“What Is Man-Made Religion? Break Free Through Christ”
Religion often gets blamed for many of the world’s problems. The Crusades, prosperity preachers, and scandals involving Christian leaders are frequently cited as reasons why religion is harmful. But beneath these criticisms lies a deeper misconception: the idea that all religions are essentially the same.
The Bible operates on an entirely different assumption—that there is a faith that comes from above, from God, and there are man-made religions, or even true religion that has been distorted by man. As followers of Jesus, we are called to break free from both man-made and man-modified religion.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to break free from both man-made and man-modified religion.
Avoid the Control of Man-Made Religion
In Luke 5, we find three practical ways to resist man-made religion. The Pharisees confront Jesus, asking why his disciples don’t fast. They point out that their own disciples fast—and so do the followers of John. But Jesus’ followers don’t. Their question isn’t sincere. It’s not really about fasting. It’s an attack—an attempt to paint Jesus’ disciples as irreverent and to prop up their own self-righteousness.
The Pharisees’ Use of Fasting as Control
The first lesson is this: we fight man-made religion by refusing to let it control us. The Pharisees used fasting not to draw closer to God, but to control others. They reshaped spirituality in their own image and imposed it on those around them. The Old Testament law commanded only one fast, on the Day of Atonement (Numbers 29:7). By Jesus’ time, the Pharisees had added weekly fasts, sometimes up to three times a week, as a way to showcase their righteousness. Their question wasn’t genuine; it was manipulative and political. It reminds us that man-made religion compares, controls, and crushes. But true worshipers of Jesus reject that kind of control and pursue authentic faith.
Don’t Let Legalism Steal Your Joy
Second, we break free from man-made religion by refusing to let legalism steal our joy. The Pharisees loved the letter of the Law more than the Lawgiver Himself. In fact, they were so focused on the rules, they didn’t even recognize the One who gave them. It’s likely they didn’t love God’s Law as much as they loved their own additions to it—because those additions gave them power over others and stripped away joyful worship.
The Sadness of Legalism
Legalists are rarely joyful people. They often lead heavy, burdensome lives and expect others to do the same. The writer H.L. Mencken once quipped that Puritanism was “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” While his take on the Puritans is inaccurate, the quote captures the spirit of the Pharisees—and of religious legalism in general. If you want to guard your heart from man-made religion, don’t let it rob you of joy.
If you want to guard your heart from man-made religion, don’t let it rob you of joy.
Embrace the Freedom Found in Christ
Finally, Jesus teaches that joy comes from embracing the new freedom found in Him. Why didn’t his disciples fast? Because the Bridegroom was with them! Why weren’t they rigid about the Law? Because Christ had fulfilled it! There was no need to keep longing for the Messiah—he was already there.
Old Wineskins Can’t Hold New Wine
The Pharisees’ insistence on their traditions is like Christians celebrating Advent but never Christmas, or observing Lent without ever rejoicing on Easter morning. Jesus points out how incompatible the old and new are. You can’t patch an old garment with new cloth. You can’t pour new wine into old wineskins. The old had a purpose, but the new has come—and it’s time to rejoice.
True Worship Means Rejecting Man-Made Religion
Authentic worship rejects control, resists joyless legalism, and embraces the freedom of Christ. He is the object of our worship—and in Him, we find life, joy, and truth. When we choose this path, our worship becomes a genuine response to God’s love rather than a performance for others. It frees us to live in the grace and peace that only Jesus can provide.
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