"CHURCHIANITY"...
and "RELIGIANITY"
("Churchiocracy"... "Religiocracy"... "Doctrinocracy")

( What "The Church" is NOT )


Selected from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets"
( http://www.terrific-tabs.com )
by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)


The web-link to this "tablet" is: http://www.terrific-tabs.com/print_religianity.htm
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9/00; 6/01; 9/01; 4/02; 6/02; 7/02; 9/02; 1/03; 2/17/03; 3/03; 1/04; 7/04; 8/04; 11/04; 4/05; 10/05; 11/05; 2/06; 6/16/07

This "tablet" interrelates closely with other "tablets":
"The CHURCH"; What do you mean when you say "The CHURCH" (link)
and CIRCUMVENTING and Restricting God (link)
and Doctrinal Rigidity (link)
and A SECRET God (link)
and TRUTH; God's Truth (link)


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I must reiterate.... I love "the church" ; and I respect the church; and I recognize and appreciate the impact of "organized religion" in the lives of God's people (link). And, more than anything, I recognize and accept the sovereignty of God (link) -- the power of God in the creation and oversight and control of all aspects of life, and living -- and in all activities of the world, and of the Universe..... and of the Kingdom of God (link).

In an earlier "tablet", I elaborated upon my understanding of the "definition" and implication of the term "the church" -- and I posed rhetorical questions for myself, and for the reader, to answer.... concerning the various "meanings" that may be indicated when one speaks of "the church". (I hope the reader will refer to the link concerning "The Church".)

In this tablet, I want to give my impressions of what "the church" is NOT -- and I want to express my feelings about what some rigidly-doctrinal "religions" improperly attempt to claim for themselves.... and for their leaders, and for their members. That is, I want to describe some of the assumptions and arrogations that have "evolved" in the doctrines of various "religions" and "churches".... and I want to address some of the perversions of mission and purpose and worship which I consider to have developed in certain facets of the "organized" church -- (recurrently and progressively, I would say, for as long as "religion" and spirituality have existed as a quest of us human-animals).

(But first, I want to "insert", here, my definition of "The Church" -- quoted from my "tablet" on The Church [link]):

I consider the "church", the "true" church, to be the "aggregation" of God's people -- the "company", or "body", or "army" -- of those individuals who have been "accepted" (or "chosen", or "claimed", or "included"), by God, to be His own.... those whom God has found acceptable, in His sight, for His own reasons.... regardless of where they may live; and regardless of the doctrinal/denominational church to which they may ""belong".)

(It is my belief that no single "religion", or "church", or doctrine has "all the answers". To me, it is the height of arrogance for "churchy" individuals or groups to claim that they alone have God-in-a-box (link); and that God "belongs" to them -- and that they alone have been given authority, by God, to delineate the boundaries of "correct" spiritual thinking -- and ultimate understanding of the Omnipotent One.... the ONE who created each of us.... for His own plan and purpose.

And yet.... just think.... and look at how groups of human-beings, throughout this world.... have restricted God, and re-shaped Him, according to the whims and vagaries of powerful and influential (and sometimes dictatorial) "church" organizations (and individuals).


(The terms "churchianity" and "religianity" are my "labels" for this "tablet". I don't know where I got these conceptual nick-names. Perhaps I "borrowed" from some wise person of the past. The term "churchianity" is listed in the dictionary.)

"Religianity" -- in my current usage, refers to the various laws, rules, regulations, definitions, prohibitions and proscriptions, superstitions, requirements, rituals, ceremonies, etc. -- that have become an integral foundation of some "religions" and sects. Many of these churchy "legalisms" have evolved (layer upon layer) -- and may have nothing-at-all to do with an individual's search for God -- and for the truth about God.... and may play no part in one's responding to God (see link).

(Furthermore, I would guess that "religianity" ["religion-by-rote", and by "legalisms"].... probably has very little "influence" upon God.... or upon God's "acceptance" of an individual "child-of-God".)

"Churchianity" -- is the term I like to use to refer to denominational "squabbles", in which -- even among sectarian groups which basically agree with each other -- hostility and intense alienation sometimes develop, toward each other.... all in the name of "serving" God, and "loving" God. In these "squabbles", churchy "political" wrangling and peevish arguments may arise -- even among preachers -- and among "cliques" within a close-knit church congregation. These petty inter-denominational controversies, typically have nothing to do with the development of genuine spiritual understanding.

(I will have more to say about churchianity and religianity; and I will give several simple examples of each -- and I will ask the reader to consider his own "list". Obviously, there may be "overlap" in the examples and definitions and usages of the terms "churchianity", and "religianity".)


Concerning "churchianity" and "religianity", it is my perception that diagreements and distortions of the institutional church's "reason-for-being" have occurred, repeatedly, throughout the centuries --

(1.) whenever and wherever man-made "churchy" rules, rituals, laws, dogmas, regulations, rivalries, rites, restrictions, superstitions, exclusions, debates, splits, ceremonies, creeds, competitions, and church-businesses have been allowed to confuse and belittle and divide the attempts of God-loving individuals to "find", and to respond-to, and to interact-with.... God-the-Creator....

