It is becoming more clear in these last days that many in the Body of Christ are believing Christianity is a religion based on doing something for God instead of a Born Again experience from above by the Holy Spirit.
Many believers are content to "do something" for God instead of "becoming" someone with God. I am attaching an article I wrote over a year ago for Helium writers club about this very topic. I felt it would bless those who need to see the difference between Christianity as working for God, "the big guy" upstairs and the true intimate relationship of Bride and Bride and Bridegroom.
I also wanted to show the difference between "WORKING" for God verses the Work of God in our life in developing a true relationship with God. I hope you enjoy the article and share it with those who think Christianity is trying to be good instead of dwelling in the goodness of God.
God bless each one of you as you read this.
Is Christianity a religion or a relationship?
Have you ever seen wax fruit? From a distance it looks just like the real thing until you get close enough to really look at it. Even then if you were not sure if it were real enough, as soon as you pick it up or tried to bite it you would tell it was made of wax.
If I could explain the difference between being religious and a Christian it would be as comparing wax fruit with real.
Real fruit has a real texture to it, a real skin, a real smell and of course a real taste and it is good if it has ripened properly. Wax fruit could have an artificial smell, but it has a wax type plastic texture, an artificial skin and it is hollow or empty on the inside.
That is what the difference is between religion a true living relationship with Jesus Christ. Religion looks good from a distance. It has all the appearances of being fruit until you get up close and personal. The closer you get to it, the more artificial it becomes including when you handle it or even try to bite into it. It is impossible for it ever to be real.
So it is with religion. Religion is based on the moral needs for men to be "good enough" to please God. They try in their own strength to be what they think they should be by going to mass, church, Bible Study or some type of "good" works. From the outside the person looks kind, generous, and devout. However, the true test is how the person is when no one is looking.
Is he kind, gentle, meek, full of goodness, faith, love, joy, peace, and patience. What kind of person is he or she when they are driving or at work, home or in the supermarket? What really comes out of that person when the pressure is on? Does the person "try" to be good enough or do enough to prove their religion? Do they try to make excuses for their short comings or blame others for their problems? All of this is wax fruit.
True Christianity is not the bumper sticker,"Christians are not perfect, just forgiven." It is much more than that. Real and genuine Christianity means to be born again after the Spirit of God. It means a regeneration happens in a persons heart where they come out of darkness into the Glorious light of Jesus Christ. In the words of the late Keith Green, "going to church makes you no more of a Christian than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger."
Christianity is not "works" it is a new life being lived in you by the Holy Spirit. It is giving up your ways and will to God with the power of the Holy Spiritworking this in you. It is living your life no longer for yourself as the Apostle Paul's writes, " I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, but not I but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live I live in the faith OF the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself for me." True Christianity allows the life OF the Son of God to live in you and everything about you changes. It changes from living to do your will, your plans, desires, and trying to be good enough, to doing God's will for His Glory alone.
Religion allows you to keep your old life. You can live life as you please doing a few good things for God like going to church or helping someone that makes you feel good about yourself. Religion is always SELF-CENTERED and SELFISH Christianity is the absolute surrender of your life to God and is SELFLESS.
True Christianity commands that you no longer live for yourselves, but for Him who saved you and purchased you with His own blood. Yes beloved reader there is a big difference between being religious and being a true Christian, the difference being compared as a wax piece of fruit against real kind.
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