What is true religion?
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12
Many assume that going to church, reading the Bible, and praying will lead to a life that honors God. Too often those practices lead only to arrogance, isolationism, and judgment. The Bible’s clear: serving others is the most effective mechanism for self-improvement.
When personal morality is our motivation, we tend to be isolationists. But the purpose of religion is not merely to keep oneself unstained by the world. The purpose of pure religion is to serve the community, particularly its most vulnerable members (James 1:27).
When service is our motivation and our mechanism for expressing our love for God, avoidance gives way to engagement. We purposely enter the places and relationships where God’s love is most needed. The truly religious become God’s ambassadors (1 Corinthians 5:20).
This motivates us to live to a higher moral standard because other people are spiritually dependent on us. Responsibility breeds more personal growth than self-control does.
In Matthew 23, Jesus criticizes the pharisees for neglecting justice (23:23), echoing the Old Testament (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6; Proverbs 21:3;
The silver rule states “Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.” State in the negative, a person can do nothing and satisfy its calling.
The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), on the other hand, demands relentless action. Such is the difference between the rules of religion and Jesus’s call to sacrificial service.
