When we think about Jesus, we automatically think of Christianity. Although the two are completely different.
Jesus didn’t come to start Christianity. Jesus was not a Christian. We are missing the whole point when we focus on religion rather than the real reason Jesus came to live among us. He came to show us the Father and the love He has for each and every one of us, no matter what we call ourselves or what group we belong too. He even loves those who don’t think he exists.
According to Wikipedia it is stated that according to some estimates, there are roughly 4,200 religions in the world. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Jewish, Christianity and every other religion are all actually related. They are all human based ways of trying to please the God (or gods) they believe in and serve.
In regard to just Christian denominations, World Christian Encyclopedia says that world Christianity consists of 6 major ecclesiastical-cultural blocs, divided into 300 major ecclesiastical traditions, composed of over 33,000 distinct denominations in 238 countries. It certainly can’t be stated that people are not interested in some type of higher power.
We want to argue over religion and who is right, who is wrong. All the different religions of the world can’t agree on who we believe in or what is right. We even break it down more and argue within Christianity with all the different denominations, as we consider ourselves Catholic, or Methodist, or Lutheran, Presbyterian or part of the thousand other groups. We argue over whose interpretation is right and really don’t want to associate with those who feel differently.
Needless to say, we all have our interpretations, thoughts and ideas, but those just make us unique individuals. They were not intended to cause separations and divisions among us. We should be able to be ourselves and yet love and accept those who are different from us.
If we could get past the religious part of our beliefs and live in the freedom God provided, things would go much better. Rather than defend our denominational interpretations and our personal ideas, if we would love and accept others with the love of Christ, people would be more open to hear about our Father.
We are normally busy pointing out the mistakes of others, even our brothers and sisters in Christ who have a different view, and condemning those who we consider sinners. When we do so, the love Jesus told us to show everyone seems to get missed. I personally don’t think it is our job to convict people of their sins. Most people know their shortcomings already, and the Holy Spirit will convict the worldly of their sins, drawing them to repentance.
Jesus told us to love God and love others…period. When we focus on the gospels and the life of Jesus and realize that he didn’t condemn and point out the sins and mistakes of people, we can see a distinct difference from the way we act today. He only had an issue with the religious leaders who thought they were better than everyone else because of their works.
When it comes to saying I am a Christian, I am hesitant anymore because of the meaning it receives from most people. If being a Christian means a follower of Christ, someone who wants to be like Christ, and show the love of God to everyone, then I am for it. But if being a Christian is the typical church going, law following, condemning others way of life, I am done with that. In that sense, Christianity is not the answer, nor is any other man-made religion.
Jesus is not into religion. Jesus came to show the love of God to every human being no matter who they are or what they believe. Jesus crosses the barriers of religion and loves everyone. In the world today, we are the Jesus people see, and we should be ready to show the love and acceptance that he showed to everyone we meet.
You may be interested in reading an article on the same topic by my friend Glenn Hager. Read it here: http://www.glennhager.com/2013/05/17/did-jesus-start-a-religion/
Thank you Becky for your comment. I appreciate it.
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An all around excellent article. But I loved this: “Rather than defend our denominational interpretations and our personal ideas, and be open to love and accept others with the love of Christ, people would be more open to hear about our Father.”
Thank you!
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So true, simple things are changed into complicated and confusing things by religion. Thanks for the comment.
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Thank you, I appreciate you reading my article and for commenting.
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Hi Tony, yes, it does seem more people are having their eyes opened to true grace and freedom in Christ. Thanks for the comment.
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“Jesus told us to love God and love others…period.”
Isn’t it amazing how something so seemingly simple can be made so complicated by religion! But if we can’t even get this right, what makes us think we have authority to tell others how they should live?
Let’s make love our focus.
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Donewithreligion,
I am so with you on this. I think you nailed it when you say, “He (Jesus) only had an issue with the religious leaders who thought they were better than everyone else because of their works.” In my opinion, that’s where the issue lays and, unless religion goes extinct, we will always grapple with religion.
As for abiding on the Vine, we are all growing as we are nurtured by Him. Some slower than others, but all confident that He that began the work in us, will bring it to completion!
Good post!
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This is brilliant. More and more people are coming round to this way of thinking in these days. I too was hesitant to reassume the name ‘Christian’, when I came back into church life last year, and for the exact same reasons as you have given here. I am sure that the Spirit is speaking this same stuff to those who have ears to hear, all across the world.
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