But then my father got very sick and we were unable to
attend church on Sundays. After he died, we never went back. By then I didn’t
care about civic duty. My religion left me empty and I was done with it.
The summer after Dad’s passing I attended a youth retreat where I heard about Jesus. I met Him. I became a Christian. And almost immediately I began to see that religion is radically different than Christianity.
Religion is a man-centered system based on a false premise –
that we can become good enough, or
that we are good enough, to earn
God’s acceptance. Christianity is a Christ-centered faith that says we are so hopelessly
flawed and fallen that we can never earn God’s favor, but that Christ paid the
penalty for sin that we owe, and in Him God accepts us.
Religion: Be good, and maybe
God will accept you. Christianity: God accepts you in Christ, so be good.
All of this came home to me again in a story from Luke’s
gospel – the healing of a woman with a severe back disability. I just taught through
it in church, and want to talk about it next time.
But for now: what about you? Are you “religious?” Maybe that’s
not a good thing. But finding a Savior – that’s the best.
And here’s a link that summarizes pretty well the story and
mission of Jesus.
For next time: Three Stark Contrasts Between Religion and
Christianity
