Christ Versus Religion:

by Witness Lee

Book Overview

Book annotation not available for this title.Title: Christ Versus ReligionAuthor: Lee, WitnessPublisher: Living Stream MinistryPublication Date: 1999/09/01Number of Pages: Binding Type:... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870830104
• ISBN13: 9780870830105
• Release Date: July 1971
• Publisher: Living Stream Ministry
• Length: 194 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

This is a must have for understanding Matthew

This book opened up the perceived discrepancy between how Jesus treated those who needed healing and salvation and how he treated those who are religious. To me, the easiest sin for a Christian is becomming "religious." I highly recommend this book.

A Faithful Warning

"To be religious is simply to be sound, scriptural, and fundamental, yet without the presence of Christ" (p. 152). This one sentence summarizes the entire book, and expresses the author's main point: Christ and religion are separate, different, and opposed to each other. It is possible to have something of Christ, yet not have the living and present Christ Himself. Therefore, if something is traditional, religious, scriptural, or fundamental, regardless how good it may be, if it does not have the presence of Christ, God does not want it. It is in this light that Witness Lee carefully takes the reader through the New Testament (especially Matthew, Paul's epistles, and Revelation) to show clearly, emphatically, and unequivocally, that Christ is versus religion. What Witness Lee points out is very subtle and therefore can be easily misunderstood and misinterpreted upon first hearing. However, after reading through and studying, one sees that the point is strongly anchored in the Scriptures. Actually, one realizes that the fact is plainly found in the Bible. What can be clearer than Christ's own words, "You search the Scriptures. . . Yet you are not willing to come to Me. . . ." (John 5:39, 40). I appreciate the clear exposition of the pure Word of God. I have been greatly helped and continue to be helped by the message conveyed in this book - seek only Christ!

Religion has become a hindrance of normal Christian life:

The book is really a wake up call to the Christ seekers who practice religious duties rather than enjoy Christ Himself as the Tree of Life. A restaurant has both menu and food, and a customer usually drop the menu when the food -- the reality of the menu comes. The reality of the law is Christ Himself (Colossians 2:16-17). He gives His own life to His believers for them to live a normal Christian life on this earth by this divine life (John 1:12-13). Christians tend to make their own laws and regulations and use their own strength to fulfill the requirement of righteousness, which is actually the religious duty without any spiritual reality (Galatians 3:1-5, and Colossians 2:20-23). Let us drop our natural concept and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ as the Tree of Life (Revelation1:7), as the living water (John 4:14, Revelation 22:17), and as the real rest (Hebrews 4:9:11).

An earthquake to vain ritualism and observances.

This book does two things at the same time: 1) It shows clearly the intrinsic value, worth and wonder of our precious Jesus, and 2) It exposes how some of the ritualistic things we THOUGHT were as important as Christ, simply are not. The contrast between Christ as a living and resurrected person, and the religion that often disguises itself as the Savior, is repeatedly shown in wonderful and enlightening examples, and biblical exposition.I believe that once a person has read this book, they will see Christ more clearly as the living God, and see religion as mere activity (whether needed or not) around Him. One cannot help but think differently and more carefully after reading "Christ vs. Religion".

A life-changing message.

I'm happy to see this book back in print. I first encountered it while visiting a friend in San Francisco. He recommended it as a text that had changed his life and viewpoint and that had a similar effect on many friends. This was obvious from the book itself: tattered and falling apart from many attentive readings. Yet the message was and is elegant and simple: Christ is not the same as religion, Christ is versus religion when it replaces him. Once we learn this message, we can keep our rituals and institutions from becoming substitutes for the spirit of the living Christ.