The Rest of the Story

Before you read this article, read the posted before it (most likely just below) entitled, "How do I become a 'Baptism'?"

Upon arriving at church last night for our weekly youth outreach service I was met by the same girl who had asked this question. "Guess what!" sprang out of her mouth. "What?!" I exclaimed in a way that somewhat exaggerated her youthful enthusiasm. "I got saved! ... Sunday night after church I was sitting outside and I started to pray; I cried out to God and asked Him to open His arms and come into my life. After that it was amazing, I just started to cry for like 10 minutes."

I couldn't believe it! What a blessing! I never cease to be amazed at how the Holy Spirit will work in people to bring them to Christ. This young lady has been coming to our youth services for nearly 6 months and now heard dozens of calls for salvation and now, all on her own she cries out to God asking him to come into her life. Rarely to you ever hear of someone getting saved without someone walking them through the "Romans Road", but I just had.

In further talk I asked her what made her decide to get saved then. She said that she knew she needed to, and during our Sunday night song service she kept feeling more and more like it was something she needed to do. Little did she know that it was the Holy Spirit working in her, convicting her or her need of salvation. Whether she knew it or not the results are now eternal history.

But there is more. Last night after the youth service SHE approached ME with the question, "So, when can I get baptized? Maybe this Sunday or next?" Wow, how amazing! She was so excited that she wanted to announce it in person in the service. She did, and all of the other teens erupted in applause!

This was such a great praise I knew I just had to share with you the rest of the story after having posted the question, "How do I become a 'Baptism'?" And there you have it.

"How do I become a 'Baptism'?"

Sunday night as I finished up a few last minute things a teenage approached me with the question, "How do I become a 'Baptism'?" I knew what she meant... baptist, and I knew why she was asking it. She has been attending a different church her entire life with her mother and as felt... less than Spirit led at that church; things seem to be more steeped in religion and tradition that relationship and grace. Having come for nearly 6 months to our Wednesday youth outreach, she has realized that we are not interested in someone merely doing motions in a service nor anyone attending a church based upon the title on the sign. During her attendance here she has urged her mother to come and see our church and experience the difference of relationship over religion... with no avail. Well, Sunday might have changed things. Apparently at the "other church" the sermon was all about how their church and every one of it methods were far superior to any other church in the world, regardless if their practices had any Biblical backing. So, what did I say in regards to the question, "How do I become a 'Baptism'?" The same thing Paul and Silas told the jailer when he asked them a similar question: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." Acts 16.30

The first thing out of my mouth (after, "You mean 'Baptist'" was;) "It isn't about being a Baptist, or a Lutheran, or a Methodist, or a Catholic, or... it is about knowing Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior. Anyone is welcome to come, participate, and attend our church; if you want to know what it takes to become a member, however, you must profess the name of Jesus Christ having placed your faith in Him and asked him to forgive you. AFTER that you need to be Biblically baptized, and attest that you believe the basic Bible doctrines as we do. It's that simple; Have faith in Jesus Christ, believe the Bible, and follow the Bible."

Immediately there was a relief in her eyes. "So I don't have to do _____, or _____ like at my other church?" she asked. "No, those may be nice things to do, and you may choose to do those to help you reverence God, but the most important things is to live by the Bible." With a smile on her face she said, "I think it would be great to be a 'Baptism'!" I reminder her, "It isn't about being a 'Baptist', it is about being a 'Bible Believing, Christ following Christian' that matters. We have 'Baptist' in our church name, but we have 'Christ' upon our hearts. Worry about being a good 'Christian', not a good 'Baptist'."

As she ran turn to leave the smile was still on her face as she exclaimed, "I'll tell my mom, I hope we can start coming."

There are some who will disagree with me and you are welcome to. However, if you claim that there is something more that a believer should do than what the Bible says, or less that a believer should do than what the Bible says I believe you should read Revelation 22.18-19 "For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." We need stop worrying about the title on the church sign, and start worrying about the title of Christ upon your heart.

Is Christianity a Religion?

The question came to be from one of our church members, "I believe Jesus is the only way to heaven… but even so does all the religion really matter? And isn’t religion just another meaning for tradition?" I could see where the conversation was soon heading as there has been a big misrepresentation of Christianity in the minds of our nation as being a "religion", or something that does something for the sake that "it has always been done that way before" and "since God doesn't care about all the 'religion' stuff aren't we wasting our time with all the 'religious stuff'?" This is a great point and good thought.

Going back to the question; it stated that religion is another word for tradition. If you look up "Religion" in any dictionary you will find multiple definitions for it, but one will mention something to doing certain things "religiously" or out of ritual... tradition. Along with the long list of definitions you will see one that says something to the order of "a faith based system." Looking at these two definitions I find that Christianity fits one definition perfectly, and not so much the other. Biblical Christianity is certainly a faith based system as it is centered around the faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of all, but it is not something that should be believed or practiced simply out of ritual reasons. Thus, yes, you could accurately says Christianity is a "religion" but it may not be the best word to describe it.

