When I first heard these four words:
rules without relationship = rebellion
I immediately related them to parenting. And then as the phrase simmered in my mind, I thought how it also relates to our relationship with God.
There’ve been many scholarly words and sermons preached on the differences between religion vs. relationship. Christianity vs. religion. Jews vs. Gentiles. Pharisees vs. Jesus. And on it goes …
Today, I’m just going to share my simple thoughts. I suppose though, they’re not just thoughts … they’re my experiences. It’s what I know to be true.
I’m about to make a bold statement here, but open your hearts and hear me out? I don’t believe we can call ourselves Christians and not have a relationship with Jesus. Christianity isn’t a religion. Sure it’s a piece of it. But it’s by no means the kit n’ kaboodle!
Christian – to be a Christ follower
Follow – go in the same direction as or parallel to
Christianity – Christian quality or character
Character – who you are when no one’s looking
Religion – a system of faith
Relationship – the way people are connected, or the state of being connected
Are we following Christ? Are we pursuing an intimate relationship with Him? A relationship so strong that we ooze His qualities and character?
If we try to live by all the rules laid out for us in religion, without knowing why or understanding the heart behind it … that’s where good ol’ fashion rebellion comes in.
rules without relationship = rebellion
I recently saw the Katy Perry movie with my girls. Did you know she was brought up in an evangelical Christian home? And even tried her hand in the Christian music industry. I can’t help but think she ended up feeling trapped by the rules of religion. It seems she never grasped an intimate relationship with Jesus for herself.
How might I think so? I’ve lived it. I know it. I grew up knowing all the rules of religion … but I missed the most important part … the relationship. Granted, I was a teenager and then a young adult. And let’s face it being a Christian can be hard when it seems like the “world” is having fun around you. In hindsight, I think it was hard because I didn’t understand what it meant to have a relationship with Christ. I didn’t know why I needed a relationship with Christ. Other than saving myself from the depths of hell.
“It is a joy to Jesus when a person takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be a visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.” – Oswald Chambers
Friends, we’ve been created to have intimate relationship with Christ. He doesn’t want us to live only by rules. He wants to deposit into our “banks” on a regular basis, so when the course of life tips our balance sheet the other way … our banks will remain well above positive. So we’ll have no doubt of His great love for us.
There are numerous stories in the Bible of Jesus facing the Pharisees and going against the “rules.” Why? Because Jesus was acting out of love and relationship. Not rules or religion. One of my favorite stories is found in John 8:2-11 {hover over the link and the scripture will pop up}. Ahhh … what beautiful love!!
He came so that we might have life. Life more abundantly. Not rules. Not religion. Not rebellion.
Will you join me in claiming that today?
And please join me tomorrow over on the MODsquad blog where I’ll be sharing a great parenting resource and doing a lil’ thing called a … giveaway!
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