p. 21 | What Is Religion? by Christian Union

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 14, 1886

What Is Religion?

By Christian Union

IN reply to the question, What is religion? I would answer as follows: Religion is being rebound. As you are at present a scholar, I will use the words of the school. First, then, "A noun is the name of a thing." But religion being a state, or condition, it cannot be handled and measured, nor even exactly described, and so can only be defined. Let me begin the definition by analysis of the word. It is, as you know, derived from the Latin, and is a compound of the preposition re and the verb ligo, the meanings of which are, re, back, and ligo, I bind; and so comes religo, I rebind, and from this the noun, the condition of being again bound, or rebound. The same word appears in ad-ligo, softened to alligo—allegiance, that is, legiance to, or bound to. Now, allegiance, or allegiance, may be the first and an unbroken legiance between two; but a re-legiance can only be the renewal of a fealty broken by one or both parties.

The sinless angel may hold allegiance to its God; only the sinful soul by a new pledge of fealty can hold re-legiance. What, then, is re-legiance? It is the state entered into by one who, seeing the ill of broken allegiance, comes back to God, acknowledging sin, makes pledge of loyalty for the future, and so enters into a new covenant, and so is rebound to him, and proves the sincerity of the bond by publicly withdrawing from the side of his enemies, and joining the ranks of his friends, and entering upon the duties devolving upon him in the new or reformed relations. When one has done this, he is religious. In this concise answer I purposely omit two things as not in the question. First, the general misuse of the word religion as meaning a faith, or belief. The Moslem may have an allegiance to the prophet, or the Hindu to Brahm, but as neither acknowledges any breaking of bonds there can be no rebinding. The Scripture teaching of sin and departure from God is the only doctrine allowing or demanding re-legiance. There be faiths and beliefs many, but, strictly, but one religion.

The other point is the need, the character, and the person, of a Mediator between the breaker of the allegiance and the keeper thereof. Of one who having also been tempted, can sympathize, but who also by his loyalty may come into the presence of the True, and so "lay his hand upon both." What, then, is not religion? When the injured, but true-hearted King opens wide the palace door, and sends out to you his own Son, inviting you to come and renew your allegiance, but you sullenly stand without, refusing every act of loyalty, even though you hurl no missile of open war against the palace walls, or strike down no servant of the King as he goes to and fro doing his Sovereign's will; or if you go round about the walls, knocking with the hilt of your sword at every closed door, demanding entrance, contemptuously ignoring the door standing wide open, and the waiting messenger by it; or if you come to the open door, and, ignoring the waiting messenger, unannounced stalk boldly into the presence of the King, despising his ways and denying his authority, although you may have come into his presence, you give no sign of re-allegiance, you are not religious.

What, then, is religion? It is in deep contrition for the past, in full confidence in the faith-keeping of the King, humbly but gladly taking the hand of the messenger, entering into the Sacred Presence, and there with new vows reconsecrating every weapon of rebellion and your own self also, to his service for time and for eternity, and thenceforth living to fulfill your vow—this is re-allegiance, this is rebinding, this is religion.

Will you be religious? Answer to the King before you lay this my answer down.—Christian Union.