Losing My Religion

It’s often said that religion is man-made. That statement is true, but I supposed it depends on which religion you are talking about.

Now, before you get too smug, Christianity, as a religion, is also largely man-made. Christianity is often the container, or the receptacle of man-made rules and regulations that in many ways provide a false sense of security, or even superiority, that was never a part of the first-century church.

It’s possible that you may need to lose your religion in order to really find faith in God.

To many desiring material and financial success, Christianity is reduced to a system of positive thinking and endless opportunities for lifting our standard of living. It is neither. Christianity was not established to improve your bottom line but to uniquely show what it means to love your neighbor and how to deny yourself.

On the other hand, many people believe that Christianity is a religious system that has both the answers and the resources to solve the world’s problems. It is neither. Christianity was not established to be a cure to all of the problems of the word but to uniquely reveal the character of Christ in the midst of all of the problems.

Christianity is ultimately not a religion but an opportunity for a relationship with God through the completely finished work (the religion) of Jesus Christ. Religion, while creating opportunities for personal solace and reflection, is an unsatisfying substitute for the real thing.

Perhaps it’s time for you to lose your religion.

Independent 'Til The End

That confident, arrogant and independent streak in us is going to be our downfall.

It's something that appears sometimes admirable. A person so confident in his or her own ability to achieve that they are stridently independent and unwilling to even ask for help. However, it’s difficult if not impossible for that person to admit that they are a sinner and unable to make it without Jesus.

Arrogance on the other hand, when it creeps in, is not something admirable. Arrogance is an unjustified attitude of superiority. It accompanies an unwillingness to submit to anyone or anything.

However, Jesus' request for submission is simple: He died for us. Though His death and resurrection, he redeemed us to Himself. We now belong to Him.

While we may want to remain independent thinkers and free spirits, the truth of the matter is that you no longer belong to yourself if you claim Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The decision to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life is actually the last independent expression of your life. This is likely why it is often so difficult for anyone to actually decide to submit to the Jesus and “surrender all”.

The scriptures actually say it would be impossible without God. Fortunately, He chose us and loved us and made it possible. Just lose that confident, arrogant and independent steak.