John 1:4 He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity.
What is it that keeps so many from following the Christ of Christianity? In casual conversation a consistent reoccurring theme is revealing, Church and Church people keep many from pursuing a meaningful faith in Jesus Christ. I have been a Senior Pastor for over twenty years; church is my ‘business.’ I have to admit however, I understand this disillusionment. Churchianity (not a real word by the way!) is all too often the marketing of Jesus Christ with a well developed behavioral modification program. Churchianity comes with its own vocabulary, perfect problem solving capabilities and a plethora of our own slogans on car bumper stickers traveling throughout our country.
The frustration for many is based in the reality that life is not that well packaged. There is real pain, real dilemmas, real betrayal, real grief, real confusion, real weakness, real discouragement, real sorrow and real loneliness. All of our formulas and slogans fail miserably when ‘life happens’.
Churchianity has, at least subtly, convinced us that God was not interested in the deep dreams and desires that reside in all of our hearts. Nothing could be further from the truth. True Biblical Christianity is a life that knows no boundaries or limits. It is a vibrant relationship that can be more satisfying than we could ever imagine.
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
The truth is that Jesus Christ is not some critical judge ready to crack your knuckles with his heavenly ruler every time you mess up. God’s entire plan of redemption took into account all of our human weaknesses, needs and desires. The Christian life is not a system of thou shalts and thou shalt nots. It is incapable man living in the light of a capable savior.It is no longer a church life, now it is a Christ life, a Christian in vital union with the source of life, Christ himself.
Remember what drew you to Christ? Remember the sense that you were loved, no matter what? Remember what it was that caused you to serve Him in the first place before the muddy water of churchianitygot in the way? Let’s stop looking horizontally to define ourselves and look vertically where the view is much clearer and never changes. Churchianity produces artificial change; Christianity produces utter transformation into something magnificent and alive.
