Religion or Relationhsip

[HKHaugan]

You can identify each simply. If you think of yourself as a member of a church and not a disciple of Jesus, you are religious. If you are more concerned about appearance than why you want to appear like you do, you’re religious. If you are more concerned about being right than being relational, you’re religious. If you are more concerned about being socially acceptable than being spiritually honest, you re religious. If you have a set of expectations to measure people by, yep, you’re religious. If you want to be around the ‘right’ people or live in the ‘right’ neighborhood, you’re religious. If you find yourself in a critical mode when you don’t like a sermon, or the color of the church walls, or the church building is too hot or too cold, or crying children bother you, or you have a better way of doing things around the church, you’re religious. If you are trying hard to be good and always having the right answers, you’re religious. If you are critical of the pastor or his wife or his children and they don’t meet your ‘ought-to-be’s’, you’re religious. If you think the number of people in a church are the measure of success, you’re religious. If you tend to choose a church based on the ‘dynamic pastor syndrome’ you’re religious. If you indicate you want to be in a church that looks like a church, you’re religious. If you get that feeling you want to be in a church with people like you, that you feel comfortable around, you’re religious. If you would rather say you are spiritual and think you are spiritual by being in nature while you are on a golf course or patting yourself on the back by giving a dollar or two to a charity, you’re religious. Shall I go on?

 

What does it mean to be relational? If worship is about intimacy with the Lord God, you’re relational and definitely not religious. If you find yourself thinking about how you want to be God’s person while you are on your way from one place to another, you’re relational. If you are asking God for guidance as you approach getting together with others, you’re relational. If that desire to want to please the Lord as you plan your day, you’re relational. If you are praying to be led by the Holy Spirit in all your choices and decisions, you’re relational. If you’re thinking you’re every next moment is an opportunity to be a witness for Jesus, you’re relational. If you find yourself wanting to read Scripture to know more about God, you’re relational. If you are beginning to see everyone you meet as an image of God, you’re relational. If you are hesitant to share your spiritual thoughts, your faith, with others, but you really want to, you’re relational and need to step into it, take a chance. If you know you have a spiritual gift and it is welling up in you to share, you’re relational. If you just enjoy other people and have that urge to be helpful without expecting anything in return, you’re relational. If you have a story about how the Lord has changed your life, or a moment that He did something special, regardless of how small, you’re relational. If you are alone and feel it, anxious to let God in and serve Him, let Him work in you, you’re relational. If you see someone in distress, feel their struggle, been there and want to reach out to them, you’re relational. Just think of all the things you would say if you were to make lists like these.

 

The Lord put it like this:

 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Lk.18:9-14).”.”