THE WAY

We all go to church, our religious place of worship.  Some churches are large with hundred’s in attendance every Sunday.  Their bills are paid and they recruit many new members each year.  They have activities for all ages that lure people in.  Other churches are small.  Their congregation is older and they scramble to pay their bills, unless someone has passed and left them with some much needed cash.  They don’t have very many activities and it is difficult for them to get new members. 

A book I am reading, Jesus > Religion Why He is So Much More, made me think of all the congregations that are around.  Is it about the church we attend?  Is it about the larger or smaller the congregation?  Is it about the activities available to everyone? 

The answer is no!  It is about Jesus!    On page 28 this paragraph jumped off the page and hit me in the face. 

Most religions say, “This is what you have to do to be in right standing with God.”  Jesus comes to earth and says, “This is what I’ve freely done for you to put you in right standing with God.”  Religion says do.  Jesus says done.  Religion is man searching for God.  Jesus is God searching for man.  Religion is pursuing God by our moral efforts.  Jesus is God pursuing us despite our moral efforts.  Religious people kill for what they believe, Jesus followers die for what they believe. 

Jesus is the good news.  It is during this time of year that we focus on what Jesus has done for us.  In the Old Testament God gives us all the laws and shows us how the universe is to work.  In the New Testament Jesus came and fulfilled the requirements God had given us and then took all of the sin, failure, guilt, and shame as He hung on the cross. 

I’m not saying don’t go to church; go to church, but go to church for Jesus not for other things.  Jesus is the reason.  Jesus is how we will get to have eternal life.  Jesus is love and He wants in your heart.  He wants us to follow Him even though the road may be tough and painful.  Open your heart today not just the church door and let Him in. 

{Jesus>Religion, Jefferson Bethke, Nelson Books 2013}