Life...
Christ or Religion?
“Don’t assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you’re an insider to God’s revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God’s revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I’m quite serious. While preaching “Don’t steal!” are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and His law. The line from Scripture, “It’s because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God,” shows it’s an old problem that isn’t going to go away.
“Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren’t perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous. If I was “trying to be good,” I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan.
“What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with Him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
“Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.” (Paul – Romans 2:17-24; Galatians 2:18-20 TM)
| R E L I G I O N Latin religare: re (again) + ligare (to bind, obligate) = to be bound & obligated again |
C H R I S T Greek christos: anointed, translation of Hebrew word mashiach: anointed, Messiah |
| Man’s way of trying to please God
Has meetings & buildings/temples Joined External Physical Seen Outward stimulation Based on performance DO! Controls Dominates Conforms Our appearance is important We choose Legal, law of sin and death Rules to keep Organized Officially members & adherents Attend in body Duty Uses guilt and shame Something you are part of Obligated Ruled Committed Outward form Masquerade Competitive Must see results Size, appearance, “many things” Can use and abuse Patronizing Visible and obvious Security in doing what’s “right” Expectations Disillusionment Rely on leaders, works etc. Qualified leaders Hierarchy, clergy & laity Use natural abilities Knowledge of a holy book Head based Impersonal Earthly Dead |
God’s Way and Satisfaction
We are His Building/Temple Birthed Internal Spiritual Unseen Internal motivation Based on what Christ has done Done! Releases Serves Transforms Our disappearance is important We are chosen Law of Love and Life Relationship to treasure Organic Unofficially inseparable Joined as One in spirit Desire Acceptance Someone you are part of Liberated Loved Smitten Inward truth Real Unwarranted approval Unseen results Only One Thing is important Loves and will not force Paternal and familial Invisible and often hidden Being in the One Who is Right/Righteous Expectancy Illumination Rely on Christ Unqualified Family Father, sisters and brothers Availability to do the supernatural Knowing Christ as THE Word of God Heart based Intimately personal Heavenly Alive |
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 TM
