Religion without the Spirit, without authentic spirituality, basically becomes a way to give divine sanction/endorsement/legitimization to our biases and prejudices and it becomes a way to maintain the status quo.

It also becomes a means of exerting control over others. We have seen this numerous times throughout the history of the church. Those in power set the standards and determine what doctrine is right, which traditionally has been called “orthodoxy,” meaning right belief. Who determines what is right belief? Those in power. Then, beliefs that do not conform to what those in power label “orthodox” doctrine is labeled heresy, and those who hold to non-orthodox beliefs are labeled heretics.

We have witnessed over and over throughout church history the many hateful and hostile means and ways “orthodox” believers have used to punish and eradicate heretics.

Healthy religion doesn’t play that game. Healthy religion focuses on authentic experience of God, which leads not to “orthodoxy,” but to “orthopraxy” – right and loving spiritual practice – that is, words and deeds that reflect God’s character and passion, words and deeds that reflect God’s love, goodness, and grace.