What do we mean when we say "Religion"

     First, let me say that this isn't a direct response to the Kevin DeYoung and Jeff Bethke's exchanges (although it is influenced by them, and I love them and encourage you to watch the video and read the exchanges).  This is rather a response to something I'm hearing from some of my well-meaning Christian friends and seeing posted on Facebook that have come out as a result of the aforementioned exchange.
     We, myself included, have gotten to a place where we associate the word "religion" with the laws made famous in the Old Testament that could never set a person free.  If we were to live them out perfectly, we would be fine, but since when have we ever been perfect.  Sure some of us are better than most, but we all have moments if not lengthy times of imperfection.  I tend to fall more on the side of lengthy times, but that's why I'm thankful that there is one religion that doesn't promote being perfect.  It promotes grace, and that, my friends, is a religion that gives me hope.  A hope that I can rely on someone else's perfection to make up for, and erase, my imperfection.  A hope that the God who created me and spoke this universe into existence actually wants to know me and have a relationship with me!  If you sit back and let that sink in, I hope that blows your mind.  I digress, but I'm known to jump on a rabbit trail from time to time.
     A dictionary definition of the word "religion" brings up a handful of definitions.  I'll highlight the first one:

a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.


     Notice the highlight of the word "usually."  It doesn't say always, but my fear is that we treat it as if it does.  If we run this to the extreme, we come across the same concerns that DeYoung had with Bethke's video, (which ultimately, if you read the dialogue between the two, they indeed agree on this).  To quote DeYoung:


The weaknesses here can be the weaknesses of my generation (and younger)—not enough talk of repentance and sanctification, a tendency to underestimate the importance of obedience in the Christian life, a one-dimensional view of grace, little awareness that our heavenly Father might ever discipline his children or be grieved by their continued transgression, and a penchant for sloganeering instead of careful nuance.


That hits me squarely between the eyes, because I know there have been times where I've been guilty of all of that when talking to others about Christ.  We can begin to focus so heavily on grace, that we ignore the need for obedience.  In my youth group, we're walking through the 10 commandments to see the wisdom and heart of God behind them.  While they can't be trusted to save us as we all are imperfect sometimes, they still give us good guidelines to live by and help show us how to love God and love others well.  They are a part of my religion, but I don't consider them to be the focal point.  As DeYoung and Bethke show, Christ is the center, and I seek to promote that religion, not one of significance based on rules.
     The conversation between DeYoung and Bethke has opened a door for dialogue on this issue of clarifying what you mean when you say something.  If by "religion," you mean a set of rules that we have to keep to please some higher being, then yeah I'm not okay with that, but from now on I'm going to do my best to clarify that when I'm talking about that kind of religion.  Religion isn't bad in and of itself.  It becomes bad when we use it to limit God's ability and power (as my friend Pastor Bacon as we like to call him pointed out), control God and/or others, find our significance, and for many countless others ways for reasons that have our desires and wills at the driving force behind it.  Religion, in my opinion, was meant to give us what we need.  Feel free to disagree if you would like.  This is a rough draft of sorts, and, as one of my professors used to say, I may disagree with myself by tomorrow.  
     The religion I live by puts Christ and His grace and love for me at the center.  I believe my deepest need, as something created, is to be in relationship with my creator, God.  Only the creator can tell the created what its purpose is, and I'm thankful that in spite of my imperfections that should prohibit me from being in His presence, I am actually able to be in His presence, because He wouldn't let those imperfections get in the way.  He sent His Son to be my example and sacrifice, and through faith in that Son, I can enter into my creator's presence.  For some, that may be a lot to take in, and I hope you at least think through it and feel free to ask questions.  For others, I hope it's a beautiful reminder that when we talk religion, we can talk about one that says we don't have to be perfect to come to God, just humble and through His Son.
    To those who have read the whole thing, thank you, as it was a bit of a ramble and perhaps incoherent at times.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to say, and a lot came to mind, but perhaps the takeaway is to be more careful with using words to describe something that has a better word to describe it. I know I need to be.


By grace,


Kyle Davison

What does Jesus have in common with pirates?

     Have you figured it out yet?  I'll give you a couple of minutes to give me your best guess, or you could just keep reading.  The answer is they both like to talk about buried treasure!  A couple of times this past week, I've been reminded of Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."  I watched a podcast that discussed it, and heard Jon Foreman's "Your love is strong," where he sings a line that says,

"The kingdom of the heavens
is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
to buy the one you've found"

     I've been thinking a lot about that verse this past week and asking myself, could I describe my relationship with God like that right now?  If I'm answering honestly, the answer is no.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy spending time with God and loving on others, but I think the guy in this parable is way more committed to obtaining the treasure than I am.  I would love to actually be watching this kind of story unfold from an outside perspective.  First, he stumbles upon this treasure hidden in a field (nice, random place to find some treasure), and he gets joyful!  He is excited beyond belief that he found this treasure.  He quickly covers it up and does what is necessary to get that field and own that treasure.  I can imagine this guy running full speed to the nearest marketplace to find the guy he can buy this field from.  However, there's a catch.
     He has to sell everything he has to get this treasure.  That's a risky move!  What if the treasure turns out to be fake and unreliable?  What if the treasure just lets him down in the end?  Now, this is a parable, and Jesus is talking about the treasure being the kingdom of Heaven. We can have faith that this treasure is reliable and better than anything we could hope for since we get a relationship with God, our creator, that we will get to enjoy for eternity!  It's worth far more than everything we own combined!

However, knowing this and living this are two very different things!

     I constantly have to check myself and ask myself, am I valuing my possessions, job, relationships, etc. more than I value my relationship with God?  Do I exhibit the same joy that the man in this parable did when he found an amazing treasure?  Do I let that joy move me to worship and a deeper love for God?  I'm thankful for grace, because I know I don't have the level of joy and love that this man does.  I have some, but not nearly to the degree with which this guy has.  Jesus calls us to love Him more than this world.  I know this, but there are times where I know my life does not reflect this.  A few chapters later in Matthew he says, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" (Matt 16:26).  I don't want to be the guy that gains the world, yet forfeits his soul!  I have to real intentional about making sure God is who and what I value above all else.  If I'm not careful, idolatry creeps in and causes me to turn my focus away from God.  Like I said earlier, I'm thankful for grace, and the fact that God joyfully welcomes me back home every time I wander away from Him.  I'd invite you to examine your life in light of this parable.  Are there idols in your life that have placed themselves above the greatest treasure of all, God?  If so, I hope you fall deeper in love with God and His amazing love, mercy, and grace!  We don't deserve any of it, yet He gives it to us anyway!  He delights in us, so let us delight in Him!