The Spirit of the Word
"The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life."     Jesus
                                                                    "The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life."     Paul

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        Paul knew what it-was to be RELIGIOUS, he also came to know what it meant to count all of that realm as DUNG, that he might come into an intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ― TO WIN CHRIST.  Win― the Greek word "kerdaino" meaning: gain, with the sense of acquiring Christ's favor and blessing.  Our English word "gain" comes from the Old High German word "weidenen" meaning: to pasture.  Furthermore, it signifies a pasture without fences.  There is a going on― to enter into Christ, to plunge into the depths― a union with Him where there are no barriers or limitations.  RELIGION does not lead you into this expansive realm in Christ, but rather fences you in with its many creeds and doctrines which become an end in themselves.
        Our English word "religion" comes from the Latin "religion meaning: taboo, or restraint.  It bespeaks of a system of faith and worship, with all of its "do, and don't," exercised by the will of man to gain favor with his God.
        The Greek word is "threskeiall meaning: outward ceremonial observance.  And it is interesting to note that it traces back to the base of "throeo" which means: to wail.  I have known some very religious people, they could really wail, moan, groan; and others, quite mistakenly thought them very spiritual because of it, judging only by the outward appearance of a ceremonial wail.
        Thayer's Lexicon, gives the meaning of the word as: "primarily, fear of the gods," a religious worship, especially external― that which consists in ceremonies.  So again we have the thought of appeasing the gods, out of a fear of their supposed power to do us harm, and so we do service to them.
        The Amplified Translation rightly defines the word― "External religious worship (religion as it is expressed in outward acts)...." (James 1:27).  And in its footnote, it gives a quotation from the Commentary of Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, that "Religion in its rise interests us about ourselves; in its progress, about our fellow-creatures; in its highest stage, about the honor of God." Thus they are saying that in its lowest form, man's religion is very self-centered.  Then it may progress into many good works for others― deeds that make the doer feel very religious, pious, and, I dare say, quite self-righteous.  While in its highest stage religion it is concerned about God― but in particular how we stand with our God.  So the interests of self are very involved in man's religious worship ceremonies-toward God, perhaps, but with self in mind, as to what will I get out of this?  More of God's blessing?  I hope so!  Thus man will follow Him so long as He multiplies the loaves and fishes, but if the blessings give way to the inworking of the cross, many are ready to draw back.
        Scholars well know that each letter in the Hebrew and Greek alphabets has its own numerical value.  And in their book, "Theomatics," by Jerry Lucas and Del Washburn, they mention that the words "satan" and "religion" both have the same theomatic value.  And they state, "Religion is of Satan, but Christianity is a new life and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Christianity is not a religion.  Praise God for this fact!" unquote.
        Perhaps it might be a little strong to say that ALL religion is of Satan, for that glorifies Satan too much, giving him credit he does not deserve.  But I dare say, an awful lot of religion gives much emphasis to Satan, of his so-called power, and they make him almost omnipresent, though he is not.  And if they would WORSHIP CHRIST as much as they talk about the devil, they might soon break out of their mode of religion, and come into a new dimension of LIFE.  Yet, even Christianity can become a religion just as soon as we infect it with self-effort and self-will, turn it into some form of enterprise which becomes self-serving for the interests of the flesh.
        In the conversation of Jesus with the woman at the well, she said, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and you say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.  Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.  But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him." (John 4:23).
        In commenting on this, Origin wrote: "He who would follow the Lord must lay aside all preference for particular places.  He called God SPIRIT, that He might distinguish Him from bodies (i.e. mankind); and He named Him the TRUTH, to distinguish Him from a shadow or an image.  They who worshipped in Jerusalem worshipped God NEITHER in truth or spirit, being in subjection to the shadow or image of heavenly things."
        Men have constantly thought of God in terms of a man, attributing to Him all the base emotions of man.  Long ago the word was given, "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent..." (Numbers 23:19).  HE IS SPIRIT, and He must be worshipped "in spirit," that is, out of our heart, out of our innermost being― as our spirit reaches out to magnify and exalt Him.  This is not an external doing, it is a lifeflow from within.  Furthermore, real spirit worship cannot be in subjection to types and shadows, it reaches out for REALITY― "deep calling unto deep" unrestrained by religious forms.  A worship that requires an atmosphere to stimulate an attitude and a mood for our ceremonial observances, with robed choirs, stained glass windows, attention focused "front and center upon a leader," etc. is not a spontaneous outflow from our spirit― rather, it is a generated worship by the will of man.
