Not a Religion but a Relationship? | By Living Waters

It is common to hear Christians say that ?Christianity is not a religion but a relationship.? I see this as a false dichotomy (which I?ve discussed elsewhere). I would like to offer a few clarifying thoughts nevertheless.

The other day I was speaking with a friend. He explained that many of the youth with whom he works fall into one of two ditches along their path: either they see Christianity as a religion in which one gains favor with God, and a place in heaven, on the basis of their good works, or they see Christianity as a religion in which, due to the righteousness of Jesus being imputed to us, our actions had no bearing whatsoever on our relationship with God or our eternal destiny.

As we discussed these troubling turns, it became increasingly apparent how helpful it is to realize that our Christian faith indeed is a relationship with Jesus. So we explored that thought for a bit. Here are some facets of our conversation.

When we see that our relationship with God is neither a works-based religion, nor a license to sin, then we need clarity on just what it is. And to my mind, it is much like other relationships. Think of a friendship. It is one kind of relationship. But a friendship is diminished by persistent disloyalty or disregard. It simply withers. We?ve all had ?friends? who were not, after all, very good friends. And we?ve all probably had friends who actually became non-friends (even if not enemies) due to various circumstances.

The take away here is that such relationships require trust and love and loyalty.

Now, consider a marriage. It is a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman who thus become wife and husband. They take vows that include promises of faithfulness, protection, provision, aid, affection, and mutual loyalty. And when one spouse fails in these regards, then that failure works its way through a marriage much like leven through dough ? it affects the whole batch. Indeed, as a covenant, a marriage can be violated, even broken.

Again, the take away here is that relationships require trust and love and loyalty.?Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

If this is so ? and it appears to be so to me ? then when we conceive of our faith in God as a relationship with Jesus (which is right and good), we must not overlook the natural necessities of the relationship: mutual trust and love and loyalty. Relationships are mutual. Jesus spoke of loving God and neighbor. He said that if we indeed do love him, then we would indeed obey his commands.?And that just makes sense. To disobey is to be disloyal, to fail to trust, to be unloving, to be unfaithful.

But another take away here is that relationships are not singular events, not one night stands.

Consider a marriage again. When vows are taken, the marriage has not begun and ended all at once. It is not a once off event. Indeed, a marriage, like other relationships, is lasting, persisting, durable. At least that is what they properly are. Once one becomes a spouse, that does not mean that one cannot cease to be a spouse. Indeed, one may violate the marriage covenant and find it coming to an end. Vows may be broken. Even so, once one becomes a spouse, that is not the end all, be all of the marriage. No, now that you are wife or a husband you are called to rise to that occasion, to be what you now are, to live according to your vows. Becoming a husband is not the same as being a husband, acting like a husband.

Some spouses never live up to their vows. Others coast. Still others are unfaithful.

Perhaps our relationship with Jesus should be seen as a marriage ? you know, bride of Christ and all that. And thus we should see our relationship as a mutual reality that calls us to endure in faithfulness to our spouse ? in loyalty, in love, in trust. Yes, that seems just right. Faith and faithfulness.

Now, to return to the earlier ditches. Seeing our faith in God as a relationship with Jesus guides us from the works-based righteousness perspective. After all, marriages are not rightly acquired by means of tallying up good works. One does not work ones way into a family. One does not literally earn spousehood. Marriage isn?t a matter of merit. That isn?t how such relationships work, so to speak.

And what of the other ditch? What of being able to do whatever we like simply because ?Jesus is my Savior?? Well, if we have a relationship with Jesus, then we know, as with other relationships, we can?t simply do whatever we like and find the relationship being what it is supposed to be. Friendships wither in such circumstances. And we are called to be friends of God, just as was Abraham.

Walking with Jesus, truly following him, is a matter of faith and faithfulness. Only then might we avoid either of the two ditches. After all, it should be noted, Judas had a personal relationship with Jesus.

Source: http://www.kevinbywater.com/?p=618

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