Late in 2023 I spoke to a group of pastors in El Salvador. These leaders face many spiritual challenges in their culture: Drug addiction among youth, alcoholism, idolatry and rampant witchcraft. But I had to tell them that the biggest challenge to their churches isn’t something outside. It’s something inside the church.
Religion opposes biblical preaching, resists the Holy Spirit, persecutes those who truly love God and turns vibrant faith into empty formalism. And most of all, it sterilizes churches until they die from barrenness.
The apostle Paul warned Timothy that the time would come when people who claim to know Christ would “[hold] to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power,” (2 Tim. 3:5a, NASB). Religious people sing nice songs about God, recite nice prayers, dress in nice clothes to listen to nice sermons and even give money to build nice buildings. But this show is devoid of life.
And when the Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the church, and to revive us from the deadness of the past season, we must break free from the control of a religious spirit. We are in this season now. The Spirit wants to blow His refreshing wind into our barrenness. When He does, the dead roots and brittle branches of lifeless religion will be pruned away—and supernatural fruit will appear.
Have you been infected by dead religion? You can take your own test by examining these eight characteristics of a religious person and determine whether any apply to you:
Religious people view God as a harsh taskmaster. When Jesus wanted to show people who the Father really is, He told the story of the prodigal son. He described a compassionate father who forgave his wayward son, embraced him and welcomed him back home even though he had been living in a pig pen. Religious people struggle to understand God’s mercy. They would prefer to punish the prodigal!
Religious people do outward things to prove God accepts them. Some Christians believe their dress codes, music styles or doctrinal positions make them better than others. I knew of one church that taught that people who wear wedding rings aren’t saved. Another denomination taught that women shouldn’t wear makeup. Religious rules ostracize people and turn Christians into legalists.
Religious people develop traditions and formulas. Formalism chokes out the work of the Holy Spirit. If we trust in rote prayers, vain repetition or dry ceremonies, we quench the Spirit. If we want the life of the Spirit, we should sing a new song, preach a fresh word and experience fresh fire.
Religious people lose their joy. When religion takes over a church, love turns cold, smiles turn into frowns and church members become critical and gossip about each other. And visitors certainly don’t feel welcome in that environment. One of the best ways to overcome dead religion is to ask God to restore your joy.
Religious people become judgmental toward sinners. Religious people rail against the evils of society but rarely notice their own flaws. And their pharisaical attitudes make it impossible for them to show true mercy. This is why religious churches don’t do outreach. No one is good enough for them!
Religious people refuse to embrace change. Many Christians become so focused on what God did 50 or 100 years ago that they become stuck in a time warp and can’t move forward when the Holy Spirit begins to open new understanding. When a church refuses to shift with God’s new directives, it becomes an old wineskin that is stiff and inflexible (see Mark 2:22).
Religious people persecute those who disagree with their self-righteous views. An angry religious person will even use slander to assassinate other peoples’ character. You would be shocked by the kind of behavior professing Christians are capable of when they are driven by a religious spirit.
Religious people won’t see conversions. Sinners will rarely find Jesus in a toxic religious environment. When religion takes over a church, fewer and fewer people visit the altar, tears of repentance are rare and the baptismal tank stays dry. The congregation ages; there are no children in the nursery, the youth group dwindles and eventually the church closes. Religion is deadly.
If the poisonous tendrils of religion have contaminated your walk with God, ask Him to pour a fresh understanding of His grace into your heart—and then expect His new life to flow through you. Let’s welcome the fresh wind of God.
J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years and now serves as senior contributing editor. He directs the Mordecai Project, an international ministry that protects women and girls from gender-based violence. His latest books are Follow Me and Let’s Go Deeper (Charisma House).
