"Christianity isn't a religion, it's a relationship" is one of those phrases that you can find everywhere; Facebook, T-Shirts, bumper stickers, YouTube videos. It's way too overused and is doing more harm than good because it's only half right; Christianity is both a religion and a relationship. Let me try and explain.
To say Christianity is not a relationship ignores the many relational
words used to describe God and His people. He is our Father, and we are His children. We know Him and He know us. He speaks, and we listen. We are meant to
constantly relate to our personal God.
But to also say that Christianity is not a religion is disregarding what scripture clearly says:
"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to
visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself
unstained from the world." - James 1:26-27 ESV
The Greek word for "religion" is "θρησκεία" and defined as:
"Reverence or worship of the gods, worship as expressed in ritual acts, religion."
In a biblical sense, there's true/pure religion and false religion. That's an important distinction we need to remember. We can't just disregard ourselves from religion entirely when we have a "belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, esp. a personal God or gods" - Oxford American Dictionary definition of "Religion." That also sounds like a relationship to me! They go hand in hand.
We add to our relationship with Christ by reading His word, going to church, praying, loving others, excercising faith, bridling out tongue, visiting widows and orphans and living holy, unstained life - by our religion.
On the contrary, to be so routed in religious practices and rituals (like the Pharisees) is empty and lifeless and no amount of works is going to save us. Sadly, many false religions do adhere to this BUT it is by grace that we've have been saved through faith. And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God (Eph 2:8).The same also goes with a relationship. We can't just go chasing after the next feel-good relational moment and mountain top experience only to turn away from God with things get hard.
Christianity is both a religion and a relationship, but it's not about either. Neither word is strong enough to explain Christianity. Only the Gospel can do that. The Gospel alone is the power of salvation for all who believe (Romans 1:16).
The Gospel is what Jesus has done, not something you and I do. The
Gospel is about God’s free gift of grace; religion and relationship are
part of our response to that grace. Christianity is about the Gospel,
but it is expressed in religion and relationship. The Gospel alone is
what saves; no amount of our religious duty or relational feeling has
the power to save.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Saturday, September 08, 2012
How married life seems to have changed me.
How married life seems to have changed me.
Yup.
It's a mystery. I don't understand.
Before I was married, I was a regular plain Jane for the most part and liked to dress up every now and then. But now, things are different and I just don't get it.
My nails always, yes, always need to be painted. French manicure even. So, I had to go out and buy some pink and white nail polish to make this possible. What? My nails were always bare before.
Now, my hair. I've experimented with braids, with quiffs and other such nonsense. What happened to the "wake up and brush it" girl I used to be? As of this past month, I've decided to grow my fringe/bangs out, so I've currently got my fringe in a french side braid (which I just learned to do this minute!) and I love it.
I've also been on the hunt for cute dresses, cute earrings and the like.
Anyway, that's beside the point.
What I would like to know is why this is happening? Why am I becoming so girly? Anybody care to shed any light on this for me?
I'm just so confuzzled.
Yup.
It's a mystery. I don't understand.
Before I was married, I was a regular plain Jane for the most part and liked to dress up every now and then. But now, things are different and I just don't get it.
My nails always, yes, always need to be painted. French manicure even. So, I had to go out and buy some pink and white nail polish to make this possible. What? My nails were always bare before.
Now, my hair. I've experimented with braids, with quiffs and other such nonsense. What happened to the "wake up and brush it" girl I used to be? As of this past month, I've decided to grow my fringe/bangs out, so I've currently got my fringe in a french side braid (which I just learned to do this minute!) and I love it.
I've also been on the hunt for cute dresses, cute earrings and the like.
Anyway, that's beside the point.
What I would like to know is why this is happening? Why am I becoming so girly? Anybody care to shed any light on this for me?
I'm just so confuzzled.
Monday, September 03, 2012
The government shall be upon His shoulders
I've been thinking a lot lately about this marriage equality bill (or rather the definition of marriage bill) that's right through the news at the moment.
"By passing this legislation we not only change the definition of marriage, we change it’s meaning and the fundamental basis of marriage. This change will have enduring ramifications for future generations."
It passed it's first reading last week with 80 for it and 40 against it. With a result like that, it immediately got me thinking about the times of Noah...
"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." - Genesis 6:5
"Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" - Genesis 6:11-12
"For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." - Matthew 24:7
and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah...
"But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly." - Genesis 19:4-6
Sure, we are still a long way off from what it was like back then, but it's changing and it's inevitable. Sigh, what is the government doing? If anything they are leading this country astray. They need prayer and lots of it.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" - 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Sure, the Lord is sovereign and these things are bound to come as it's been prophesied to before the coming of our Lord. But what are we to do when it feels like we're loosing all hope, and feeling like our "Christian" nation is heading downhill. What's going to happen next? Will our national anthem declaring that "God defend New Zealand" be changed? Who knows.. but we have hope.
Isaiah 9:6 puts it nicely.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
I used to think that this verse (the part underlined) referred to Calvary and that the government was upon his shoulders by oppressing and crucifying Him. However, as I looked a little further, I noticed that this wasn't the case.
This child shall bear the burden of reigning the government. This child is the Son of God who will reign over every power imaginable. All the world is subject to the rule of this Child. Wise men from the East came to worship this child. The angels of heaven broke out into glorious praise when He was born. King Herod could not outsmart the hand of Almighty God in carrying out His perfect plan.
One day, Christ will reign and it will be an increasing government because the bounds of his kingdom shall be more and more enlarged, and many shall be added to it daily. And it will be a peaceable government agreeable to his character as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:7). Praise the Lord!
"By passing this legislation we not only change the definition of marriage, we change it’s meaning and the fundamental basis of marriage. This change will have enduring ramifications for future generations."
It passed it's first reading last week with 80 for it and 40 against it. With a result like that, it immediately got me thinking about the times of Noah...
"The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." - Genesis 6:5
"Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" - Genesis 6:11-12
"For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." - Matthew 24:7
and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah...
"But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly." - Genesis 19:4-6
Sure, we are still a long way off from what it was like back then, but it's changing and it's inevitable. Sigh, what is the government doing? If anything they are leading this country astray. They need prayer and lots of it.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" - 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Sure, the Lord is sovereign and these things are bound to come as it's been prophesied to before the coming of our Lord. But what are we to do when it feels like we're loosing all hope, and feeling like our "Christian" nation is heading downhill. What's going to happen next? Will our national anthem declaring that "God defend New Zealand" be changed? Who knows.. but we have hope.
Isaiah 9:6 puts it nicely.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
I used to think that this verse (the part underlined) referred to Calvary and that the government was upon his shoulders by oppressing and crucifying Him. However, as I looked a little further, I noticed that this wasn't the case.
This child shall bear the burden of reigning the government. This child is the Son of God who will reign over every power imaginable. All the world is subject to the rule of this Child. Wise men from the East came to worship this child. The angels of heaven broke out into glorious praise when He was born. King Herod could not outsmart the hand of Almighty God in carrying out His perfect plan.
One day, Christ will reign and it will be an increasing government because the bounds of his kingdom shall be more and more enlarged, and many shall be added to it daily. And it will be a peaceable government agreeable to his character as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:7). Praise the Lord!
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