Forgive the use of colorful language in that song quote, but it is so appropriate and true. I am a closet parrothead for two reasons: Jimmy Buffett's songs are so much fun to listen to and he is so honest in his lyrics. "Religion" does seem to be established and run or - to be more politically correct - led by people who seem so totally messed up.
The song ties well with a t-shirt Jimmy has. On the front it says: CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION. On the back it says: RELIGION is HUMANS trying to work their way to God. CHRISTIANITY is GOD coming to men and women through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
When RELIGION is at work, we have a list of do's and dont's that we must stick to strictly or else our place with God is in jeopardy. When we are following a RELIGION, we develop our own Law of Moses. In Exodus 21-23, we're told all of the laws the Israelites were required to live by: when they could and couldn't work, what they could and couldn't eat, when they could and couldn't sell a bull, and who to blame if an ox or a donkey fell into a hole.
On the other hand, when CHRISTIANITY is at work, our pattern for life is Jesus Christ. We live passionately to be more like Jesus Christ. And if we are becoming more Christlike:
- We become more loving toward each other - He loved even those who disagreed with Him, those who worked against Him, and even those who killed Him.
- We become more alive when we speak of our Creator, when we sing to Him and about Him, - was Jesus ever more alive then when He was praising His Father, communicating with His Father or celebrating his Father's creation?
- And it becomes our life's purpose to bring the lost to the Father - after all, it was the reason He gave His life.
When CHRISTIANITY is at work, we do not look oddly at someone who comes to church less dressed up than we are or whose children are not quiet during the service. We do not let opinions and preferences get in the way of another person's worship. And we do not let our own comfort stand in the way of reaching out to the lost around us.
So are you a Christian or are you religious?
3 comments:
Christian. But sometimes I have to fight my religious tendencies.....
In some ways it's easier to be religious. I'm all about the check list when I'm cleaning my house or grocery shopping. And it's easy to let that spread. If I don't kill anybody and go to church and teach sometimes and don't curse ... at least not often -- then I'm good, right?
tiffany to answer your question that im good right... question in the way that you asked the question no is my opinion. "good" is a controversial word. i am not all going for saying im a "good" person. because what i percieve of the the word but some people think going to churh makes you a "good" person. but instead of people going to church we should bring church to the people. if that makes any sense whatsoever... okay anyway.. i really like the message in this blog. it makes people really think if they are religious or christians. really good messages tiffany keep it up.
Post a Comment