Jun
6
Christianity Versus Religion
Filed Under News And Society
Doug Chamley
I spent a good number of years debating the issues of what religion was and what Christianity was. After several years of debating I found that my interest in a religious life was not what I believed God wanted from his creation. I came to believe that God wanted a relationship with his creation and religion was only a way for man to artificially represent himself as an acceptable unit of creation to the Creator himself. It was not a relationship. Why?
Religion is a form of rules and rituals with the thought of pleasing or appeasing an unapproachable god and in some way through acts or actions earning his favor. Religion believes that “the best you can do is good enough.” Religion can’t seem to believe in a sovereign God who has already done all that is needed for the individual to be reconciled to Himself. He has provided the power to meet the demands of His loving ways and blueprints for life that He guarantees will produce the fruits of righteousness, love, joy and peace.
Christianity is not a religion, it is a way of life. Christianity is not a set of rules to obey, it is a relationship to be nourished with a real and living person. The very name identifies its followers as “Christ’s Ones.”
The true followers of Jesus have not just joined a church, they have made a thoughtful, conscious, life-changing decision to give up their normal, selfish life for the life of a slave, a servant of the most-high God. They have chosen, by faith to be children of God rather than to remain children of the world and the devil. Many have forsaken their earthly family to join the family of God. The true believer has experienced the pangs of worldliness and has felt the hot breath of the enemy on his neck. He has run for refuge into the arms of the One who has overcome those dangers.
The true believer has been captured by divine love only to be freed from worldly passion. He has been transferred from the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son.
True Christians are not better than others, they are just as much in need of being forgiven. The true Christian doesn’t gloat over his victories, he groans for those he has left behind. The true Christian is ever mindful of his past estate, and gloriously thankful for his present condition, often willing to express his gratitude to anyone at any time.
True Christians are motivated by the love of God and energized by the power of His Spirit. They would never consciously do anything to bring disrespect to the name of God, but rather seek to glorify Him in all their endeavors. They tend to live out their faith in every aspect of their lives, every day and towards everyone.
The true Christian lives by FAITH, trusting implicitly in the written word of God and continually seeks wisdom for discerning truth from error. The true Christian’s HOPE is not in his ability, his talents, or his resources, but in the exacting promises of a trustworthy God. Ever mindful of God’s unconditional LOVE, the truly redeemed one still strives to please Him in all that he does.
If you are mad at God or disappointed in your past church experience, perhaps it was because you weren’t exposed to true Christianity, but to a counterfeit “churchianity” which is prevailing in the modern world today. I would urge you to give God another chance with your life. Cast your past, your present and your future onto Him who is willing and “able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy!” If you do, one day you will joyfully shout with the redeemed of all ages, ” Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
I spent a good number of years debating the issues of what religion was and what Christianity was. After several years of debating I found that my interest in a religious life was not what I believed God wanted from his creation. I came to believe that God wanted a relationship with his creation and religion was only a way for man to artificially represent himself as an acceptable unit of creation to the Creator himself. It was not a relationship. Why?
Religion is a form of rules and rituals with the thought of pleasing or appeasing an unapproachable god and in some way through acts or actions earning his favor. Religion believes that “the best you can do is good enough.” Religion can’t seem to believe in a sovereign God who has already done all that is needed for the individual to be reconciled to Himself. He has provided the power to meet the demands of His loving ways and blueprints for life that He guarantees will produce the fruits of righteousness, love, joy and peace.
Christianity is not a religion, it is a way of life. Christianity is not a set of rules to obey, it is a relationship to be nourished with a real and living person. The very name identifies its followers as “Christ’s Ones.”
The true followers of Jesus have not just joined a church, they have made a thoughtful, conscious, life-changing decision to give up their normal, selfish life for the life of a slave, a servant of the most-high God. They have chosen, by faith to be children of God rather than to remain children of the world and the devil. Many have forsaken their earthly family to join the family of God. The true believer has experienced the pangs of worldliness and has felt the hot breath of the enemy on his neck. He has run for refuge into the arms of the One who has overcome those dangers.
The true believer has been captured by divine love only to be freed from worldly passion. He has been transferred from the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son.
True Christians are not better than others, they are just as much in need of being forgiven. The true Christian doesn’t gloat over his victories, he groans for those he has left behind. The true Christian is ever mindful of his past estate, and gloriously thankful for his present condition, often willing to express his gratitude to anyone at any time.
True Christians are motivated by the love of God and energized by the power of His Spirit. They would never consciously do anything to bring disrespect to the name of God, but rather seek to glorify Him in all their endeavors. They tend to live out their faith in every aspect of their lives, every day and towards everyone.
The true Christian lives by FAITH, trusting implicitly in the written word of God and continually seeks wisdom for discerning truth from error. The true Christian’s HOPE is not in his ability, his talents, or his resources, but in the exacting promises of a trustworthy God. Ever mindful of God’s unconditional LOVE, the truly redeemed one still strives to please Him in all that he does.
If you are mad at God or disappointed in your past church experience, perhaps it was because you weren’t exposed to true Christianity, but to a counterfeit “churchianity” which is prevailing in the modern world today. I would urge you to give God another chance with your life. Cast your past, your present and your future onto Him who is willing and “able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy!” If you do, one day you will joyfully shout with the redeemed of all ages, ” Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
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