March 11, 2025

Why is Religion so Complicated

50 minutes

"3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, this you tolerate very well!"

📚 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NASB

This episode discusses a complex, evolving spiritual question that stems from three specific conversations. These conversations touch on themes of legalism, the role of scholarly study versus the guidance of the Holy Spirit in understanding the Bible, and the spread of Christianity throughout history, particularly in regions where the message of Jesus hasn't reached. We will reflect on how people who have never heard of Jesus might still be able to experience His teachings through the Holy Spirit, even if they don't know the full gospel.

The episode also delves into the debate on whether it's legalistic to follow God's commandments, comparing obedience out of love to attempting to earn salvation. I struggle with whether studying the Bible in depth is required for salvation or if the Holy Spirit can lead people without such extensive knowledge even in a time of deception. There are many questions raised about the nature of legalism, salvation, and the need for deep scholarly study of scripture, especially considering how difficult it can be for some people to access or understand these resources.

This episode explores various Bible verses that relate to these themes, such as Deuteronomy 32:4, Proverbs 3:5, John 14:6, and Acts 17:30, which suggest that faith is a matter of trust in God, discernment through the Holy Spirit, and obedience to commandments, but not necessarily through scholarly study alone. I question whether deep historical and cultural context is required for proper worship and understanding, and wonders if God expects everyone to engage in such study or if He overlooks ignorance, as suggested in Acts 17.

I admit I don't have all the answers and still have many unresolved questions, however I believe God meets people where they are. Ultimately, I plan to wait for further spiritual insight from the Holy Spirit to resolve these questions.

References:

1. Legalism definition taken from Oxford English Dictionary

2. The podcast episode in question is Season 3 Episode 35: Legalism (feat. San) -> https://www.psalmstogod.com/2020/10/legalism-feat-san.html

3. Important Bible Verses:

- Genesis 26:5

- Exodus 12

- Exodus 24:12

- Exodus 34

- Leviticus 23:5

- Numbers 9

- Deuteronomy 32:4

- Proverbs 3:5