Can a person be addicted to religion?
Andrew Farley was. Farley is a tenured professor at Texas Tech University and the author of “The Naked Gospel: The Truth You May Never Hear in Church.” The book deals with so-called Christian jargon or “Christianese” that people hear in some churches.
Farley says at one time in his life he did all the things he believed a good Christian should do. But he still felt miserable and depressed. Finally he realized he was trying to gain God's favor by becoming addicted to religion.
“Now hold it right there for just a minute! How can you be addicted to religion?”
Easy. The same way you get addicted to anything else. You try it, it makes you feel good, so you keep doing it. The more you do it, the better you feel about yourself—at least for a while.
Who could get addicted to religion? People who like their life ordered. They like rules. They like to know where they stand. Religion gives them a checklist and they can go down the list and either feel good or bad about their performance.
If you feel bad, religion gives you ways to compensate. Ways to punish yourself and be accepted. Say this prayer. Do this or that action to show you’re sorry. Penance.
Religion tells us that if we’re sincere enough and work hard enough, God will accept us. And that’s appealing to some. It’s almost like a contract: I do my part and God does his.
What sets the gospel of Jesus Christ apart from all religions is its message: God already loves you and he accepts you through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. God doesn’t want to be your boss. He wants to be your father and for you to be his son or daughter.
It’s simple. Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion. He came to make us friends of God.
After a person hears the good news about Christ a decision must be made: “Am I willing to give up trying to earn God’s favor and stop working for my salvation? Am I willing to accept the gift of forgiveness God offers to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ?”
If the answer is “Yes,” then you’re ready to give yourself to Christ. You’re ready to cross over the line of faith. To believe and trust in God. To become part of his forever family.
So if you will say, “Father accept me and adopt me, not because of what I have done but because of what Jesus Christ has done for me on the cross--if you will do that, then the Bible says you become a child of God. At that very moment.
Your other option is to pick a religion, stick with it and maybe even become addicted to it. Then hope you are good enough for a perfect and holy God to accept you. (What’re those odds?)
Perhaps some will say, “I opt out of religion. I don’t believe in a personal God.”
Fine. That’s your choice. God doesn’t force people to believe in him. But consider this: What atheists actually do is create their own religion with themselves as gods.
To say there is no God anywhere in the known universe means you’re omniscient—you know everything like God. And if you make the rules for good and evil in your life, that makes you like God. So what you have is a religion for one. And it can be very addicting!
So if you want to avoid the pitfalls of religion or atheism, listen to Jesus. He came to tell us about a better way that leads to peace and purpose. The way of faith in a loving and holy God.
I invite you to explore Jesus’ teaching for yourself. Pick up a Bible and read the book in it called “The Gospel of John.” Then, if you’re tired of religion, believe in Jesus and follow him.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Showing posts with label child of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child of God. Show all posts
Monday, October 5, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Final Version
Did you ever wish you could rewrite your life? I have.
Life, however, is not a term paper. We don’t get to write a rough draft, think about it, fine-tune it and then print the final version.
For a column like this that works fine. It goes through many rewrites before I submit the final draft. But real life? Not a chance.
In my last column I mentioned one thing in my life that, for years, I wished I could have changed. That event, a move in mid-senior year from a small town high school to a large regional high school, was life changing.
At the time I didn’t think it would be traumatic. I actually encouraged my dad to take the job that caused the move. It never occurred to me how much I’d miss graduating with my friends.
I didn’t know I wouldn’t get to go through graduation due to differences in the two schools’ curriculums (and some bad choices I made). Talk about unintended consequences!
Yes, I received a diploma. But it was without the cap and gown. A real “downer.”
What I didn’t mention was that I wouldn’t change it now. Because God used that experience to make me who I am today. Though I couldn’t see it at the time, God was working in my life.
“Now just a minute! Are you saying life’s difficulties could actually be blessings in disguise?”
That’s right. And not only “could be” blessings, but they are blessings for the child of God.
The Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” It goes on to say that God is able to use the experiences of our lives to make us more like his son, Jesus Christ.
What if you’re not a child of God? In that case he’s drawing you to himself through your life.
God is patiently waiting for you to turn to him and discover he loves you. And to learn that through Christ’s death on the cross, he is willing to forgive you and forget your sin.
