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“I’m not that religious…”
Have you heard people tell you this before? I have. If you are a Christ-follower I bet you have as well. Usually if people know that we have aligned ourselves with Jesus in some way, they often will offer that information.
One recent weekend past, I met a fellow named George. I was setting up to do my thing, singing some of our songs. And George was hanging around and chatting, and offering the occasional help. He was a cool guy… told me he was 78. I asked how long he’d been part of the church I was at and he said sheepishly that he was not, that he was there with his wife.
I sang there two days, and continued to have conversations with George. And I forget now what the specific trigger was, but at one point I said something about lif in Jesus that made him state matter-of-factly, “I’m not that religious.” My somewhat cryptic retort to such a phrase is usually, “Neither am I.” (That usually gets a funny look…)
I am not. I do not observe rituals or practices or traditions (except fun ones!) that in any way might curry favor with God. To my knowledge, he is not like that. I don’t even think you have to go to church on Sundays! (GASP!!) It’s not about religion. It’s not about what we do, or any attempts to maintain a pure and holy facade.
HE is my holiness. HE is my purity. I have none without him.
My life is about knowing and living with the One True God. I have often quoted John 17:3 here, so I will not again, but Jesus said it himself. And he lived it. Life is about knowing the One who gave it. Not really about serving him. (GASP AGAIN!!!) He said, I no longer call you servants… I call you friends. (Again, recently expounded… check recent posts.)
If you happen to be reading this and have ever felt that you were less “religious” than your pious neighbor… GOOD!! Now, if you also felt that made you less worthy of a relationship with God… you could not be more wrong.
Jesus said he has not come to call the righteous, but sinners. His love is for you. And for me. Anyone pretending to be righteous will probably miss that. Those of us who know we are “not that religious” can experience the freedom of a relationship with Love.
So, drop the heavy weights of religion if you are carrying them, and take Jesus’ yoke upon you… and he will give you rest.