Happy Sunday

RELIGION VS RELATIONSHIP

 Bonnie Ricks

An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.  They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." - John 3:25-27 NIV

Do you define yourself as a religious person?  Have you ever thought about what that means?  Most of us will instantly think that someone who is religious is devout in his/her religion.  And that’s an accurate assessment of the word.  However, there is also an underlying thought that, if Christianity is the subject at hand, that a “religious” person is a devout follower of Jesus Christ.  That is an unfortunate equation, because being devout to one’s religion does not necessarily mean that same person is devoutly following Jesus. 

Webster defines the word “religious” in several ways, one of which is “scrupulously and conscientiously faithful”.   As such, the state of being “religious” can involve any number of things in your life - your work, your finances, your relationships, your hobbies.  A person can be religious about most anything.  But if a person is spiritual it involves specifically his or her spiritual growth and development - about which he or she can be very religious!

The same argument has gone on for centuries, as evidenced by the disciples of John and their discussion with the Jew about purification rites.  Paul often addressed the problems when confronted with the Jewish rites practiced by the converted Jews - could a person really be a Christian if they did not carry out the rites and rituals of the Jewish religion as well as worship Jesus?

Sometimes we get caught up in the same argument.  Each denomination has its own set of traditions, its own set of rites and rituals.  Many of us get so involved in practicing rituals - like baptism - we neglect the spiritual growth and development so desperately needed within our congregations.  This is not to say that rites and rituals are wrong.  In fact, they are wrong if they become the focus of our worship, rather than Jesus.  They are also wrong if the method for executing them becomes more important than the spirit for which they are executed.  For instance, some churches insist on specific wording for each ritual.  Their insistence on the specific wording is so pronounced that they will actually repeat the same ritual over and over again until it is done perfectly, without any stumbling or variance in the wording.  What they don’t realize is that their insistence on specific wording is not Christian, nor is it biblical; it is, instead, more akin to witchcraft and its insistence on the specific wording required in the casting of spells.

Outside of baptism and the Lord's Supper, Jesus did not define one ritual or "religious" act during His entire ministry.  What He did define was how to follow Him… how to get to know Him… how to be the kind of disciple He wants each of us to be… how to have the kind of relationship with Him that He wants us to have.  In these things, each of us should be very religious.

Put away any dependence on rites and rituals you have and focus upon your spiritual development and your growing relationship with Jesus instead.

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  John 4:24 NIV

To GOD Be The Glory

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain

     Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
     Let the earth hear His voice!
     Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
     Let the people rejoice!
     O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
     And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain

 

Daily Smile:

Three old couples were having tea one fine day. There were all chatting and whatnot when one of the men, trying to get a chuckle, said to his wife, "Pass the honey, honey!” Getting the chuckle he expected, he carried on. 

A moment later, the second man said, "Pass the sugar, sugar!" This got a bit of a bigger laugh, so the third man, although not quite as clever or quick-witted as the other two, decided to join in the fun.

He waited for the perfect opportunity, cleared his throat and then confidently said, "Pass the tea, bag!"