What you must do is admit your mistakes, turn away from your self-centered life and follow Jesus Christ as your Lord. Then you can “go with the flow” in life because the flow is with Jesus.
Many people love Psalm 23 because it portrays God as the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep. He loves us, provides for, protects and guides us. But to enjoy the benefits, you must follow the Shepherd. You must allow him to lead you through the good times and the bad.
One of God’s characteristics is that he is good. Even when you don’t understand what he is doing, you can trust his heart. Why? Because he is God and his ways are above our ways.
In the play “As You Like it” Shakespeare wrote, “All the world's a stage / And all the men and women merely players / They have their exits and their entrances / And one man in his time plays many parts.”
If Shakespeare is right, then God is the director of the play. He works in all the parts of our lives. As the Bible says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
We have this one life. It’s not a practice life. Or a dress rehearsal. Or a rough draft. There will be mistakes, bad choices and unintended consequences. The good news is that God is able to take our mistakes and work them together for our good.
So don’t stress out because you can’t do a rewrite and submit a final version of your life.
God is in charge. That’s why Jesus said, “Do not worry” because our heavenly father knows what we need.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Life, however, is not a term paper. We don’t get to write a rough draft, think about it, fine-tune it and then print the final version.
For a column like this that works fine. It goes through many rewrites before I submit the final draft. But real life? Not a chance.
In my last column I mentioned one thing in my life that, for years, I wished I could have changed. That event, a move in mid-senior year from a small town high school to a large regional high school, was life changing.
At the time I didn’t think it would be traumatic. I actually encouraged my dad to take the job that caused the move. It never occurred to me how much I’d miss graduating with my friends.
I didn’t know I wouldn’t get to go through graduation due to differences in the two schools’ curriculums (and some bad choices I made). Talk about unintended consequences!
Yes, I received a diploma. But it was without the cap and gown. A real “downer.”
What I didn’t mention was that I wouldn’t change it now. Because God used that experience to make me who I am today. Though I couldn’t see it at the time, God was working in my life.
“Now just a minute! Are you saying life’s difficulties could actually be blessings in disguise?”
That’s right. And not only “could be” blessings, but they are blessings for the child of God.
The Bible says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” It goes on to say that God is able to use the experiences of our lives to make us more like his son, Jesus Christ.
What if you’re not a child of God? In that case he’s drawing you to himself through your life.
God is patiently waiting for you to turn to him and discover he loves you. And to learn that through Christ’s death on the cross, he is willing to forgive you and forget your sin.
What you must do is admit your mistakes, turn away from your self-centered life and follow Jesus Christ as your Lord. Then you can “go with the flow” in life because the flow is with Jesus.
Many people love Psalm 23 because it portrays God as the Good Shepherd who cares for his sheep. He loves us, provides for, protects and guides us. But to enjoy the benefits, you must follow the Shepherd. You must allow him to lead you through the good times and the bad.
One of God’s characteristics is that he is good. Even when you don’t understand what he is doing, you can trust his heart. Why? Because he is God and his ways are above our ways.
In the play “As You Like it” Shakespeare wrote, “All the world's a stage / And all the men and women merely players / They have their exits and their entrances / And one man in his time plays many parts.”
If Shakespeare is right, then God is the director of the play. He works in all the parts of our lives. As the Bible says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
We have this one life. It’s not a practice life. Or a dress rehearsal. Or a rough draft. There will be mistakes, bad choices and unintended consequences. The good news is that God is able to take our mistakes and work them together for our good.
So don’t stress out because you can’t do a rewrite and submit a final version of your life.
God is in charge. That’s why Jesus said, “Do not worry” because our heavenly father knows what we need.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Christian Test
Question: “When is a “Christian” a true Christian? Answer: “When he or she--”
“Wait--hold on just a minute! Who decides what makes one a true follower of Jesus Christ?”
You’re right. It’s not up to me. Only God decides what makes a Christian a true Christian. And his book, the Bible, tells us what that is.
Some believe that to be a Christian all you do is believe in God, go to church and pray. But, as I‘ve pointed out before, Jesus didn’t call anyone to be a Christian. He called us to follow him.
Before the Bible even mentions the word “Christian,” it talks about becoming a “child of God” instead of being a “child of the devil.” So how does one become a “child of God”?
