What We Need

THIS WEEK I have again become fixated on the Person of Jesus. I have noticed Him everywhere - in the studio, in my room, in His word, everywhere I look. I realize that from the perspective of someone whose life has been completely changed and revived by Christ, it's hard to understand sometimes how everyone doesn't see Him. It's sad to think that the majority of the world doesn't know Him, and probably never will.

I talked to a few people this week who, curiously, told me the same thing about their beliefs. They said they didn't have any religion, not that they were atheists, but that they didn't believe anything in particular. They said they thought Christianity is okay, and Christians are nice people, but if they were to pick a religion it would probably be something else.

Some people don't like organized religion. Some prefer to make their own way, and just try to be good people. Some think the Bible is a storybook and the world is a mystery.

While of course I can't agree with them on most things, I do agree with them on this: that we don't need religion. I mean, not in the sense of all the rules and systems people set up to get to God. We don't need that. In fact, it's not even Christianity that saves, because Christianity is the way saved people live. It's Christ. We need Christ, and that's all.

John writes in 1 John 5 about what it means to be "in Christ."

v.10-12 "[10] He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. [11] And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. [12] He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life."

My friend made a good point at an outreach activity this week. We can't save anybody. The best we can do is love people and share with them what saved us and can save them too - the grace of God. That's different from forcing our beliefs on people. If we believe Jesus is the only way, it would be really selfish not to tell anyone.

His real blood poured out on the earth we walk on. His miracles have truly been performed not only two thousand years ago but ever since then. His own Spirit really dwells with us, and His righteousness covers our faults. Who is this God who sees the earth spinning out of control and gives all Himself to salvage broken souls from the doomed planet?

No one ever spoke like Jesus. He speaks the truth in perfect wisdom and without shame. He sets aside what is easy for the sake of God's glory. He has made a lot of enemies, but He calls us who believe as His friends.

John 8:57-58 "[57] Then the Jews said to Him, 'You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?' [58] Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'"

I have seen this same Jesus moving all around me this week. Just a few days ago I had the privilege of seeing two guys praying together at a table in a courtyard. They had a stack of cards I recognized as an outreach tool, so I could tell great things were happening.

We don't need the rules and standards that people call religion. We don't need to prove anything or try to be good enough, because the perfection of Jesus already takes the place of our incompleteness.

What we need is unconditional love, purpose in the will of God, fulfilling worship, neverending friendship with God. We need to be followers of Jesus who make our will match His, and we will watch our prayers get answered and His dreams for our good come true. If you want to call that religion, then yeah, we need it. Let's just not forget the real Savior, who is what we really need every day.