There is a common saying amongst Biblical Christians: "Christianity is a relationship, not a religion." This is a true saying. Though Biblical Christianity does fit a portion of the dictionary's definition for religion it does not cover all of them. Relationship however, describes the very basis of Christianity; it is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

In a discussion over this same question it was brought up that we do practice things that may appear to be done in tradition, thus making Christianity appear to be a religion: communion, baptism, modest dress, sexual purity, prohibition of alcohol, support Christian music, etc... "What about these things... aren't we making Christianity a religion? Why are we wasting our time doing them?" was a legitimate question that came up. To answer this question you have to consider a relationship. A relationship, any relationship has expectation within it, and expectation are not all bad. In fact, lets consider some relationship that have no spiritual relevance. In your relationship to a cashier you expect them to give you the correct change and they expect you to put all your items on the belt the be paid for. In your relationship to your mailman you expect him to give you your mail without reading it first, and he expects you to have your mail in your box by the time he comes with the correct postage on it. In your relationship to your boss she expects you to be to work on time and be on task while you expect her to provide the proper wages and a healthy work environment. So far there are no complaints in any of these areas in the expectations we live with every day. Expectations actually create a health relationship. Now, in our relationship to Christ we are equated as being a bride for her husband so, what are some reasonable expectations a husband has for his bride? He expects her to be faithful to him in her love, he expects her to dress in a way that doesn't attract attention from others, he expects her to talk well of him, he expects her to spend time with others in his family, he expects her to read his love letters, he expects her to keep open communication. Etc... All of these are things that are done in a health relationship of a husband and wife and our world is filled with examples of consequence when these things are neglected in a husband wife relationship.

So, does having expectations on a Biblical Christian make it a religion? NO! In fact, it makes it a healthy relationship. In Matthew 15.2-4 the religious leaders were upset at Jesus because they didn't wash their hands so Jesus points out that they are focusing on the entirely wrong thing because they are breaking the Law of God in several areas. It is true, God is concerned about our heart and its intent. The Pharisees were worried about the disciples hands more than they were their own hearts. Yes, we should seek good hygiene, but we can't neglect our heart's condition. Romans 12.1-2 tells us we are to present our bodies a sacrifice to God and that it is our reasonable service. God is concerned our hearts first, but he does have expectations of how we handle our body, dress our body, and conduct our body. Satan will tell us that it is OUR body but God says that it is for his work. This is another healthy expectation; what groom wants a bride that has neglected and abused her body and only wants to give him what is left after she and everyone else is done with it. Preserving our body and living a sanctified life is not a call of religion; it is a dedication of a deep relationship.

I'll close with this. Last week in counseling a man who claims he "believes in God but doesn't care about what God cares about or thinks about him" he said, "I'm not coming to church anymore because I will be a fake a be just one of the 'religious' people who don't believe in their hearts." My response was in two parts: "So why don't you give your life to Christ and make it so you're not a 'fake'," and "Who is more likely to get an understanding of God and become a genuine Christian, the person who believes in God but stays home because they are a fake, or the person who continues attending church and being fed the Word of God?" He admitted that I was right, but still walked away from God.

Religion carries a set of rules that are kept because they have always been kept. A relationship carries a moral code that is kept in order to get to know each other better.

David: All Action, No Drama

David is loved by all but what makes him so special. Sure, we say "David, a man after God's own heart" and give him a lot of credit for being a really great warrior and king, but David was a failure in so many accounts it isn't even funny. David failed at his marriage. David failed in his family. David failed in humility. David was selfish. In the midst of all David failed at we sit back and give him some of the highest praise of all the people in scripture. Is this all for no reason or just because we like to hear stories of a hero that can take down a giant? Are we putting this guy on some pedestal that needs to be knocked down a few notches? What makes this guy so special? Does playing a harp and having the kings son as a childhood friend make you such a special person that people think you are cool? The answer to all of these questions: No.

Yes, David failed in many areas just like we do, but there is something about David that is reflected the most in the first verse of the vast majority of the Psalms. Take a moment and skim through the first verse of nearly every Psalm and you find something in common; David is calling out to God. David wants to be heard by God. David wants to hear from God. David is wanting to further his relationship with God. Can all of these things be said of us? It can be said of David and that is some of what makes this guy special.

In Psalm 15 David proposes the question of how he can ABIDE in the tabernacle; the place where God was dwelling at the time. He wanted to know how he could DWELL in the holy hill. David is not wanting to visit the presence of God, he is wanted to stay in the presence of God. From verse 2 through the end of the chapter he is answering his own question under inspiration of God. He spells out a lifestyle that conveys the holy character of God. A lifestyle that is needed by each of us and if each of us lived this character we would see the world change a record speeds for Christ. Now, notice that the question is not "how do I get saved?" rather, (paraphrased) "How do I stay in the active presence of God?" and the answer had to do with how we live. This is not legalism for it is not adding anything to salvation, but it is promoting a lifestyle that reflects integrity and character for a greater reason than "because it is nice". We must live a life of integrity for the fact that it will help us remain in the active presence of God.

David demonstrates this type of integrity in Psalm 38. It seems that everyone is coming down on David and he feels that the heat is on. As you enter verse 12 the skeptics are breathing down his neck and he would have every reason to start lashing out and backbiting but he doesn't. What does he do? He becomes as a deaf mute who refuses to listen to the scrutiny of his critics or shoot off his mouth in retaliation. Instead he turns his focus from being on the prosecution to being on the Lord. When it would be easy to play childish name calling games or a bar-room brawl, David chooses to please God over scuffling with men. David chose to live the life of integrity in the active presence of God over a life of superficial conflict.

What will we choose? In chapter 15 we have a clear lifestyle integrity spelled out for us. Now the question shifts to us, "Are you willing to live lifestyle godly character and integrity so you can dwell in the active presence of God?"