We must receive Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Sounds simple enough.
In the framework of the New Testament, “receiving” Jesus meant accepting him for who he claimed to be: the divine Son of God who died for the sins of the world so he could save people everywhere from their sin. It didn’t just mean agreeing that he is the Savior.
When you “believe in his name” you trust in Jesus Christ to forgive your sin and make you part of God’s forever family. But you must believe for yourself. No one else can do it for you.
What if you were baptized as a baby? If so your parents made a wonderful commitment to bring you up in the church. But infants can’t “receive him” and “believe in his name.”
Another scripture makes it clearer: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s obvious that a baby cannot yet “confess” or “believe.”
So what should you do if you were baptized as a baby? Complete your parents’ intentions. Their hope was that you would choose to follow Jesus with your life. So put your trust in him.
The church cannot save you. The Bible says that only personal faith in Christ can save you.
Perhaps you know someone who says they have trusted in Christ but their life or their lips tell an entirely different story. What about that?
We cannot judge what has happened in another’s heart. God will do that. But the Bible does say to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course you fail the test.”
The Bible adds, “Make your calling and election sure…. For if you do…you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
To pass the Christian Test, first check if you have personally received and trusted in Jesus. Then examine your life. Are you growing in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”? Those are the result of God’s work in your heart.
Next, do you love to obey God? The Bible says, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
If you claim to be a Christian, go to church and hear the Bible taught, but don’t obey God, you are deceiving yourself. Sadly that’s what so many do.
Some say, “But I’m trying!” That’s nice. But as Jedi Master Yoda said to Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars,” “Do or do not. There is no ‘try.’” Simple but profound.
So how can you tell if you are a true Christian? Answer: If you trust in Christ and obey him.
God helps true Christians obey him and gives them joy. I wonder--do you pass the test?
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
“Wait--hold on just a minute! Who decides what makes one a true follower of Jesus Christ?”
You’re right. It’s not up to me. Only God decides what makes a Christian a true Christian. And his book, the Bible, tells us what that is.
Some believe that to be a Christian all you do is believe in God, go to church and pray. But, as I‘ve pointed out before, Jesus didn’t call anyone to be a Christian. He called us to follow him.
Before the Bible even mentions the word “Christian,” it talks about becoming a “child of God” instead of being a “child of the devil.” So how does one become a “child of God”?
We must receive Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Sounds simple enough.
In the framework of the New Testament, “receiving” Jesus meant accepting him for who he claimed to be: the divine Son of God who died for the sins of the world so he could save people everywhere from their sin. It didn’t just mean agreeing that he is the Savior.
When you “believe in his name” you trust in Jesus Christ to forgive your sin and make you part of God’s forever family. But you must believe for yourself. No one else can do it for you.
What if you were baptized as a baby? If so your parents made a wonderful commitment to bring you up in the church. But infants can’t “receive him” and “believe in his name.”
Another scripture makes it clearer: “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It’s obvious that a baby cannot yet “confess” or “believe.”
So what should you do if you were baptized as a baby? Complete your parents’ intentions. Their hope was that you would choose to follow Jesus with your life. So put your trust in him.
The church cannot save you. The Bible says that only personal faith in Christ can save you.
Perhaps you know someone who says they have trusted in Christ but their life or their lips tell an entirely different story. What about that?
We cannot judge what has happened in another’s heart. God will do that. But the Bible does say to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course you fail the test.”
The Bible adds, “Make your calling and election sure…. For if you do…you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
To pass the Christian Test, first check if you have personally received and trusted in Jesus. Then examine your life. Are you growing in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”? Those are the result of God’s work in your heart.
Next, do you love to obey God? The Bible says, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
If you claim to be a Christian, go to church and hear the Bible taught, but don’t obey God, you are deceiving yourself. Sadly that’s what so many do.
Some say, “But I’m trying!” That’s nice. But as Jedi Master Yoda said to Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars,” “Do or do not. There is no ‘try.’” Simple but profound.
So how can you tell if you are a true Christian? Answer: If you trust in Christ and obey him.
God helps true Christians obey him and gives them joy. I wonder--do you pass the test?
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Grand Rewards
The three most important things in life are faith, family and friends. And this month my wife and I were privileged to enjoy some extra blessings with our family.
