there is religion... and there is truth

[Jesus_identificazione]

Why Following Christ isn’t a Religion

Have you ever looked into other "religions"? No one sees God, no one loves God, or their gods, they just look to them as a made up excuse for the happenings of this world. (the world is not my home). But my point is that "Christianity isn't a religion it's A RELATIONSHIP WITH Jesus". But many “religious” Christians seem to forget that. I ask Christians all of the time if they say they are religious, and they always say “yes”, then I go into explaining exactly why they aren't. It's all about getting real with God, and going to God with all of your problems; Not trying to be as noble as you can (It’s the unpardonable sin to completely reject Christ). In Galatians, Paul tells to the people that if righteousness comes from the law and could be achieved from the law, than Christ died in vain. This means if we can be happy and everything by ourselves, we didn't need Jesus. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS. We need God! He doesn't need us, He wants us. And Jesus came to the earth to pay a debt He didn't owe, but it was a debt that we couldn’t' pay. <-- DOES THIS SOUND LIKE RELIGION TO YOU?????????????????? Because it sure doesn't to me! PEOPLE CHOSE A RELIGION, but Christians are called to Christ to renounce even their lives and follow him and not care if their body may perish, because they are His eternally, even to be hated by the world means nothing to Christians, because their reward is great through all of the persecution they receive. People try to persecute Christians but it often fails because only through persecution comes a strengthening and sharpening in faith. Now I know everyone is called to Christ, but not everyone listens, they are too busy with worldly things to listen.

I have also noticed in really religious Christian churches that they pray about things to happen... like.... "Oh lord, feed the hungry" RELIGIOUS PEOPLE DO THAT!!!!!!!! DON'T JUST DO THAT!!! But Christians first pray about it.... then they do it while talking to God ... then THEY THANK HIM. Religious people (in Matthew it says this) like to pray in town squares where they can be seen as people who are “right” with God; so these people looking on are impressed or something. But God tells us to go into our quiet places and pray. Because if you have noticed God is never in the noise of the world, but is in the astounding silence so you are completely focused on Him.


Also, you can talk about Jesus in your school, because now I can defend why it isn't a religion, I can defend this topic on many other instances, but I don't have enough time right now to state them. But now you can go into your school and preach all you want because although there is separation of church and state (church meaning religion), you can speak the words of life!!!! And if anyone tells you to stop the "religious discussion" tells them just why it ISN'T religious. I’ve preached in my Gov/econ. class and even my really old teacher who is the smartest person I have seen and who was even a member of the CIA... he told me I was right, and that I could preach in the class room.


I challenge you to read the book of Galatians, it's pretty much about this. It’s pertaining to the law and how you receive God's grace and you don't have to do these "religious customs" to be saved. Also in the churches, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRESS UP!!!!!!!!!! We only do this to be respectful of the ones who WANT us to dress up. That’s what I do. But God doesn't care that you are wearing shorts to a Sunday service!!! He just cares that you are there and in fellowship, and those who tell you that you need dress right, you have to be right with God to be saved, and that you need to read the King James Version to be saved, they assuredly have their reward. I’ve noticed how judgmental really religious Christians can be, I’ve almost said “I’m leaving this Christian thing and following Jesus.” Also arrogance of religion can draw people away from God, like new people coming in can drive people away. if you are new to a church and have a good idea, and it's struck down by a "religious leader" because they think they know more than you, that discourages you from even going to church; because you are thinking "if every Christian is like this, i don't want this". Religion destroys that relationship with God and care and loving other people. The only people Jesus "stuck his finger in their eyes" was the religious people, then after that they wanted to kill Him. JESUS ONLY ATTACKED RELIGION!!!!!!!!! <- I saw a shirt that said that.


Also in the song "fields of grace" by Big Daddy Weave a line from his song is ...
"there's a place where religion finally dies!!!!!!!!!"

That made me happy, because when we die, it doesn't matter how many times we went to church...... or how "religious" we were..... or how many times we did these "religious" ceremonies..... IT MATTERS IF WE TRUSTED IN HIM AND KNEW HIM!!!!!!

So I can say... "I don't believe that God exists...." I can say... I KNOW THAT GOD EXISTS, because I know Him because I talk to him <--does that sound like religion to you???
in these religions and gods people made up, have you seen one instance where these made up gods have showed u something.... or.... talked to you... NOT A ONE!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus is the only ticket to heaven, religion DOES NOT save you

There are religions and there is Truth. And since Jesus was truth and was love and still is, than who do you think you are going to listen to?


