of 60 minutes and few euros to God and live the rest of the week as all the other secular people do. Those who want to experience more so called spirituality, can have more. There are even such communities where it is highly spiritual to mutilate the body (to whip for example). There are communities which members seek spirituality by sleeping on the bare floor, with the book instead of pillow and are periodically starving. There are “Christian” communities of other kind, demonstratively drinking bear in front of TV, so declaring their freedom. Some communities try to cover the heads of the women, the others teach prosperity and money seeking. The others speak about freedom and love, saying: “We are the children of God and we can do anything our hearts desire, because He is good and wiling to forgive; the most important thing to show love.” And without understanding what love is described in Paul’s letter to Corinthians, people rush into it so bodily, that it has a danger to bring not only spiritual whoredom. The religious communities could be talked about more widely but I have no aim to criticise every community. I only say what I must say: that all the religion organisations in one or other way, more or less, overlap with the Truth of Jesus Christ, because it is inevitable for the organisation.

It is not important, what kind of religious community it is, it will always try to manipulate you. It may be well hidden, but it comes out eventually in one way or another that someone has some plans regarding you. Most often the aim of organisation is very simple: money and growth, because growth of organisation means more money and more power.

Catholic organisation leaders are good experts here, they manipulate people for several centuries and it is not hard for them to influent people thinking using well known superstitions. For example, most of the catholics believe that if you will not baptise your child he or she will go to hell. Also, they believe that you must have Mass celebration for the deceased relatives and give money to the priest for the proper burial ceremony in order your relative will have less punishment in purgatory. This structure works well and still gives good profit for the organisation.

New, modern so-called Christian religion organisations often try to tempt you with God blessings. They encourages going into conferences or other events, shows and celebrations they organise and promises big blessings for attendants of these events and the rain of Holy Spirit on participants. They offer many courses and not without fee, of course. You can even learn to be a prophet (?) for certain amount of money. And all the religion communities know useful for them places in the Bible, for example, about the poor widow, who gave to God her last coins, and they use these places to excite people of their congregation and to request more money.

Not only catholics, but also other so-called Christian religious organisations are working closely with the world, with political power and business structures. I have read about that global leadership conference in Lithuania, which was recently organized by one of the Christian religious organizations:

“The main purpose of the Global Leadership Conference - to develop leaders around the world; inspiring them, giving or revitalizing the vision of the future, developing their skills for the good of society and Church.”

This conference is ecumenical, therefore members of any Christian organisation can attend it. For about 50 euro you can listen to lecturers from around the world; these lecturers are very famous and influential public figures and leaders of religious organizations, which will tell you how to influence people, how to successfully manage your own religious organisation, and how to manage people's emotions and their cash flows. That of course is not my business, let they organise their conferences, only why to involve here Jesus? How you can call such an event Christian? Can you imagine Jesus Christ attending it?

There is no Christianity here; practically it is a conference for the leaders of religious organisations, teaching them to manipulate people more skilfully.

Any religious organisation as such is concerned about growing and expanding and to use people. As we remember, it is written in the Bible that money, power and glory are bodily things and are important only in this world.

Galatians 6, 7-8:

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Galatians 1, 10:

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Religion in any of its form cannot be the right path. Religion is the wish to have a marriage of convenience, at the same time having whoredom with many others. But we are talking about the real relationship with God, about the Way, leading to eternal life in the kingdom of God, about the true discipleship and following of Jesus Christ. Religion is talking about the similar things and uses the same words and quotes Bible. There are a lot of varieties and manifestations of religion and sometimes you feel even physically sick from all these distortions of the Truth; from love without Truth, and from the truth that is given with hatred and from half-truth. And it all started back in the times of the apostles. There are a lot of various teachings; and so it was already in apostolic times. Sometimes people are sincerely mistaken and confusing others. They speak about Jesus, but tell only part of the Truth, some of self-interest, while others simply because of not understanding. Even the apostle Paul warned:

1 Corintians 3, 10-15:

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

In fact, all our knowledge is not complete (and I cannot manifest that I understand everything, of course not). Even one of the greatest apostles, Paul, said that our knowledge is only partial, as long as we live in the physical body:

1 Corintians 13, 9-10:

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1 Corintians 13, 12:

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The Word of God says that as long as we live in the flesh, we do not have full knowledge. So how can we distinguish where religion is, and where is the true Way? Distinguishing is possible. If you are born again of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit will give a clear signal to you. God himself will lead you, in the most comprehensive to you way. And if you will not close the eyes of your heart, you will be able to distinguish. The Holy Spirit will help you to choose the Truth.

We also know a number of criteria for our minds to help distinguish, who is who. Religion will always try to introduce rules, rituals, to squeeze you into some frames, adjust, manipulate, organize, and give the "right" model. And always next to Jesus Christ's teaching, some teaching of men will be offered, "improving" and supplementing Jesus teaching. And each organization will seek to make a profit and grow. Megachurches - the modern phenomenon of these days, a huge part of Babylon, owning a lot of money and a large amount of people's bodies and souls.

Growth is very important for the organization. It is the proof of its popularity and a guarantee of a successful existence. Ah, that count of "rescued" head, that marvellous question, "Is your church growing?" But should not a Christian ask other Christian anything else: "How are you brother (or sister) going in the narrow path? Maybe the Lord gave you any new fellow brother? "

How it happens so, that Christians constantly are establishing new religious organizations? Most often everything starts with the Holy Spirit. Luther can be an example here. He could not endure the horrors taking place in the Catholic church, started to speak the truth to people, and even translated God's Word to them. But near Luther, when he was alive, and especially later, after his death, appeared people who tried to used him for their own purposes, in politics, in their struggle for power.

We know that the availability of Word of God for ordinary people was dotted with blood. The massacre continued to spread in all the countries. And so goes on each time, to this day, whenever there is a leader, inevitably around him will be people who worship not only God, but also that leader, or who want to manipulate him. Here we have idols and spiritual adultery. If the attitude of the leaders heart is not quite correct, such person begins to imagine himself some great one and set up an organization with his or her own teaching. And that is it: you are already a part of Babylon. And after a couple of decades such a leader is already sitting in the ecumenical breakfast with other leaders of the parts of Babylon, discussing some profit-making "Christian" project. Sometimes God himself raise some particular person for His service, a true leader that leads people to Christ and does not seek to create an organization, but there are people around who create an organisation if not during his or her lifetime then after death…

To be continued in the next part