Religion vs. Relationship (part 2)

What is the difference between having a religion and having a relationship? One definition of religion is “a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a supernatural agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs (http://www.wikipedia.org)/.” When I looked up the definition of relationship on Wikipedia, several categories of relationship popped up like “interpersonal” and “intimate.” “An intimate relationship is a particularly close interpersonal relationship. It can be defined by these characteristics: enduring behavioral interdependence, repeated interactions, emotional attachment, and need fulfillment (http://www.wikipedia.org)/.” Looking at the definition of religion, I am unable to find the word relationship, and looking at the definition of relationship, I am unable to find the word religion. This information alone attests to the fact that neither have much to do with the other. That seems logical enough. If this is the case, then why do so many people have these two definitions confused or somehow intertwined? If we delve deeper into theology, I’m sure that we could have a long discussion about this topic, but for the sake of time, I will cut to the chase. Jesus clearly distinguished the difference between religion and relationship.

In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus said two times what distinguishes a true Christian from a false prophet. Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them (Matthew 7:16; 20).” Anyone can say they believe in Jesus, but that does not mean that they love Him, follow Him, know Him, or that they have eternal salvation. Of course we must first believe in Jesus and receive Him into our hearts and lives, but that is only the beginning. After we have received Christ, we need to follow Him by obeying His commands and bearing good fruit, which is the fruit of salvation. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching (John 14:21; 24).” We should examine ourselves by the light of God’s Word, in order to determine if we are living how God has called us to live. As Joyce Meyer has said, “We need to be good fruit inspectors.” What kind of fruit are you bearing (Galatians 5:16-26)? Not only do we need to inspect our own fruit, but we need to inspect the fruit of others. I don’t mean that we should judge others. I mean that we need to be wise in the company that we keep, and allow the Holy Spirit to be our compass when we choose our friends, our church, our spouse, and who or what we listen to.

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Bad company corrupts good character.” Christian’s need to lead non-believers, and even some other believers, by their example. Maybe you have a loved one who confesses Jesus with their lips, but she or he is living in sin, or maybe you know some non-Christians. That’s great, because you can be a light to them! Talk to them and reach out to them. Pray for them. Encourage them. Invite them to church. Be there for them. However, it would be wise for you not to remain in close fellowship with people who aren’t truly following the Lord or those that don’t know Him, until you see that they are bearing the fruit of repentance and salvation. We should do this for several reasons. We want to avoid being lead into temptation. We want to avoid unwise or worldly counsel in our lives. We want to avoid the appearance of evil (“birds of a feather flock together”), and we want to make sure we bond with other followers of Christ that we are equally yoked with. Just remember that all of us sin, but there is a difference between committing a sin and living a life of sin, and the Bible has warned us not to be yoked with unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord (2 Corinthian 6:17).”

The difference between having a religion and having a relationship with God is evident by the fruit that we bear. Also, while people look at the outward appearance, God looks at our heart (1 Samuel 16:7). A true life lived for God comes not just from what we say. Some people honor God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him (Mark 7:6). A true life lived for God comes from how we live. This is why Jesus said, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye (Matthew 7:5).” How can any of us instruct, encourage or witness to others concerning the Lord, if we live in a manner that is hypocritical? If we say that we love Jesus, then we should be willing to follow Him and crucify the lusts of our flesh. Being a lukewarm, Sunday morning Christian is not God’s best for your life, and it is insulting to the One who gave you life. God has warned us about being lukewarm. In Revelation 3:16 He said, “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” God despises hypocrisy, hypocrisy damages your witness and hypocrisy does not glorify God. Jesus had a lot to say on the issue of hypocrisy. As a matter of fact, the religious leaders of Christ’s day were the most hypocritical of all, and Jesus was very blunt with them.

In Matthew 23, Jesus warned His disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. When Jesus spoke of the Pharisees He said, “do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach (Matthew 23:3).” These religious leaders were all lip service. They talked the talk, but they didn’t walk the walk. How many “Christian’s” do we know like this today? God wants less talk and more action. God wants your heart. He doesn’t want some of it. He wants all of it. The difference between having a religion and having a relationship with God is a matter of the heart. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Remember what Jesus said in John 14:21. If we truly love Him, we will follow Him and obey His commands.

When Jesus talked about how the Pharisees lived He said, “Everything they do is done for men to see (Matthew 23:5).” The only reason they did anything good was in order to receive recognition. Our main goal when we serve the Lord should be to serve Him, and not for us to gain recognition. In Matthew 6, Jesus warns against this kind of behavior by saying, “When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full (Matthew 6:2). And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full (Matthew 6:5). When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full (Matthew 6:16).” We shouldn’t serve God to please, appease, or attempt to gain recognition from others. God will not reward us if we’re doing “religious” things to get attention. Our main goal should be to give Him glory!

In Matthew 23:25-28, Jesus said some striking things to the Pharisees about their internal state. Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean (Matthew 23:25-26).” Jesus was telling them that they did everything to look good on the outside, but it was the inside of them that needed work. He called them blind! This makes me think of the way the world works. Some people are blinded by the ways of this world, and so consumed with how they look on the outside. How many people take the time to live for God and yearn to do His will? So many people just want what they want when they want it, and they don’t take the time to think about God or eternity. How many people are just like the Pharisees who take time to take care of their exterior, while ignoring their internal state? In my opinion, some of the most chilling and profound words of Christ were recorded in Matthew 23:27-28. Jesus said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness (Matthew 23:27-28).” Jesus said that the Pharisees were dead on the inside. All of their hypocritical attempts to look religious were actually condemning them to hell. How often have you seen this in the church?

Jesus cried out, “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell (Matthew 23:33)?” Hypocritical behavior is a serious offense to God, and it still takes place in our world and our church today. We need to stand up against it, and we can begin in our own home and lives. None of us are perfect. All of us sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). So, if the Holy Spirit is convicting you in your heart of living hypocritically, then you need to humble yourself before the Lord, ask Him for forgiveness and repent of your behavior. There is no sin too big that God won’t forgive, and it’s never too late to turn your life around.

Jesus did not say that if we believe in a religion or if we perform good works and rituals, then we would know God and enter heaven. What He did say was, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).” Simply put, we cannot earn our salvation. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved. “Religion vs. Relationship (part 3)” will touch on salvation by grace, tomorrow.