Not Religion, But Relationship

“I hate organized religion.” “I dislike churches and denominations.” “I despise all the hypocrites in the churches.”

Have you heard those statements from people you knew or talked with? Have you made those statements yourself?

You may have something in common with Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ greatest enemies were the religious leaders of his day.

Jesus spoke out sternly – and in judgment against the religious practices of his day in Israel. Christ condemned the leaders’ hypocrisy. “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: (place of spiritual authority) All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. “(Matthew 23:2,3).  He said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)   He called them “blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14)

These religious leaders were the ones who led the plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 26:3,4; 27:23). Jesus had exposed them for what they actually were and they were angry to the point of murder.

These leaders didn’t care about people and their needs. They would rescue their own helpless sheep if it fell into a pit on the Sabbath but got angry when Jesus healed a helpless sick person on the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:9-14). They criticized Jesus when he ate with the publicans and sinners (people despised by the religious crowd). It appears that these people were too wicked, too poor, or too despised for them to have compassion for them. (Matthew 9:10-13)

 Most organized ‘churches’ today have made a mockery of the church that Christ established. The Bible does not say that we are saved by baptism, observing the Lord’s Supper, or good works inside or outside the church. You could be the best person in the world and still go to hell if you don’t come by the way of the cross.  These organizations may portray compassion and good works, but, in reality, they are giving people false assurance, pushing their members off the cliff to hell.

 Because of this, did Jesus abolish religious organizations? NO!

 Jesus established the church as an organism and taught the structure of local church organizations through Scripture. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock (the rock – Peter’s confession that “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). He trained the first leaders (the 12). After his ascension, there were at least 120 members of the Jerusalem church. (Acts 1:15).

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached a powerful, convicting message. That day, 3,000 new believers were saved, baptized, and added to the church. (Acts 2). From that point forward, we see the early church’s rapid growth and spiritual power. The preaching of the Word of God persuaded people to trust Christ as Savior and become members of the local church.

However, as time passed, corruption crept into the churches just as it did in the Old Testament Jewish observances.   Church leaders added their personal doctrines, policies, and practices to the Scriptures until the ‘church’ became just another organization of man.

Anything became acceptable as long as ‘the church’ maintained power and authority.

‘Churches’ focused on rituals and liturgies. Pastors or priests baptized infants into the church. Thus, they were ‘saved’ and assured of a place in heaven. Catechism followed to educate the children. They took part in church worship and activities and grew up in the church. They got used to the endless sermons and were supposedly one big happy family. After a while, ‘church’ became boring. The routines became meaningless. Later, they dropped out of the church and only visited it occasionally. But they were all ‘Christians.’

Salvation is not a ritual, process, or ceremony you go through. It cannot be inherited. It cannot be placed on you by some religious leader. Those 3,000 saved on the day of Pentecost had none of that (Acts 2). The thief on the cross did not experience that. Church membership does not equal salvation.

BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY IS BASED ON RELATIONSHIP, NOT RITUALS OR MEMBERSHIPS.

When a person is “born-again,” it is a supernatural event. Jesus compared the miracle of human physical birth to spiritual birth. When a person is born again, or ‘born from above,’ God performs the miracle of the new birth. Christ told Nicodemus that he must be ‘born again.’ (John 3). You are born into the family of God and are a child of God.

Salvation is a specific decision made by a person old enough to understand and believe the gospel. Paul defines the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. “I declare unto you the gospel – – – by which also ye are saved, – – – how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Paul describes the result of salvation in 2 Corinthians 5:17. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” A newborn baby desires milk. A newborn baby Christian desires the milk of the Word. When you become a born-again Christian, God implants your desire for the Word.

When hearing the gospel, the unsaved person must confront his sinfulness and sins. He confesses to God that he is a sinner and accepts Jesus’ payment for his sin. God can forgive the sinner because Jesus shed His blood to pay for the sinner’s sin. When you trust Jesus as your Savior, He transforms you into a child of God. Then, you begin your journey of growing into Christ-likeness. Read Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23; 10, 9,10,13. Begin your journey today.

When Jesus saves you, just as a newborn baby, you need spiritual food and help to grow. That’s where a genuine, Bible-believing church comes to your aid. The Bible (not philosophy or psychology) is preached and taught in such a church. At church you meet some mature Christian who knows the Bible and lives by Biblical principles to teach and disciple you. You can also experience the love and encouragement of other Christians.

When you join such a church, the services will be meaningful. You will sing the songs of the redeemed with heart-felt meaning because you have experienced salvation. You will listen to the sermon to learn how to live the Christian life.

A Bible-believing church will have Christian members at different levels of Christian maturity. Not all of them will live the way they should, and not all will treat you kindly. But remember that they are learning to lead the Christian life just like you are. Jesus “came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32). When a sinner does come to repentance and trusts Christ as Savior, he needs to grow spiritually. So, a Bible-believing church will help the newly converted sin-sick sinner grow to spiritual wellness. Think of the church as a hospital. The hospital treats all manner of sickness. Some patients will heal quickly. Others have long-term sicknesses that need care over a long time. Mature Christian church members will help, counsel, nurture, and disciple new Christians to spiritual wellness and maturity. Then, these discipled Christians stay in the church to help others find Christ and disciple them.

Are you in a “born-again” relationship with Christ? If not, now is the time to make that decision and take that step to trust Him as Savior.

If you are a ‘born-again’ Christian, are you in a Bible-believing and practicing church? Are you growing in the Lord and helping new Christians grow? If not, now is the time to find and join that kind of church.