QUESTION:
WHAT IS THE TRUE RELIGION?
ANSWER:
True religion is not a system of beliefs or rituals, but a Person—Jesus Christ—who alone can reconcile us to God.
Every culture, tribe, and nation has some form of religion. From tribal rituals to organized systems of belief, from devout monotheism to philosophical agnosticism—even to the denial of God altogether—every person holds to something. Even atheism, in a deeper sense, is a kind of belief system. It places faith in the idea that there is no God and life has no divine origin or purpose. So, while people may argue whether they are religious, all of humanity lives by a kind of “religion.”
What’s more, each religion claims to be the true one. Most present themselves as divinely revealed or sanctioned. Whether it’s ancient paganism, Eastern mysticism, or modern sects—they all claim some connection to God (or a divine force), offering their own path to truth, peace, and salvation. But with so many contradictory claims, the question remains:
Among all these religions, which one is true? Which one is objective? Which one actually connects us to the God who made us?
To find the answer, we must go beyond cultural traditions and inherited beliefs. We must search for objective truth—and to do that, we must first understand the very word we’re using. What does the word “religion” even mean? Where did it come from? And what was it originally intended to describe?
Let’s go deeper by studying the etymology behind the English word religion—a word that developed from two different Latin roots. These roots reveal two dimensions of religion: one describes religious observances, and the other, reconciliation with God. Only one of them leads us to the truth.
1. Religion as Religio – Religious Observances
The Latin word “religio” originally referred to a person’s sense of duty and reverence toward the divine. In ancient Roman culture, it described the careful performance of rituals and ceremonies—offerings, prayers, sacrifices—done to keep the gods pleased. It was a form of sacred obligation, a commitment to rules and observances to avoid divine punishment and gain divine favor.
Surprisingly, God Himself instituted a religion when He gave Moses the Law at Mount Sinai. Through Judaism, God gave humanity a system of worship: commandments, priesthood, sacrifices, and ceremonies. This system—though holy and ordained—was never meant to be the final solution. It was designed to point forward to Jesus Christ.
“…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:17)
All the rituals, feasts, and sacrifices of the Old Testament were shadows—images meant to reveal our need for a Savior. They taught us that external observance alone could never make us right with God.
Interestingly, the New Testament Greek word translated as “religion” in James 1:26–27 is thrēskeia, and it carries the same meaning:
“If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:26–27)
The word thrēskeia refers to external religious practices—the rituals, observances, and public expressions of devotion. Much like religio, it focuses on form rather than heart.
But in James 1:27, God redefines what true religion should look like. It is not about rituals, but about righteousness and compassion. It’s not in the liturgy or ceremony, but in loving the forgotten, serving the weak, and living a life of purity.
So from this first definition—religio—we learn that external religious observance is not what God requires. True religion cannot be reduced to rituals or traditions, no matter how reverent they may seem. They were always meant to lead us to Jesus.
2. Religion as Religare – Rebinding What Was Broken
The second Latin root often linked to the word religion is religare, which means “to bind again.” It comes from re- (again) and ligare (to bind). Early Christian thinkers like Lactantius and Augustine emphasized this root because it captured something profound—religion, at its core, should be about reconnecting humanity with God.
And this is where it all comes together: the Bible teaches that our relationship with God was broken by sin. We were created for fellowship with Him, but we chose our own way.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
The good news is that God didn’t leave us in our brokenness. He made a way to be re-bound, reconnected, reconciled:
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:18)
But how was this reconciliation accomplished? Not by rituals or rules, but by a perfect sacrifice:
“Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Jesus Christ—the spotless Lamb of God—shed His blood to pay for our sins. He alone could satisfy the justice of God and bring us back into fellowship with Him.
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
This is the true religion—not a system, but a Savior. Not rituals, but reconciliation. Jesus Christ is the only one who can restore us to the Father. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
So when we talk about religare—to bind again—we are ultimately talking about Jesus. He is the one who binds sinful man back to a holy God.
Final Thought: Are You Barking at the Wrong Tree?
So many people search for truth in organized religion. They follow systems of belief, attend religious services, keep moral codes, and perform rituals—hoping to please God or reach heaven. But what if all these efforts, though sincere, are barking at the wrong tree?
Religion—as God defines it—is not a system of worship but a Person!
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6)
Dear reader, true religion is not about finding the right group, keeping the right rules, or following the most ancient tradition. True religion is about being restored to God through His Son.
Jesus came to reconcile you to the Father. He is the one who binds what was broken. He fulfilled everything that religio pointed toward. He is the substance behind the shadow. He is not just the way—He is the destination.
Don’t let outward forms of religion blind you to the only One who can save you. Come to Jesus. He is not far.
If your heart is ready to return to God, we invite you to visit these pages:
“How Can I Return to God?”
