A recent survey indicates that a large number of professing Christians are categorized as "no" Christians. They profess personal faith, but indicate no affiliation with a particular church or denomination. Rather than seeking church affiliation to nurture their faith, they feel a need to protect their faith from the church.
The problem with religion is that it easily establishes rigid standards that go beyond what God has established. Perhaps the "no" generation today would find the church more attractive if it more faithfully represented God and His Son. For example, consider the expectations of our Father:
"O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart" (1 Kings 8.23)
His desire is for a covenant relationship with all who are willing to enter. He graciously extends the offer of immortality in the age to come on a renewed earth to all who will freely come. And, He actively shows lovingkindness to those "who walk before You with all their heart". He wants a love relationship with those who will freely come; not stern, exacting compliance to a list of nearly impossible religious standards.
Religion and church sometimes allow building structures to hinder authenticity with our Father. Consider king Solomon's words on the occasion of the dedication of a temple for God:
"will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!" (1 Kings 8.27)
It's much too easy for religion and churches to have an "edifice complex". It's the God-in-a-box syndrome: He only dwells in the 'sacred structures' dedicated to Him. Granted, many people have had significant encounters with God in these places. But, the danger of such moments is to believe that it is ONLY in such places that He is to be encountered.
It seems that a key priority for every disciple is to expand their view of the Father, and simplify the list of expectations. He is bigger than our building "boxes". And, He is concerned with far less than 'religion' wants to attach to Him. He wants a love covenant relationship. He wants wholehearted love (Deuteronomy 6.5), not grudging law compliance (Psalm 51.16).
May we grow today in our awe of Him, and in the joy of the covenant love relationship He truly desires.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
The problem with religion is that it easily establishes rigid standards that go beyond what God has established. Perhaps the "no" generation today would find the church more attractive if it more faithfully represented God and His Son. For example, consider the expectations of our Father:
"O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart" (1 Kings 8.23)
His desire is for a covenant relationship with all who are willing to enter. He graciously extends the offer of immortality in the age to come on a renewed earth to all who will freely come. And, He actively shows lovingkindness to those "who walk before You with all their heart". He wants a love relationship with those who will freely come; not stern, exacting compliance to a list of nearly impossible religious standards.
Religion and church sometimes allow building structures to hinder authenticity with our Father. Consider king Solomon's words on the occasion of the dedication of a temple for God:
"will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!" (1 Kings 8.27)
It's much too easy for religion and churches to have an "edifice complex". It's the God-in-a-box syndrome: He only dwells in the 'sacred structures' dedicated to Him. Granted, many people have had significant encounters with God in these places. But, the danger of such moments is to believe that it is ONLY in such places that He is to be encountered.
It seems that a key priority for every disciple is to expand their view of the Father, and simplify the list of expectations. He is bigger than our building "boxes". And, He is concerned with far less than 'religion' wants to attach to Him. He wants a love covenant relationship. He wants wholehearted love (Deuteronomy 6.5), not grudging law compliance (Psalm 51.16).
May we grow today in our awe of Him, and in the joy of the covenant love relationship He truly desires.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:13 AM
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