Beware of Christian Half-Truths
By: Joe McKeever
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” - Titus 2:1.
We hear them all the time. Something about these oft-repeated claims just does not seem right, we think. Here is a big one:
“Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship.”
It sounds right at first, but it’s wrong. Ask yourself one question: As a follower of Jesus, that is one in a relationship with Him, would it be all right if I joined a religion and became a Buddhist or Taoist or a Jew or a Muslim? After all, as a Christian I’m not in a religion as such (according to this thinking) and there would be no reason not to. Of course, those religions are incompatible with the way of Jesus Christ.
True, at the heart of the Christian faith stands our relationship with Jesus Christ. We repent of our sin and yield ourselves to Him, inviting Him into our lives and confessing Him as Lord and Savior. Thereafter, we are saved, born again, a new creation. We have a new relationship with Heaven, with the Father, with Jesus, with other believers. We even have a new relationship with ourselves. Old things have passed away; all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Without that relationship with Christ, what we have is a religion only and nothing more. A shell without the kernel; form without content. A place to go on Sundays and meaningless rules to follow. “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof” is how Paul put it (2 Timothy 3:5). This may have been what the Lord had in mind when He told the Church at Ephesus that while they were doing many things well, “I have this against you: You have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).
Better that we would say, “Christianity is first and foremost a relationship with Jesus Christ, and only secondarily a religion.” But the truth doesn’t have the zing of the half-truth, does it?
The enemy is creating new half-truths even as we speak. Whether to hold the one speaking accountable for what they have said is a question best put to the Holy Spirit. In all things, we should use discernment, act in love, and not sin.
Editor’s Note: Part of this devotional was taken from 4 Ways Satan Tries to Devour Us through Facebook in by Joe McKeever. You can read the full blog post here.
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