Religion v. Relationship

When the topic of Christianity and faith comes up, it seems there’s always at least one person who tells me they’re “religious.”  Usually, this statement is followed by, “I was raised Lutheran” or, “My grandfather was a Baptist preacher” or my favorite, “I go to church with my family every Christmas and Easter.”  And while those things are, in their own right, well and good…they aren’t enough.  Part of me wants to follow up their declaration with one simple question: So, you inherited Christianity?

Being a Christian isn’t really passed down like red hair and freckles, and it’s not handed to you in a box with a bow like a birthday present from grandma.  It’s not a knick-knack in a closet, kept safe and sound, out of harm’s way until those twice-a-year special occasions when you wipe off the dust bunnies.  You don’t “get” religion…because to me, the key aspect of being a Christian is just that – it’s not about religion.

Being a Christian is about having a relationship with Jesus, our Savior.  It’s about knowing God, loving God, spending time with God, and above all else, obeying God.  And not just when it’s convenient; not just twice a year, and not just when you’re with your friends and family who are Christians.  It’s a "24-7-365-until your very last breath this side of Heaven" type of deal.

For those folks who think attending every Sunday does the trick, here’s the kicker: going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a Buick.  Because if you don’t have that relationship, you’re just a pew potato.

So how do you get this coveted relationship?  Well, I can tell you that no “friend request” is necessary, because Jesus isn’t on Facebook.  You can post as many sparkly, blinking “I Love Jesus!” photos as you want, but that’s not going to do it.  You can’t just talk about it (or post about it)…you have to start living it.

Accept Christ as your Savior.  Talk to God.  Pray.  Read the Bible.  Spend time in fellowship with other Christians.  And get out of the pews, and into the streets.  Witness.  Volunteer.  Love.  Be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Understand that God doesn’t just want an hour of your time each week – he wants you all the time.

Some of you might want to pose the question, “So why bother with church?”  And that’s a great question.  We go to church because God calls us to, but when you’re there, you’re not attending a lecture or a concert.  Sure, you’re there to listen, but also to learn and grow in your faith, in your relationship with God, and in your relationship with others followers through fellowship.  Having a relationship with your fellow Christians is equally as important as having a relationship with God.  You just can’t do it on your own.  You need a support system, extended family and friends, folks to help keep you accountable, and disciples you can go out and minister with (that whole hands and feet thing, remember?)

Get out of the “religion” mindset, and get into the living, breathing, loving relationship.  Your life will forever change, for the better.  Promise.

Living and Learning

It’s that time of year…school is coming to a close, summer is just around the corner, and everywhere I go, there are signs of upcoming high school graduations – seniors preparing to leave the nest, and enter those first stages of “adulthood.”  Remember those days?  The world at your finger tips, your future entirely planned out, ready to take on the world?

While driving home from work one evening this week, one of my new favorite songs from Sidewalk Prophets came on the radio – “The Words I Would Say.”  Listening to the lyrics did what most songs to do for me; waxing nostalgic, thinking of my youth, and really considering what I should have known all those years ago.

It’s been a long, long time since I was 18…in fact, it seems like an entire lifetime ago.  And if I had to think of the person I was then compared to the person I am now, I suppose I’m in a “new” life, figuratively speaking.

But if I had the chance to talk to my 18-year-old self, the one who knew it all, there are a few important pieces of wisdom I’d love to impart:

1. Choose your friends wisely.  Your circle of influence will do just that – influence you.  Surround yourself with people who love you for the person you are; who want nothing but your friendship and love in return, and who encourage you on your walk. 
2. Choose your actions wisely.  If what you’re about to do ended up on the front page of the New York Times…how would you feel?
3. Know when you should not be following the crowd.  Take the opportunity to be a leader to those who are lost.
4. Stop worrying about what others think.  You are a unique individual, created by God to fulfill His purpose.  And as the old saying goes…God don’t make no junk!
5. Value yourself.  Love yourself.  Respect yourself.  Believe in yourself.
6. Never give up hope.  Never underestimate His power.  Know that even when the odds don’t seem to be in your favor, when you feel as if the world has turned against you, or when you’ve reached your lowest point, God is always, always, always there for you.  Let Him take care of you.
7. Never be afraid to talk to an adult about what you’re struggling with.  Believe me, the adults have been there, too.
8. Forgive, and forget.  Seriously.
9. Luke 10:27.
10. Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray.

Maybe those were things I did know at 18, but just stored away in some box in my mind, believing they weren’t important concepts and life rules at the time.  This isn’t to say I regret decisions in my youth; I may not be proud, but I know I’m forgiven, and because of that, I’ve let the past go (see #8). 

I suppose those words I wish I’d spoken to myself all those years ago still apply today – I think we all have instances where our 18 year old self can pop back up again.  Those are the days I am extra thankful for God’s love and grace.

I’m not sure if we ever really “grow up.”  I know that I still face challenges today, and I’ll most likely be a work in progress for the rest of my life.  And that’s okay.  I didn’t have it all together then, but I know I’m getting there now.