How does the Bible view religion?
Scripture never speaks of religion in a good way; it usually uses the term in a bad sense. Religion is man's attempt to reach and merit favor with God, whereas true Christianity is God reaching down to unworthy, sinful man. Human religious efforts cannot merit favor with a holy God.
Les explains that the Bible never speaks of religion in a good way; usually it is used in a bad sense, with only one place that is not a strong exception. He defines religion as man's attempt to somehow reach and merit favor with God, whether it is Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, or any other system. Even a devout Muhammadan who prays, reads the Koran, and is morally good is doing what seems right to men, but in the eyes of a holy God they are far short. Paul practiced the Jewish religion more strongly than his peers, yet he knew nothing of a relationship with God at that time. Adam and Eve's fig leaves were an act of religion, trying to cover themselves so God would accept them. True Christianity is the opposite: God reaching down to unworthy, sinful man.