Religion or Relationship?
Are you religious? If you believe in and worship a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods, than you are considered religious. Does this make you a Christian?
America is considered a Christian nation but just because the majority of people believe in a higher power of some kind, does not make us a Christian nation. At best we could say we are a religious country. Our citizens vary in their beliefs, worshiping many different gods or profits and some not worshiping at all, but only sort of believing that there must be something more than us.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32
Having a personal relationship with your god is more than religion. Being a Christian involves a personal relationship with God and His son Jesus Christ. Not only do Christians believe that God exists and is our creator but also that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and rose again, ascending back into heaven and providing His Holy Spirit for our helper.
God's human creations have free will to choose their own path. Adam and Eve started out with a great personal relationship with God, until they were tempted and became prideful. They sinned and caused a separation from God that wasn't healed until Jesus came to earth as a man.
Up until the time was right for Jesus to come, God made a covenant with humankind so that they could be forgiven of their sins by making sacrifices to God. Jesus came and died on the cross as the final sacrifice of that covenant. He rose from the dead (which no other supposed deity claims to have done). The new covenant only requires that we believe that Jesus died for our sins and invite Him to be part of our lives. In essence, to have a personal relationship with Christ.
This gift of eternal life with God is free and also provides peace and joy during this life as well. I'm not saying Christians have no problems or bad things happen, because rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, but we have a friend, a Lord, a savior, a king, and a brother in Jesus who helps us through this world.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
This is a very simplified explanation of salvation but hopefully makes clear the difference between religion and relationship. We need to have a relationship with Jesus (who is part of God 'The Trinity').
Think of your relationships and how you speak often your friends, and how you treat them. Speak with Jesus daily as your friend, ask Him for advice, tell Him how much you appreciate Him. Your life will be changed and you will feel it by His Holy Spirit.
Questions:
Does being religious make you a Christian?
As a Christian, are you religious?
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
Do you treat Jesus as a friend?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
America is considered a Christian nation but just because the majority of people believe in a higher power of some kind, does not make us a Christian nation. At best we could say we are a religious country. Our citizens vary in their beliefs, worshiping many different gods or profits and some not worshiping at all, but only sort of believing that there must be something more than us.
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32
Having a personal relationship with your god is more than religion. Being a Christian involves a personal relationship with God and His son Jesus Christ. Not only do Christians believe that God exists and is our creator but also that He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins and rose again, ascending back into heaven and providing His Holy Spirit for our helper.
God's human creations have free will to choose their own path. Adam and Eve started out with a great personal relationship with God, until they were tempted and became prideful. They sinned and caused a separation from God that wasn't healed until Jesus came to earth as a man.
Up until the time was right for Jesus to come, God made a covenant with humankind so that they could be forgiven of their sins by making sacrifices to God. Jesus came and died on the cross as the final sacrifice of that covenant. He rose from the dead (which no other supposed deity claims to have done). The new covenant only requires that we believe that Jesus died for our sins and invite Him to be part of our lives. In essence, to have a personal relationship with Christ.
This gift of eternal life with God is free and also provides peace and joy during this life as well. I'm not saying Christians have no problems or bad things happen, because rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, but we have a friend, a Lord, a savior, a king, and a brother in Jesus who helps us through this world.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39
This is a very simplified explanation of salvation but hopefully makes clear the difference between religion and relationship. We need to have a relationship with Jesus (who is part of God 'The Trinity').
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| Friends make life more fun and so does having God as a friend. |
Questions:
Does being religious make you a Christian?
As a Christian, are you religious?
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
Do you treat Jesus as a friend?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
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