        Thus we have come to the conclusion that what is SPIRITUAL in its inception can become mere religion by nothing more than adding the extra ingredient of self-effort and self-will, till it deteriorates into works of the flesh.
        Religion can be, and may well be, the greatest enemy of the Spirit, for it was religious belief that crucified Jesus, and it was religious belief that hindered the entry of men into the Kingdom of God.  And even in this day it is religious belief that continues to crucify Christ anew and afresh, as Paul wrote: "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you." (Gal. 3:1).  Having begun in the spirit, they were ready to revert back to the works of the flesh, to observe days, and months, and times, and years― back in bondage to form and ceremony, rather than the free flow of His life through them by the Spirit.  TURNING BACK TO LEGALISM IS IN EFFECT CRUCIFYING CHRIST AFRESH― for it is a turning away from the LIFE OF THE SPIRIT, to man's own works and self-effort.
        A friend has shared the thought with us that "God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac so that He could KEEP SPIRITUAL what had been spiritual.  Had Abraham been so wrapped up in protecting his well-founded belief in Isaac as the beginning of the promised New Nation (seed), he might have found himself on the outside of the will of God just by standing on the very Word that had given him the son in the first place."
        Indeed, had Abraham sought to hold on to Isaac, reminding God that this very son was the fulfillment of God's promise to him― he would have tried to KEEP BY THE FLESH what had begun by the spirit.  God's promise, and even God's fulfillment thereof, must remain at God's disposal.
        And so we now understand that it is possible that just by standing on the promises, without moving an inch, holding the same position that God asked us to hold yesterday, we can step outside of the will of God for today, and so "change the truth of God into a lie and worship and serve the created thing (the doctrine, the promise) rather than the Creator. (Rom. 1:25).
        The secret of staying in the will of God is to "follow the Lamb wherever He goes." (Rev. 14:4).  Even if it does not make sense to us in the light of what we have always known as "revealed truth." It must have seemed most incomprehensible to Abraham, at least at first, that God would ask him to sacrifice that for which he had waited so long, and in whom all his confidence rested.  Especially since this was clearly that which had been given by God in such a miraculous manner, as the fulfillment of so long-standing a promise.  Yet God's purpose continued to unfold, and Abraham must follow.
        To follow the Lamb wherever He goes requires great flexibility. it is possible that when we adhere rigidly to a promise, as we understand that promise, without taking a step in any direction, we could suddenly find ourselves outside the will of God.  And not only outside the will of God, BUT INSIDE THE RIGID WALLS OF LEGALISM, and in danger of crucifying our Lord afresh.  We might claim it and stand on it, and insist that God honor His Word "on the level we understand it," when He has a far greater meaning for that promise, if we are willing to LET GO OUR OWN SELF-CLAIMING-WORKS, and just let the Spirit lead us as He wills.  Hence we often find a prayer in our heart, "Lord, I do not understand what all this Word means, but, whatever You mean by it, that is what I desire." Why limit Him to our own understanding?  Why not yield ourselves to Him― and follow wherever HE goes?  There are such heights and depths to be experienced in Him.
        Self-will is at the root of self-effort, and self-effort constitutes the works of the law, and the works of the law take us outside of the realm of faith― becoming A RELIGION, rather than the free flow of His life.
        Once Jesus pointed His hearers back to those who followed Moses through the wilderness and partook of the miraculous provision of manna day by day.  For sure, God did a wonder for them, but it seems that He did for them in a way that was FAR BELOW the realm toward which we reach as we press on for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Jesus revealed this, when He said, "Your fathers did eat manna (miraculous provision) in the wilderness, AND ARE DEAD. - I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever." (John 6:49, 51).
        Likewise we can insist on a literal fulfillment of the "letter of the Word" and while God may meet us on that level― yet, "He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." (Psalm 106:15).  And we need to be very careful, lest in our insisting that God answer every promise our way, we find ourselves in a death realm, and much leanness of soul.
        In the wilderness we can expect to call for God to keep certain kinds of promises.  But when we begin to move in another dimension, it may well be possible that IN DEMANDING, even getting, the miraculous provision of the wilderness, we would deprive ourselves of a higher experience with God.
