https://youtu.be/OXbP7YWzQsA?si=MSO4XIROTUDkrazc
In 2008, the Pew Forum’s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey revealed a significant trend in American society: more Americans are identifying as having no religious affiliation. This shift has sparked profound changes in the religious fabric of the nation and prompts reflection on what the Bible says about those who turn away from religion.
Brother Eli, drawing from the Book of Psalms, Chapter 53, Verse 1, offers a compelling perspective: “The fool had said in his heart there is no God.” The Hebrew word nalba, translated as “fool,” implies not just ignorance but a deliberate rejection of God. The verse labels such an individual, who outright denies God, as corrupt and prone to iniquity. This denial is seen as spiritual rebelliousness, a conscious turning away from divine truth.
However, Brother Eli also highlights another group those who abandon religion not because they reject God, but due to misconceptions or disillusionment with certain aspects of their faith. In places like Brazil, for example, many have encountered false pastors who exploit faith for their own gain and profit, turning religion into a scheme to make money for themselves. This frustration leads some to abandon their religion altogether.
The Bible does not explicitly condemn those who abandon religion in the same way as those who outright deny God. Their departure often stems from betrayal rather than disbelief. To understand the concept of religion, we look to the Greek word threskeia, meaning worship, and the Latin religio, meaning to bind. These terms underscore the need for believers to reconnect with the true God.
The Book of James, Chapter 1, Verse 27, emphasizes pure religion as serving God through compassion and righteousness, not exploitation. For those without religion, the Bible organizes a path for reconciliation with God. As Saint Columbus reminds us, we should not be driven by the delusion that there is no God.
Instead, we are called to turn back to our true God, worship Him both in spirit and in truth, and avoid false doctrines or outright rejections that have been misleading us as believers. Let us seek a faith rooted in authenticity, compassion, and righteousness, as we navigate the evolving religious landscape.
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