“The romance of religion isn’t nearly
as beautiful as the reality of Christ.”
— Darlene Zschech
There are many religions and
religious affiliations within those religions over every corner of the globe.
So many of us have traipsed these
religions; these structures for ‘faith’ and spirituality. But inevitably with
religion—taking the terse definition—we find the binding of rules, of
traditions, of humanistic legalism. That, or there is a complete lack of any
sort of truth from which the religion is based—they don’t get past
superstition.
We are easily romanced into religion.
Our parents convince us or we follow their lead, and we are won to what sounds
good at the time—because we are searching.
As human beings we are purposed to
continually search for meaning, if we seek truth. If we have nothing to believe
in, we find something to believe in. If we have
nothing to worship, we find something to worship (though worldly people wouldn’t call it
“worship”).
We tend to search until we find
something; something with which we can latch upon; something that transforms us
and makes us happier and more at peace with ourselves and our world. Sometimes
we find, later on, we have believed in a delusion.
But when we meet Jesus—when Jesus
truly finds us—we encounter something completely different. We encounter a
relationship with the living God. Yes, this Jesus is living through the Holy
Spirit and comes to live in us in apportionment to our acceptance.
But religion promises us a romance,
but like all romances the romance soon wears off.
Christianity is different in this
way. Finding Christ and becoming discipled helps us understand not only the
meaning of life, but it helps us put our suffering and lack of meaning into proper
context.
Finding Christ is about finding
truth; the answers to all our questions, even if the answers are encapsulated
in mysteries beyond us and are unfathomable. At least we can admit we don’t
know.
This is part of accepting Christ;
that many realities are often beyond us, but we have the living Presence of God
in us, and, by that, we can experience peace that transcends our understanding.
Becoming a Christian is just as much
about rejecting the fluffy romance talk of religion and shallow spirituality
and digging into the truth. It’s about nurturing a real relationship with God.
True worshippers of God worship in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
With all this talk about religion and
Christ opposing, I haven’t even mentioned grace! The reality of Jesus is
alluring to this fact: Jesus died so we might be connected with the Father,
and, in so doing, have a relationship with God. Jesus is different in that,
through him, our sins—our guilt and shame—are forgiven.
***
Sweeping away the vain promises of
religion—these unfulfilling romances—we suddenly come face-to-face with the
Christ. Jesus, the living God, relates with us, and such a relationship, born
of the grace to forgive and to reconnect us with the Father, is life
transforming.
Christ is more than religion; Jesus
is a complete lifestyle makeover.
God has something better in mind for
us who would be romanced by religion. His name is Jesus, and Jesus transforms
lives, building completely upon a promise—to save us from our sins. The romance
of religion wears off—it’s a temporary satisfaction. Jesus is permanent
fulfilment.
© 2013 S. J. Wickham.
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