        When we loose our hold on the "sacred thing" in earth, will we not also have simultaneously loosed something of even greater importance and with more far-reaching consequences than are presently made visible.  For what we loose on earth, is also "loosed in heaven." There are truths here which go far beyond our present comprehension― to be loosed into His reality.
        He has not called us to religion, BUT TO HIMSELF.  Not to the outward form, but to inner substance.  Often the outward form will become our adversary, keeping us from going on into that which He has prepared for them that love Him.  We need to take a leap of faith beyond doctrine, into a higher realm of trust.  May God deliver us from our "religions" and bring us into a LIVING RELATIONSHIP with Himself, as He dwells within us, and we IN HIM.
        We are reminded of what Richard Halverson once said about Christianity.  He said it started with Jesus and the twelve disciples.  Jesus declared the message of God's love, forgiveness, etc. as a message to be preached TO THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE.  Then this message of Jesus went to Greece and became a philosophy (Origen, Augustine, etc.). Then it went to Rome and became an institution, the Roman Catholic Church.  Then it went to Europe and became a culture, the British Christian culture.  And then it came to America and became an enterprise― just a religion for merchandising.
        How we need for the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST to be the clear message of God's love, God's forgiveness― God's power to transform― God's restorative plan to be shared with the hungry hearts that fill our churches and our nation.  We are living in a very privileged age, an age in which this message can be shared.  However, it needs to go beyond "words" and become a LIFE THAT IS LIVED― a state of being that expresses the reality of His life.  We cannot live this out of ourselves― only Christ can live the Christ-life through us, therefore the necessity of a relationship with Him.
        A relationship with Christ requires that WE FOLLOW HIM WHEREVER HE GOES.  The Greek word for "follow" is "akoloutheo" meaning" to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (as a disciple).  He has given "us an example, that you should follow in His steps." (1 Peter 2:21).  This is not just an historical way of life, trying to be imitators of Him as He lived two thousand years ago― we are not called to be imitators, but PARTAKERS of Christ.  It is BEING IN HIS WAY TODAY, as the Spirit leads us onward step by step.  Eliezer said it so well, "I being in the way, the Lord led me..." (Gen. 24:27).  We're going the same direction HE is going, following Him!
        In contrast to religion, which is hung up on some particular doctrine, or a personality, infused with self-will and self-effort, there is an intimate walk with Christ, seeking only to live out HIS WILL, and fulfill HIS plan.
        It requires that total surrender, "not my will, but Yours, be done." And it is a daily challenge to maintain our eyes single to Him alone, that we might be filled with His light, and that He might fulfill His promises in HIS WAY, rather than our trying to circumscribe Him to our interpretations.
        "A certain scribe came to Jesus, and said unto Him, Master, I will follow You wherever You go." (Matthew 8:19).  On the surface this sounds like a sincere committal, but Jesus immediately put it to the test, as He answered, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay His head." Jesus didn't even get into the SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS of following Him, for just the "natural aspects" would be enough to cause the scribe to take a second look at what it might mean to follow Jesus.  Certainly we have proven by experience over many years that HE IS FAITHFUL TO PROVIDE FOR OUR NATURAL NEEDS, but there also have been times of real stripping, laying all on the altar, facing poverty and not going into panic, willing to count all things as loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ― just to have MORE OF HIM WITHIN.
        "And another of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  But Jesus said unto him, FOLLOW ME; and let the dead bury their dead." (Matthew 8:21-22).  The issue was not about "funerals," it was about PRIORITIES.  Who comes first?  Religion is filled with various GOOD WORKS which become "first priority," and an end in themselves.  In our FOLLOWING HIM WHEREVER HE GOES, we are not to be "need conscious," but "the will of God conscious." What is FIRST in His purpose for us?  Yet how quick we are to think, "But what will the people say?" Religion has a standard to be maintained, they will think I am uncaring, unconcerned, just "too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." So we set about to gather up all the loose ends of good works, putting FIRST these many things, and then if any time is left, we'll let the Lord know we are trying to follow Him.
        Breaking out of the "mode of religion," into the free flow of His life, and our following Him, requires a deep inworking of His cross.  "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:24-25).

