Getting down to the point of religion

The Beaverton Valley Times, Oct 23, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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Scott Higgins is the evangelist with the Tualatin Valley Church…a church belonging to Christ. The church has found a new home to accommodate its rapid growth. They meet Sundays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the West End Building Willamette Room located at 4101 Kruse Way Place in Lake Oswego. For more information please call 503-536-5807 or visit their Web site at www.tualatinvalleychurch.com.

Religion has often found itself searching to be relevant in people lives. As times and culture change, people have different priorities and are drawn to different things. So we must ask ourselves always, what is the point of all that we do in religion?

- The point is not promoting a system of worship. So many churches divide and form their beliefs based on a system of worship. In their minds this is what makes them holy. Each church does things in worship differently and takes great pride in that. I suggest that the system isn’t the point. We must remember John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” There are things that God has asked us to do in worship to him and those are important. There has to be something more!

- The point is not promoting a dynamic speaker. So many churches promote their speakers. They are the focus of the worship. They are the reason to come worship. They are to blame if more people don’t come. Yet, the Bible seems to teach that it is not about man, but it is about the word of God. Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!” Dynamic and powerful speakers will come and go. There has to be something more!

- The point is not promoting an idea of perfection. Some churches promote the idea that the church is filled with perfect people whose lives are all together and don’t make any mistakes. This is different than Bible teaching in Romans 3:23 that says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We trust in God to save. There are no perfect people and promoting the idea of perfection is promoting a lie. There has to be something more!

- The point is not professionally done music or concerts. So much time and energy is spent adapting to whatever the music trends are of the day. Do we sing old hymns or new contemporary songs? Do we spend money on research to see what the people want? Do we hire professional musicians to lead us to an emotional state of exuberance in our worship? Is this really the point of making religion relevant? There has to be something more!

What is the Point?

The Point is relationship! The point has always been to develop a relationship with God. The point has always been to develop a relationship with Jesus. The point has always been to develop a relationship with the members of the body. How will religion stay relevant as times and culture change? One word: Relationship.