Religion vs. Relationship
What many Christians leave out when sharing the Gospel
What is the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about Christians? Or the Christian faith?
Based off my personal experience, I would guess some of your answers to be along the lines of:
hypocritical
judgemental
insincere
and if it is, I don’t blame you.
I am a Christian. I am not ashamed about that. But sometimes, I feel ashamed when I see the way some believers share the faith. How self-righteous we can be without even realizing it.
If a Christian is pointing out your sin, sometimes even straight telling you you’re going to hell, and then calling it evangelism… they’re wrong. And they should know they’re wrong. I’ve heard people justify this by saying “It’s all love.” Or by saying “I’m not here for people to like me, I’m here to tell the truth.”
Love without gentleness is conditional. Truth without love is cruelty… and Jesus was never cruel.
1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
So many people reject God because of how He has been represented by the church. It’s always about correction, and never about connection. Many feel that ‘religion is being shoved down their throats’ and rightfully so because in a way it is!
I am not religious.
The worldwide definiton of Religion is the belief in and worship of a God or gods. Christians belive in and worship God, and Jesus Christ. It should be as simple as that. We aren’t meant to be ‘religious’.
Yes, the Bible has laws in the old testament that the ancient Israelites had to follow. Yes, we have Jesus’ teachings in the new testament-along with Paul’s letters telling us how to live right. However, nowhere does it tell us to argue with people in the name of God. Or judge them for the very things we used to engage in. And we absolutely should not befriend someone for the sake of trying to convert them.
We are supposed to love others, and tell them how much God loves them.
Now I want you to think about the people you love the most and how much you love them. Who you spend the most time with and why.
What measures do you take to keep those relationships healthy and fulfilling?
You may have thought about your best friend. Or your significant other. Maybe your parents and/or siblings. And I seriously want you to take a minute to think about these relationships.
Most of us talk to these people every single day. Either because we want to, we may need something, or simply because keeping in touch is important for any strong relationship. It is the same with God.
Hosea 6:6 “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”
~ God is explaining here that He looks at the heart ; He cares less about performance and more about you really knowing Him.
James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
~ You are told about Heaven and Hell and what you can or can’t do to get to either one. But were you ever told that if you pray to God you can begin a relationship with Him like you’ve never had with anyone on Earth?
Jeremiah 29:12-13 “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
~ God spoke these words through the prophet Jeremiah. Seek Him and you WILL find Him-that’s a promise.
Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
~ Many people are not told that God listens! That prayer isn’t always closed hands and bowed heads. The more you call on Him, its only a matter of time before He shows up in a radical way. Not to condemn you, but to love you.
The difference between Religion and Relationship is this:
Religion follows the laws in the old testament, or the teachings’ in the new testament. Sometimes both, and has a tendacy to deeply judge others who don’t.
John 15:4-5 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself... neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
~ Jesus taught a lot in way of parables and metaphors. Here He is saying that the more time spent with Him, the more you will show the love, kindness, and grace of God to others and yourself.
~ You don’t need to put all your strength and effort into trying to follow every single thing the Bible says is not edifying. You just need to walk with Him. A relationship with God is more important than your striving to be perfect in His eyes, or the eyes of others.
Religion tends to keep to it’s own people.
(1) Matthew 9:10-13 “And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and His disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
But when He(Jesus) heard it, He said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…”
“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
~ It was social suicide for anyone to be a tax collector in Jesus’ time. They were considered traitors-the worst of the worst. Yet, Jesus sat at their table. He did not judge them and He corrected those who did.
~ A relationship with God gives you the compassion and courage to sit with those avoided by others. Those hated because of what they do for work, how they live their lives, etc. We, as Christians, are supposed to represent Christ and love them-gently correcting those who think they’re superior.
(2) John 4:7-26 (also vs 17-18, 25-26)
~ Jesus converses with a Samaritan woman living with a man who wasn’t her husband.
Rather than condemning her, He speaks with empathy and understanding. He showed her the kindness she did not recieve from her neighbors who swore by the law.
~ This is what we are supposed to do for the people who are shunned by society. A relationship with God will give you the heart of Christ, and the capacity to be that shoulder for a stranger to cry on.
~ Maybe the person isn’t shunned. Maybe they’re super popular yet unkind. We don’t tell them “God don’t like ugly.” We communciate with kindness in every interaction-not in our own strength but with the boldness and love poured into us during time with the Lord.
Religion is hostile, and strict. Unforgiving, despite the teachings on forgiveness. Abrasive, and more often than not, inconsiderate.
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS, self-control..."
~ If you scroll up and reread John 15, these are the fruits He explained we’d bear as we abide in Him daily. I’ll add two more scriptures for good measure.
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people... clothe yourselves with COMPASSION, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Titus 3:2 “...to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”
To the point…
God loves everyone. Believers and non-believers. Sinners and saints.
Anyone who claims to be a Christian should not be judging or condemning anyone for their life choices or beliefs. We should not be close-minded to others’ responses. We especially should not intentionally try to convert someone using guilt or fear. Instead, we should read our Bibles. We should pray continually and grow closer to God everyday. We should be remembering what God said, and walking through each day with Him. When it comes time to share our faith, we need to do so in love, respect, and consideration.
To anyone who has been shunned, judged, turned away, and overall disrespected by a Christian, I’m sorry. That wasn’t God. That was religion.
If you read this far, thank you! Any questions (or discussions you want to have that may be too personal for a public comment section) can be sent to my inbox. My notifications are never off <3