"Let me lose my life, and find it, Lord, in Thee,
May all self be slain, my friends see only Thee,
Though it cost me grief and pain, I will find my life again,
If I lose my life, and find it, Lord, in Thee."  (Ross Minkler)

        Following the Lord is more than "loaves and fishes," it is self-denial, and taking up our cross, bearing it in the midst of misunderstanding by all the people that are around you, and knowing that HE ALONE IS OUR RESTING PLACE.
        This is indeed an on-going process worked out in the nitty-gritty of every day living― in the home, at work, in our multi-relationships with people.  It would be easier to have it wrought in one climactic crucifixion, even if on a cross in full view of the world, where they all could see that we were being "crucified with Christ." But this LAYING DOWN OUR LIFE reaches into avenues that we never dreamed would be touched.  It means we surrender our children to Him, for God to work in their lives as He pleases, even if it is far different than what we, in ourselves, had hoped it would be.  It means that in our humiliation, as a sheep before its shearers is dumb, so we do not try to defend ourselves when falsely accused or justify ourselves when misunderstood.  It means we do not wrap our "religious garments" about ourselves and wear a martyr's smile, so that others see how sweetly we are bearing our burdens for the Lord. Oh, how deeply the cross works into each attitude and inner feeling― till all is laid out before Him.
        One writer of years ago expressed it well, and we share the paragraph. "So let us scorn earthly things, TO BE WHOLLY GOD'S.  I am not saying that we should leave them absolutely, because, when we are already living an honest and regulated life, WE ONLY NEED TO CHANGE OUR HEARTS DEPTH IN LOVING, and we shall do nearly the same things we were doing. For God does not reverse the conditions of men, nor the responsibilities which He Himself has given them, but we, to serve God, do what we were doing to serve and please the world, and to satisfy ourselves.  There would be only this difference, that instead of being devoured by our pride, by our overbearing passions and by malicious criticism of the world, WE SHALL ACT INSTEAD WITH LIBERTY, COURAGE, AND HOPE IN GOD."
        Following the Lamb wherever He goes does not mean that we dash across the country, escaping all of our responsibilities.  MUCH OF THIS FOLLOWING IS INWARD!  We continue with the normal duties which He has given us to do, but with an attitude of constant surrender to His will, that HE be first and foremost in us at all times.  We do not take our religious stance and insist that God do things in our way, in our timetable, according as to how we feel His Word should be fulfilled.  But unreservedly we remain in a state of WILLINGNESS for His purpose to be consummated in us, through us, according to His wisdom's rare design, and all to His glory and praise.
        "Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed You.  And He said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that has left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." (Luke 18:28-30).
        It is true, there are times when He will test us as to our commitment to Him, and there is a literal forsaking― yielding up our all.  But most of the time this is INWARD― upon the altar of our heart everything remains OFFERED UP, so that whatever possessions we have, they do not possess us.  Paul wrote, "As having nothing, yet possessing all things." (2 Cor. 6:10).  And when INWARDLY all is surrendered, it matters little if He requires an outward expression of this, or not.  Relinquishment is an attitude of the heart, and when all is LOOSED WITHIN there will be no exterior grasping.
        "And when he (the shepherd) puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice .of strangers." (John 10:4-5).
        Now we have an allegory, with the shepherd, and the stranger.  In a sense we have them both within.  The Shepherd is THE VOICE OF THE CHRIST WITHIN.  The stranger is the voice of the carnal mind― and by extension, could be called the voice of "religion." I dare say, our spiritual maturity is evidenced by the "voice" to which we hearken and follow.  God is Spirit and "There is a spirit He contacts us through our spirit.  Job 32:8 tells us, in man: and the inspiration (in-breathing) of the Almighty gives them understanding." How we yearn for more and more of that DIVINE IN-BREATHING.  Far too long we have relied on the proper religious atmosphere for our inspiration.  And, being influenced by these exterior conditions, we were often vulnerable to the voice of the stranger― religious creed and dogma, traditions of men, reasonings of the carnal mind― and we followed them into bondage, fenced in dry pastures of type and shadow― without His life.
        But, praise God, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME." (John 10:27).  Wheverver He goes― into "the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that they might be filled with all the fulness of God.,, (Eph. 3:19).  How precious are His leadings!  By His grace let us go on to perfection!

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(1) Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"  Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822

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