I'm beginning a new series here. The hardest part of writing this particular series was coming up with the title! I had originally planned on simply writing about who Jesus is, and to somewhat contrast Him with what religion teaches, but as I thought about it and prepared it, I found myself in "contrast" mode more than I thought I would. So I thought of titles such as "Jesus vs. Religion," "Jesus is not a religion," Jesus contrasted with religion," "Who Jesus Is," "Who Jesus Is Not," "Who is Jesus?" and so on and so forth. In the end, I guess I cover quite a bit of stuff here, so I couldn't settle (in my mind) on one title!
I've done a lot of thinking this past week on all of this. I've read a little bit about what people think about various religions (as well as "non-religion"), in comparison with the "religion" of Christianity. I also received an email from an atheist, asking if I wanted to take part in a podcast in which an atheist and a Christian discuss things pertaining to Christianity and atheism. That's not quite my bag, particularly, so I'm not going to do that but it added to my thinking about religion and religious mindsets. Particularly, my thoughts have focused on the reality of who Jesus is (what the Bible reveals about Him), as contrasted with who people think Jesus is and what the "religion" of Christianity is all about. To some, Christianity is simply that - a religion that is not too different than any other religion. To some, all ways lead to God. To some, Jesus was a great teacher and a prophet, but is not "the Way."
To me, there is no such real thing as a religion called "Christianity." What I mean by that is, God so loved the world that He gave His Son, not the Christian religion. Some have turned this into a religion, but when we read the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament prophesies regarding Jesus and the New Covenant, we find it pointing to a Person, not a religion. The things that the scriptures reveal about this Person are fascinating! But one thing I want to do here, apart from simply talking about this fascinating Person, Jesus, is to present Him not as a religion or as a set of rules and tenets and principles, but as the Person who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Christianity is not the way, the truth and the life. Religion is not the way, the truth and the life. The law is not the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
Amen brother, preach it!
ReplyDeleteThis is gonna be a good one!!
-sits quietly in anticipation-
...No pressure. ;)
I'm with Matthew on this - eagerly waiting for the rest of the series. Pant! Pant!
ReplyDeleteYou've already got me thinking about this wonderful person named Jesus that religion has turned into a set of rules and principles to live by. I'm enjoying coming to know him as a person and I'm looking forward to coming to know him more and more. I'm glad you're blogging on this subject. I'm sure you'll be saying much that will add to my understanding.
Aida
Preach the exclusivity of Jesus brother!
ReplyDeleteTo me the most irritating this is :
all ways lead to God. philosophy
The 'politically correctness' and 'tolerance' in such promoting may sound like 'love' but it comes out of the hell. I have no problem in reaching out to such proponents but I can't buy their philosophy. Jesus is exclusive and He said the path is narrow!
Looking forward for the upcoming posts, brother!
Thanks, friends. Yeah, all my life I've believed certain things to be true about Jesus, all because I'd either been told certain things by people or I'd come up with my own preconceived ideas, only to find out that the scriptures actually say something else.
ReplyDeleteIt appears to me that many people in the world are the same - believing lies about Jesus, making Christianity into simply one of many religions, and I thought I'd take some time to take a look at what the scriptures actually do say about Jesus.
Bino, what you've said about 'all ways lead to God,' 'tolerance,' 'the narrow path,' etc, are all things I've thought about lately and have been or will be included in the things I write.
Jesus is so much more than a spiritual leader, and He didn't come to make people religious. Christ in us is so much greater than following a religion or a set of rules and principles!