Relationship>Religion

As of late I'm asked more and more if I'm the "religious" type. Something in me always seems to cringe whenever I hear that word... "religious". It just sounds so antagonistic, so harsh, so... judgmental.

And that's the hardest part. Outsiders looking into the world of a Christ follower only see the "rules", the "lifestyle", the "religion" of it. But the fact of the matter is that to the true Christian life is not about being religious or rules. No, it's about a relationship with the One and Only. And relationship is VERY different  than religion...

Religion says you're bad

Relationship says you're forgiven

Religion says do this to earn your goodness

Relationship says my grace is sufficient. Period.

Religion says look at how much better you are than him/her/them

Relationship says lay your life down for your fellow man. Love the unloveable.

Religion lays down judgment and condemnation.

Relationship says Love wins. Always.

Religion says do this or that to earn your eternal home.

Relationship says: choose Me, love Me and your future is forever.

Religion points the finger at the faults of others

Relationship says there is freedom in love.

A religion tells you what to do, promotes shame, encourages judgment, and lays blame on others, while puffing itself up. It's selfish. It's hurtful. It's demanding. And dare I say, it's draining!

Whereas a relationship with Christ is exactly that... a relationship. It's a love relationship with someone who forgives freely, convicts gently, and loves openly. And something incredible that I've realized as of late is that Jesus is fun. He's adventurous. He goes against the grain of religion. He is daring and bold. He's open and honest. He's a lover of the lost. A friend to the friendless. He literally chose to spend His time on earth walking with the "unclean", the "heathen", the "drunkards", and the "prostitutes". He chose the lowly in order that He may bring the truth in love. Christ came for ALL. Period. End of story. He didn't come for the riches and the fame, He didn't come to be glorified and exalted on earth, He came to die for our brokenness, our sins. He paid our every debt. And I bet if He were to come and walk amongst us again today He wouldn't set foot in the churches of today, but would go to the local coffee shop, the beach, even the bars and start building relationship with those inside. His desire is to seek and save the lost... to be the forever friend of those that don't yet know Him.

And I know...

There is no fear in Christ.
There is no shame.
There is no regret.
There is no looking back.

Freedom, Grace, Love, and Mercy are what you find in this relationship. And as with every other relationship, because we love Him, we shouldn't plot to hurt Him, but respect Him and love Him in return.

What once were Pharasee's and Saducee's are now Denominations and Religious. They're one in the same... just a few centuries down the road than those of Christ's day.

Relationship. I choose relationship.

I choose to dance, to sing, to go out and share a meal with others, to walk alongside the lost. I too may be seen as Christ once was, as a "glutton and a drunkard". But who cares? In the grand scheme of things, my loving on the lost is exactly what I'm called to do. Sharing a meal with them, having a glass of wine, sitting at the table of the 'tax collectors" of the land is what I will do everytime if it means I get to share Christ's freely given love to someone. Because I want everyone to experience the freedom and the peace that surpasses all understanding, that only comes from RELATIONSHIP with Him.


P.S. - check out this awesome video that prompted today's blog: Jesus, not religion