by Lynette Woods
Christ or Religion?
by Lynette Woods
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"Don't assume that you can lean back in the
arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug
because you're an insider to God's revelation, a
connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on
the latest doctrines! I have a special word of
caution for you who are sure that you have it all
together yourselves and, because you know God's
revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to
guide others through their blind alleys and dark
nights and confused emotions to God. While you are
guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite
serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you
going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you?
The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You
can get by with almost anything if you front it with
eloquent talk about God and His law. The line from
Scripture, "It's because of you Jews that the
outsiders are down on God," shows it's an old
problem that isn't going to go away. "What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with Him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. "Is it not clear to you that to go back to
that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would
be an abandonment of everything personal and free in
my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to
repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with
God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died
unnecessarily." (Paul - Romans 2:17-24;
Galatians 2:18-20 TM) |
| RELIGION (Latin relig(are) to tie, fasten (re- + ligare to bind, obligate; + -ion) Man's way of trying to please God Must have buildings & meetings External Physical Outward stimulation Based on performance Do! Controls Dominates Conforms Our appearance is important We choose Legal, law of sin and death Rules to keep Joined Organized Officially members or adherents Attend in body Duty Uses guilt and shame Something you are part of Obligated Ruled Committed Outward form Masquerade Competitive Must see results Size, appearance, "many things" Can use and abuse Patronizing Visible and obvious Security in doing what's "right" Expectations Disillusionment Rely on leaders, works etc Hierarchy, clergy & laity Using natural abilities Knowledge of a holy book Head based Impersonal Earthly Dead |
CHRIST (Gk christos anointed, trans. of Heb mashiah anointed, Messiah) God's Way and Satisfaction We are His Building & meeting place Internal Spiritual Internal motivation Based on what Christ has done Done! Releases Serves Transforms Our disappearance is important We are chosen Law of Love and Life Relationship to treasure Birthed Organic Unofficially inseparable Joined as One in spirit Desire Accepted Someone you are part of Liberated Loved Smitten Inward truth Real Unwarranted approval Unseen results One Thing Loves and will not force Paternal and familial Invisible and often hidden Being in the One Who is Right Expectancy Illumination Rely on Christ Family, brothers and sisters Availability to do all things Knowing Christ (the Word of God) Heart based Intimately personal Heavenly Alive |
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"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 TM |
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