(2.) and.... whenever animal-ly human-characteristics, and arrogant personal jealousies, and presumptuous dogmatism have taken the place of heart-felt spirituality -- and the recognition of the Sovereignty of God (see link), and the acceptance of God's supremacy in all matters concerning His people, and His world, and His spiritual universe --

(3.) and.... whenever genuine and devoted and loving and earnest and cordial worship of God has been subjugated to human doctrinal rigidity.... and to human interference.... and to human control.

Church-made "religions", and far-fetched, hair-splitting doctrinal interpretations and stipulations and restrictions.... have seemingly attempted to MOLD God into a "designer-shape", for any-and-every sectarian group that chooses to take it upon itself to construct, and re-define, and re-make God into a humanistic and worldly image. (See link Circumventing God.)
Note the following Bibiical references on this subject:
 Mark 7: 6 (NRSV) He (Jesus) said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 In vain do they worship me -- teaching human precepts as doctrines.' 8 You abandon the commandment of God, and hold to human tradition." 9 Then He (Jesus) said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! 13 .... thus making void the word of God, through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this."

Acts 17: 24 (NRSV) The God who made the world and everything in it -- He who is Lord of heaven and earth -- does not live in shrines made by human hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mortals life and breath -- and all things.... 28 For "In Him (God) we live, and move; and have our being" -- as even some of your own poets have said, "For we too are His offspring." 29 Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that The Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone -- an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.


My understanding is that the purpose of "religion" and of "the church" is to bring together those human-beings who long to know and understand our Creator -- and to encourage "seekers" in their lifelong search for God, and in their quest for the "truth" about God.

I do NOT accept or agree that the purpose of the various worldwide "religions", and of the now-countless "organized churches ".... is to give powerful insider-individuals, and large doctrinal groups, a "religious" and/or political "mind-control" over followers and "believers".

And yet -- isn't that precisely what has happened in "religion", and in many denominational groups. Instead of leading "members" to seek God, and to understand God's grace, and His mercy -- many world-wide religions have grown in "power" to a position of dominance ("religiocracy") in virtually all aspects of the lives of their followers and "members" -- sometimes even to the point of "excluding", ex-communicating, or "exterminating" those under their control who do not toe-the-mark, and demonstrate unquestioning allegiance to a particular doctrine -- and to all the laws, and rules, superstitions, and ceremonies of that doctrine.


Consider the following additional quotations from the Bible, concerning God's people, and "the church". Read these out loud, for yourself to hear:


Matthew 15: 6 (NRSV) Jesus speaking: "So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites ! (Jesus quoting Isaiah 29: 13, shown below.) Isaiah prophesied rightly about you, when he said: 8 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 In vain do they worship me -- teaching human precepts as doctrines.'"

Isaiah 29: 13 (NRSV) (This is the scripture quoted by Jesus in both of the above references) The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is but a human commandment learned by rote. 14 So I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing. The wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden. 15 You who hide a plan too deep for the LORD, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us? Who knows us?" 16 You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? Shall the thing made say of its maker, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of the one who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

Luke 16: 15 (NRSV) So Jesus said to them (the Pharisees), "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts -- for what is prized by human-beings is an abomination in the sight of God.

1 Samuel 16: 6 (NRSV) When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him -- for the LORD does not see as mortals see. They look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

Colossians 2: 22 (NRSV) All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply HUMAN commands and teachings. 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body -- but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.

John 4: 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit, and in truth; for the Father seeks such as these to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit -- and those who worship Him must worship in spirit -- and in truth."

Mark 11: 15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple, and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple -- and He overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold doves..... 16 and He would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 He was teaching and saying, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for ALL the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."

Ephesians 4: 14-16 (NRSV) We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery -- by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

Acts 7: 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says, 49 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? 50 Did not my hand make all these things?'

Acts 17: 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, He who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything -- since He Himself gives to all mortals life and breath -- and all things.

John 5: 41 (NRSV) (Jesus speaking) I do not accept glory from human-beings. 44 How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another -- and do not seek the glory that comes from the ONE who ALONE is God?

1 Thesalonians 2: 4 (NRSV) But, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel; even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God -- who tests our hearts.

Galatians 4: 8 (NIV) Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God -- or rather are KNOWN BY GOD -- how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?

Galatians 3: 22 (KJV) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the Law; shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Same: 23 (NIV) Before faith came, we were held prisoners by the Law (JNT note: "religious" rules, regulations, rites, ceremonies, etc.) -- locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the SUPERVISION of the Law.

Isaiah 40: 13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed Him, as His counselor? 14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge, or showed Him the path of understanding?

(JNT note: why has "man" arrogated to himself the "authority" to restrict or limit God -- or why have man-made "doctrines" attempted to establish encumbrances and boundaries on that which God leads and allows His own "offspring" to understand?)


