“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] The Greek word translated “truth” in this verse (aleteia) does not refer to doctrines or ideology. Worship in truth speaks of wholeness; our inner and exterior self. Real worship is not just in a belief or in an activity; it is in the actions of our full being. Worship is to include all that we are.
Since people believe in God in a variety of ways and respond to Him in the context of different customs, it is reasonable to ask: is there only one way to worship God?
Accepting God’s Guidance
The Eternal Spirit designed and created this natural universe to function with many variables and values all its life forms. God births each of us into this world as His offspring and has designed us to experience both natural and spiritual realities; they are built-in us as part of who and what we are. (b)
God’s interest in our spiritual and physical health is consistent; His care is only limited by our lack of interest. A level of faith exists in most everyone. Scripture defines faith as the action of following God’s guidance. Thus, people of faith tend to respond to God’s inspirational lead. It is our positive response that verifies “faith without works is dead.” (c) Faith is our acceptance of His guidance.
When the first two people (Adam and Eve) decided to ignore our heavenly Father’s insight and assume they could be as God, it messed-up their understanding. It distorted their view of God’s desire for us, deteriorated their fellowship with God’s presence, and allowed a debilitating fear to enter their awareness. (d)
The dreadful fear of God continued to distort perceptions of Him and His ways after the cleansing flood of Noah’s day. People fabricated ideas of God and made images to represent Him. (e) They imagined gods who dwelled in the heavens and some that resembled the admired features of nature.
When Abraham responded to God’s guidance in very practical ways, he came to be known as the father of the faith. (f) Everyone that responded to the call of freedom during the Exodus from slavery became a part of the “people of faith.” (g) God addressed those who responded as “My People” and “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” (h) This was the first massive response to God’s insightful guidance.
Because this group was hesitant to personally hear from God, their response to His guidance became difficult. (i) Their perception of faith was reduced to a set of Laws. In time it became a religion that claimed it was the only way to worship God. They were eventually scattered “among the nations.” (j)
Faith is our acceptance of His guidance.
Faith Systems
The New Testament records God’s effort to restore people into the fellowship of His presence. He provided an example of His intention in the life and words of Jesus Christ. (k) The blood shed on Calvary was meant to clarify that God’s forgiveness is inclusive and covers everyone; sacrifice is not needed. (l) He just wants us to repent and improve the way we live. (m) Knowing that the Eternal One is and always has been a forgiver is supposed to release us from any ill sense of His condemnation.
As people responded to God’s abiding presence, it had an impact on the world’s perceptions of God. (n) Responders became known as Christians because they followed Christ – God’s anointing presence. While cultural variations can have an effect on various issues of faith, the central message remains clear: we are to respond to God’s lead, improve, and lovingly care for one another, as Jesus did. (o)
However, in 325 AD, many leaders 
assembled in the first Council of Nicaea to try and standardize a belief system. The various faith responses in the day became obvious as they argued for weeks over who Jesus was. Councils continued for decades seeking to singularize faith into one belief system.
New buildings were constructed with chosen ministers on elevated platforms. As people began to submit to this organized system of worship, their freedom of expression was hindered. Gatherings lacked people sharing faith experiences and encouraging each other to do good work. (p)
A different version of faith and worship began in 610 AD by Muhammad. Islam became a militant version that forced people into their form of worship instead of lovingly drawing them into faith.
In 1054 AD the formed system of faith split into eastern and western versions. These two approaches controlled most of Europe and the Middle East. In the 1500s a Reformation began to split the western version into many. Today, there are over 200 Christian variations in America and 45,000 worldwide.
We are to respond to God’s lead, improve, and lovingly care for one another, as Jesus did.
Faith and Religion
This short history of responses to God’s guiding presence illustrates a forgotten truth. God’s ability to communicate with His wayward offspring and guide responsive children is not restricted to one form of worship or by one belief system. If our worship is sincere it can have different appearances.
One primary divisive factor in Christianity today comes from a statement Jesus made: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (q) Many believe this intends to say that Christianity is the only way to experience God’s input and partake of heavenly blessings.
However, Greek linguists verify this verse can easily be translated to say: “I am the truthful way to live; no one knows God as Father without coming to Him as a son, like I have.”
This verse really says we come to know God as Father when we respond to Him as adoring and respectful children, like Jesus did. (r) Our language, cultural, and religious variations do not restrict God’s interaction with us. We can call on God and worship Him as our Creator, the Almighty, our Lord, our King, as Jesus (in English), as Yahweh (in Hebrew), or Allah (in Arabic).
Annual surveys are taken across America that seek to identify the status of people’s faith. They consistently note: 80-85% identify as Christians while only 30-35% regularly attend religious services. This means 50% of the population believe in God and know Jesus has shown us the way to live, without belonging to one type of worship or submitting to one system of belief.
We should point out that there is a basic difference between faith and religion. Faith is our receptive response to God’s insightful guidance. Religion is a structured system of faith where officials declare their view of truth, conduct times of group worship, and encourage godly living.
People of faith can receive God’s enlightening insight anywhere. It can come while participating in a local gathering, from a spoken or written word, even by an inspiring thought. God’s love and care for all of His offspring comes from a source that is not limited to one religious form. He can lead and guide each of us, from within a fellowship and outside of a structured religious system.
God continually reaches out to all of His children and invites all to arise from our death-like sleepy perceptions (s) and receive guidance from His insightful presence. God listens to the intent of our heart. (t) May we freely respond to His loving guidance, today!
Our language, cultural, and religious variations do not restrict God’s interaction with us.
a) John 4:24) b) Genesis 2:7, 17; c) James 2:18-26; d) Genesis 3:3-8; e) 2 Kings 17:29; f) Romans 4:9-13, 16; f) Exodus 12:3-7, 12-13; h) Exodus 8:1; 4:22; i) Exodus 20:1, 19; j) Ezekiel 36:19; k) John 8: 38; l) 1 John 2:2; John 3:17; m) Hebrews 10:3-6; n) Acts 17:6; Isaiah 1:11-13, 16-17; o) Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 4:8-11; p) Matthew 5:16; q) John 14:6; r) John 13:15; 14:31; 15:10; s) Ephesians 5:14-17; 2:1,5-6; t) 1 Samuel 16:7
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
When We Arise And Shine author