All four of our children and all five of our grandchildren were actually in town at the same time. Now that may not sound like something worth celebrating to you but it was for us!
With the oldest daughter’s family in the Midwest and the middle daughter’s family overseas, it’s a rare treat to spend time with all our grandchildren at once. To get them all under one roof at the same time was--well it was both exhilarating and exhausting. (If you have grandchildren you know what I mean!)
I have a friend who said that the two most wonderful sights in the world are the headlights of the car arriving with his grandchildren and the taillights of the car leaving with them a few days later!
Individually they are a delight, but get them all together and they will wear you out!
In ancient times, to live long enough to see one’s grandchildren was considered a great blessing. But with today’s longer life spans it’s something most modern parents will experience.
Someone once said, “Grandchildren are the reward you get for not strangling your teenagers when you felt like it!” And what a grand reward grandchildren are.
But I know someone who will never have grandchildren, even though he has children.
God never has and never will have grandchildren.
Well, hold on there just a minute! Someone might say, “My parents (or grandparents) were Christians and took me to church. Doesn’t that make me a Christian, a (grand)-child of God?”
Unfortunately not--at least according to the Bible.
Speaking about Jesus Christ the Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of God a person must be “born again.” He described it as a spiritual birth, different from the physical birth we all experience.
Later the Apostle Paul used the word “saved” to describe the change of heart Jesus talked about. He said, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The power to forgive your sin and change your heart, to give you eternal life and make you a part of God’s forever family is not in the words you say but in the God who hears them. He is able to do all that and more.
And, yes, it’s that simple to become a child of God. It’s not a matter of who your parents or grandparents are. It’s not a matter of which church your membership is in. It’s not even a matter of who you are. It’s just a matter of WHOSE you are.
The Bible says that if your faith is in God, through his son, Jesus Christ, then you are his child. But you must consciously, personally and individually pray and tell God you want Jesus to be in charge of your life as Lord. You must ask Jesus to be your Savior. It’s not automatic.
While I enjoy my children and my grandchildren, God’s delight is in each of his children. In fact all of heaven celebrates every time someone is born into God’s family. Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
All four of our children and all five of our grandchildren were actually in town at the same time. Now that may not sound like something worth celebrating to you but it was for us!
With the oldest daughter’s family in the Midwest and the middle daughter’s family overseas, it’s a rare treat to spend time with all our grandchildren at once. To get them all under one roof at the same time was--well it was both exhilarating and exhausting. (If you have grandchildren you know what I mean!)
I have a friend who said that the two most wonderful sights in the world are the headlights of the car arriving with his grandchildren and the taillights of the car leaving with them a few days later!
Individually they are a delight, but get them all together and they will wear you out!
In ancient times, to live long enough to see one’s grandchildren was considered a great blessing. But with today’s longer life spans it’s something most modern parents will experience.
Someone once said, “Grandchildren are the reward you get for not strangling your teenagers when you felt like it!” And what a grand reward grandchildren are.
But I know someone who will never have grandchildren, even though he has children.
God never has and never will have grandchildren.
Well, hold on there just a minute! Someone might say, “My parents (or grandparents) were Christians and took me to church. Doesn’t that make me a Christian, a (grand)-child of God?”
Unfortunately not--at least according to the Bible.
Speaking about Jesus Christ the Bible says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of God a person must be “born again.” He described it as a spiritual birth, different from the physical birth we all experience.
Later the Apostle Paul used the word “saved” to describe the change of heart Jesus talked about. He said, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The power to forgive your sin and change your heart, to give you eternal life and make you a part of God’s forever family is not in the words you say but in the God who hears them. He is able to do all that and more.
And, yes, it’s that simple to become a child of God. It’s not a matter of who your parents or grandparents are. It’s not a matter of which church your membership is in. It’s not even a matter of who you are. It’s just a matter of WHOSE you are.
The Bible says that if your faith is in God, through his son, Jesus Christ, then you are his child. But you must consciously, personally and individually pray and tell God you want Jesus to be in charge of your life as Lord. You must ask Jesus to be your Savior. It’s not automatic.
While I enjoy my children and my grandchildren, God’s delight is in each of his children. In fact all of heaven celebrates every time someone is born into God’s family. Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
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