Is The World Better Off Without Religion?

Somebody once said to me that the world would be better off without religion. The person sited his opinion that religion is the cause of many wars & problems not only in the present but also throughout history.
Many skeptics and atheists are of the belief that religion should be obsolete. They give examples that religion has caused slavery, discrimination, abuse and that religious leaders swindle their followers.
So is religion part of the problem? Would the world really be a better place without it?

The skeptics and atheists are not totally wrong. There are over 1 million religions that exist in the world and indeed, in many cases throughout history, there are many religions that have been the cause of many problems in the world.
Even today, many bad things are done in the name of one’s religion.

However, the root problems in the world isn’t religion.
The root cause of many problems in the world is the human condition or the sinful nature of man.

Think about it for a moment: If religion did not exist – would people really stop killing each other? If religion did not exist – would people really stop abusing & hurting one another? Would the stealing, the lying, the promiscuity or the hatred really and truly stop if there was no religion?
The truth is this – with or without religion – the world’s problems would still exist and the problems would continue because the problem is actually the human condition of man.

What is The Condition of Mankind?
Below are some scriptures that best describe mankind’s human condition.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

According to the scriptures, man is a sinner and his heart is desperately wicked. From man’s heart comes evil thoughts, adultery, and all kinds of sin.

So from these scriptures we can tell that religion is a by-product of the root problem – and the root problem of the world’s issues is the fact that man is a sinner.
The reason why we have over 1 million religions in the world is because of sin.
Religion is man’s attempt to reach God.

What mankind needs, is not religion – but at his core, man needs a genuine relationship with God.

Someone once said to me that there are 2 kinds of problems in the world. The first is one’s relationship with God and the second is one’s relationship with other people.
The greatest commandments that Jesus gave us pertain first to our love for God and secondly to our love for our neighbor.

When we understand that religion isn’t totally the problem – but the root problem is relationship – then we will get the correct perspective.

With or without religion every human being is a sinner and every human being is capable of deceit and wickedness.
Many religions exist in the world but we are not called to be religious. Instead we are called to have a relationship with God and love God and to love our neighbor.

Without a relationship with God – sin will reign in one’s life and the only way that any person can have a relationship with God is through believing and putting one’s faith in Jesus Christ as Lord & Saviour.

Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for our sins so that we may be reconciled to God. Jesus paid the debt for our sins that we should have paid by dying on the cross for our sins & resurrecting on the third day.

John 1:12-13 says: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Therefore life is not about religion or the lack of religion. True life is about having a genuine relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

DO YOU HAVE A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to
follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
I repent of all of my sins and I ask You to cleanse me Jesus.
Thank You for forgiving my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

Have you accepted & believed in Jesus Christ as a result of reading this article? If so please acknowledge by clicking the “I Have Accepted Jesus Christ” button below