Here are a few brief statements about "religianity" and "churchianity". I am hoping that the reader will contemplate these examples -- and consider his own additions to the list:

Unquestioning worshipping of a "religion" or a doctrine is "religianity";

Deaf and adamant allegiance to a "denomination" is churchianity;

Blind acceptance of an inflexible creed is religianity;

"Religianity" is not necessarily spirituality.... or worship;

Doctrinal rigidity is religianity;

Superstitious churchianity does not "open the gates" of Heaven;

Rote-ritualistic denominational activities are churchianity;

Ceremonial baptism is religianity, and does not secure acceptance by God;

Memorizing and reciting creeds is religianity, and does not create holiness;

Hostile and belligerent doctrinal advocacy is "religianity";

Superstitious reliance on "good-works", church-attendance, tithing , etc. -- can be manifestations of churchianity;

Reliance upon accepting and "obeying" denominational laws, regulations and ceremonies does not "cause" God to accept or "save" an individual;

"Churchianity" is not Christianity;

Religianity emphasizes "church activism" and "ecuminism", as if to claim that the reason for "the church" is to bring about something that God is "unable" to accomplish, Himself -- without the make-work and "deeds" prescribed by a local church, or its leaders.

Religianity embraces the concept that all humanly good must be generated under the auspices of a "religion", or under the directorship and control of a particular doctrine.... rather than under the power and control of God -- with each individual Godsperson working and worshipping in his own sphere; each in his own "ministry" -- assigned and guided by God.

"Churchianity" is business and "busy-ness" in "the church.... "business" concerns dealing primarily with church finances; membership "numbers"; jealousy among members; competition between local churches; pastoral ambitions; the urgency for bigger church buildings and larger parking lots; and on and on....... matters having little or nothing to do with spiritual teaching and understanding.

Religianity -- a conscious plan and decision and claim of the leadership of certain doctrines, to imply that God's people cannot understand God, without the help of a minister or priest; and that the members of a church must therefore be told by a church "intermediary" -- what God thinks, and says, and expects -- and how a "member" must "behave" -- and what a member must "do", to become acceptable to God..... ALL in the opinion of whichever preacher, or priest, or "church", or denomination is making the claim.

SUMMARY:

So what is the purpose of this "chapter". It is certainly not my purpose or intention to criticize anyone's decision concerning his "religion", or "church".

My understanding is that an individual's development of his personal "religion" is between that person, and God-the-Creator -- and that the "development-process" is lifelong -- and that the process is constantly under the guidance and oversight of God, Himself. All of us humans who seek God are aware that learning about God, and "sensing" God, and seeing and hearing God -- are indeed an "evolving" search -- and that few individuals (if any) instantaneuosly receive "total" understanding (even though some churches would lead us to believe that "joining" their church rewards a new "convert" immediately and completely, if that new member "accepts" the tenets of their particular doctrine).

My "problem" with most "institutional" churches has to do with doctrinal (or denominational) laws, rules, regulations, dogmas, and restrictions -- which are taught and imposed upon a church's membership..... by those in denominational authority. The effect of these church-dictated and humanly-imposed "regulations" and dogmas, can be to squelch the seeking of a personally-satisfying spiritual understanding -- and to confuse those who earnestly search for God -- by directing the "members" to accept ("believe") that only one doctrine has "all the answers". In other words, in various rigidly doctrinal "churches", there seems to be a "compulsion" to require members to swear allegiance to a certain exclusionary "doctrine" -- with an inplication that all other church "doctrines" are erroneous, or heretical, or even "sinful".

As I see it: The real function on any "church" should be to "teach" about God and the Bible -- not to mandate laws and rules of a church-made, doctrinal "religion-by-rote". After all, what human-being, however high he may be in any church-of-humans, knows the thoughts and plans and purposes of God. The best any of us humans can do is to receive guidance and encouragement -- from God -- as God leads each of us through our own particular individual journey.

That is, there is no institutional "church" that has deciphered the complete mind of God, resulting in a precise group of rules and regulations, and do's and don't's -- that God says must be prescribed-for and accepted-by every human-being. I get the impression that some doctrines attempt to mandate that each "follower" must be precisely the same as all others (religious "cloning", or "monkism").... and that God requires each of us humans to "fit" into a single, exclusionary doctrinal mold -- with every "member" becoming an exact and obedient reflection of all others.

Note this marvelous Biblical reference: I Corinthians 12 (NRSV) 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities.... but it is the same God who activates all of them, in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit, for the common good.

So.... what do you say? Are you willing to abandon your own thoughts, and your personal spiritual decipherings -- and yield to the "pressure" and mandates of a specific doctrinal organization?

Perhaps you are afraid not to "profess" belief in what someone else has vociferously proclaimed to be "the ONLY way" to God.... or maybe you dread that your own "internal" personal conclusions have led you to a set-of-beliefs which God might consider to be unsatisfactory.... and maybe you fear that you will therefore be punished or excluded by God because of your "incorrect" beliefs. (See link Salvation is from God -- not from human-beings.)

My belief is that God guides each of His accepted "children" into precisely the spiritual understanding that God desires for that individual -- at that individual's particular "phase" of life-on-earth.... and I believe that God directs the continual spiritual evolution of each Godsperson, according to a pre-determined divine plan.... irrespective of an one's "church" membership.

I am betting my life on this belief.... for now, and for the life-to-come. What about you?

6/16/07