Religion Shattered

Thoughts for this blog came from a quote that I read earlier in the week: "Religion is for unbelievers; it's the business of the godless."

One of the best and accurate definitions that I can give of religion is that it is what man makes out of God. Due to our inclination to organize and structure, we have created a window through which we can view God and His characteristics. As long as we can keep the window clean and unobstructed, we will clearly see and understand all of God their is to know.

Here's the problem: Jesus shattered the window!

Jesus, God in the flesh, blew away the understanding of the religious leaders of His day. They expected God to send a Messiah in a particular way, through a particular "vehicle", and that he would do particular things. None of them expected a suffering Savior. No one expected Him to bypass the "center of religion" along with its leaders. But that is exactly what Jesus did.

Jesus came to earth through miraculous means only to be raised in an ordinary home. He lived among the common people of the world. He followed the standard path of righteousness. In fact, until Jesus was baptized, we don't hear much about His life. Once Jesus began preaching the Good News, He called 12 ordinary men to follow Him. And once they had this same Spirit come upon them on the day of Pentecost, they turned the world upside down!

Who are we to confine God to a religion? I have said it before, and I will say it again, if God isn't big enough to change your theology or doctrines then you might as well admit that you are no better than the religious leaders of Jesus' day. God is interested in a relationship with His people. This relationship will lead them to follow hard after God - not a system of beliefs.

The word 'religion' comes from the Latin religare, and literally means to ties yourself back, to rest a secure anchor at a safe place, so we are not swept away by the current of life into unknown and dangerous waters. What religion fails to see is that Jesus had already done that for us. We don't need better and more structured religion. What we need are more passionate followers of a God who called them out of darkness into a marvelous light!

Religion is for unbelievers...the business of the godless. Why is that? Because those who have God should run with Him as hard as they can. When you live in a relationship with God - religion only gets in the way.

Will you follow hard after Him?