Men choose a religion, but a Christian is chosen by Jesus Christ. To be a Christian means to belong to Christ. Jesus asked me to renounce even my life, to follow Him faithfully, not to fear the world even if my body must perish. I prefer to know that God is with me, even if it means that the whole world is against me.
^that was said by a real Jesus freak who gave his life. You can find these stories
TRUE stores in a book called "Jesus Freaks" by DC talk

But Christianity is so much more than "belief" it's being confronted with people... and then explaining why you know Jesus was on this earth. I have seen religious people so much even in Christianity, they aren't real with God, they don't go to Him for advice and understanding, and their lives aren't centered around God.

So I’m never going to say I’m religious, in fact I say I want religion to die, and everyone to follow Christ. I’ve studied this topic for over a year and I have faced many different opinions and it's still constant; that is there is no way that if you follow Christ, you are religious, because being religious means you have to do something. But Christ has already done it for us and that makes us righteous. Because it says in the bible that if we could be righteous on our own, then Christ died in vain. So find me a “religion” that someone humble has died so we may all live not a sinful life but a fulfilled, satisfied life. You won’t find one, you’ll find Jesus though.

Let me ask you a question, have you ever seen a grown man cry that is religious? After all of my things i lead and things i have been to, I’ve seen them, and they see that they cannot go along with this religion thing and it's seeking more truth than just customs and "beliefs".

There is a difference in believing in God and knowing God. HUGE DIFFERENCE.



But even my teachers say i can talk about Jesus in school because it's not a religion to follow Christ. But look through the gospels again, and you will see Jesus' "slap in the face" to religion. I'm just following what Jesus said about religious leaders who thought they were so much smarter than everyone else and who were narcissistic and all of this junk.

My main point is that all religion dies when we die, and also when Christ returns.

In our culture, we try to be "number one" and "the best" that's also the same in religious standing. The majority of us want to be of a high position and recognized and rewarded. But we forget how Jesus told us that if you are humble you will be exalted. (He even tells us in the Bible to expect no reward when you give.) <- Luke Ch. 14

See, in America, we are "spoon fed" Christianity. We rarely receive persecution, so the most of us try to be of a high rank of some sort. but when you go to another country. People are being killed because they finally found a love in Jesus, but the people of their country wants them to be religious and follow religion, their religion (untrue religion). Do you think that you would die just because of a religion? Because I wouldn't; I would gladly give my life for Christ. And I know it's easy to say, but there's that passion for Christ and you know you will.

(In some Middle Eastern faiths, you have to try to get as high up in rank
to be right with their made up god. But in the real world, you don't have to, as He says "come just as you are". This is reality, this is the change we find inside of ourselves. You may say that you are now of a different faith, but have you really changed? Unless you accept that God is real and trust Him, you are lost and you may not know it, but you have nothing and you are nothing. Even in the Bible it says you are nothing without Jesus. Nothing was ever accomplished out of goodness in an atheistic society. )

I’ve just read the gospels many times over and I’ve noticed that religion gets in the way of that relationship with God. As I said before, Christianity is not a religion it's a relationship. I was looking for an instance in my study bible that says that religion gets in the way of that relationship with Christ, but i couldn't find it last night. And there is a difference in belief and knowing (knowing as in relationship and one on one talking). Ex- you can believe that Lincoln was real, but did you actually know him know him, like talk to him.

But know that religion dies, and it matters if you had that relationship with Christ. Because on judgment day, you know what God looks at.


i pray that you religious people will GET REAL WITH GOD AND SOON!!!!

 

[newlite]

that is a long post...

 

[GreenEyedLady]

that is a long post...

Oh but a very very good post!

Praise the Lord!!!!!!!

 

[Lovesherald]

Why Following Christ isn’t a Religion

Have you ever looked into other "religions"? No one sees God, no one loves God, or their gods, they just look to them as a made up excuse for the happenings of this world. (the world is not my home). But my point is that "Christianity isn't a religion it's A RELATIONSHIP WITH Jesus". But many “religious” Christians seem to forget that.

I completely agree!

 

[ZiSunka]

Amen.

 

[Sword-In-Hand]

I agree.

 

[AJ]

Amen!

 

[Steve_SandbachBaptist_UK]

Excellent post. I don't like the word "religion" because its got a slightly negative undertone in Britain, among non-religious people at least. You are right JI, Jesus only attacked religion and the religious leaders.