Not religious, but

Email from a listener-- there's been several like this:

We all love the show Survivor and I've often listened to Leslie state how she would like to be on that show.  Now that her dream has come true she has touched many lives already, including my family's.  By that I mean we were having the discussion last Sat about her statement "I'm not religious but I'm a believer of Jesus Christ."  Now I don't know if that is exactly what was stated but it was the first part of the statement that precipitated the conversation with my family.

...I tried, unsuccessfully to explain to my sister that you could be a Christian and not be religious.  She wouldn't bite. My niece however, was sitting right there with me trying to back me up with her limited knowledge...I'm very excited that she is interested and that maybe a seed that has been planted might be in the early stages of sprouting...would you be able to give me your thoughts on being a Christian and not being religious?

OK, my thoughts:  Well, I could say I was religious but that wouldn't necessarily tell you anything.  One definition of religious is, 'conscientiously faithful.'  So I used to be religious about rock and roll.  And beer.  Or I could be religious in the sense that I was Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist or Protestant or Catholic -- but those are all different religions, so you still wouldn't know what I meant.

Almost all those religions have to do with what I have to do to qualify to get to God, to go to heaven.

Christianity is different.  It's about what God did for me.  I ran my own life and could NOT qualify for heaven.  I deserved to be punished for running my own life.  Running my own life is not right, and running my own life is not good for me.  I think it's kind of like God owns my life, and it's a big crime if I steal it from him to use it for myself.   

But God loves me and doesn't want to punish me, so Jesus, a person and God, took my punishment for me.  When I believed that -- accepted that -- personally, for me, from him, then I was set free.  Rescued.  Plus, I get this personal relationship with him.

Religion didn't rescue me.  Being religious didn't rescue me.  A person, Jesus, rescued me. 

So, since it's possible to be religious and interested in God -- and yet still run your own life, without ever being rescued by Jesus -- some people want to make sure you know what they mean, and they say, "I'm not religious, but I do have a personal relationship with Jesus."

Thanks for asking!

Comments

[Iztok]

A religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people, often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.

You don't get to rewrite the definition. If you have a faith in a supreme being then you are religious.

It is almost like saying: "I am not a mammal but ..." Humans are mammals and Christians are religious.

Denying facts doesn't make your conviction true.

[Beth]

Being religious is about what you can do to redeem yourself.

Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is about what He did to redeem you.

[Beth Farina]

I was sorry to see Leslie go tonight from Survivor...on the other hand a part of me was glad for our family. There is a lot more bad on Survivor than good---my kids attitude towards each other (ages 11 &15) when the show goes off is snippy and disrespectful. Like watching a reflection of the interaction you have seen for the past hour on the television. A lot of good I'm sure came out of all this and we admire Leslie. But, I am glad we won't be watching this show next week.

[Pamela Ford]

Gary:

Someone asked me this question as well in which I gave a response that Christianity was not a religion, it is a way of life. I told them that I could religiously eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich everyday for lunch. Christianity is not a religion. It's like the air your breath -- you can't live without it! :)

Blessings,
Pam

[Lesley Mansfield]

I personally loved Leslie's answer because churches are full of "religious" people who don't personally know the Lord Jesus Christ. They play a part - and play it well. Some may go to church because they feel they have to; some may be securing their business standing in the community. There are many reasons and examples of "religious" people that have little clue to whom Jesus is, but they have refused or perhaps just believe that being religious is what it takes to go to heaven. Not so. Remember the story of Nicodemus? There was a religious man. He knew something was missing and he spent that evening with Jesus asking all sorts of questions. He took the time to seek out Christ and Christ explained exactly what is needed to get to heaven - to be born again. You can be religious and never be born again. That is what I liked about Leslie's answer. She was making it clear that she knows Jesus personally and doesn't just go through the motions (and thus being religious).

I agree, too, with the posting that you can be religious about anything - computer use, fitness, church attendance. Being religious is not a ticket to heaven. I used to say I was a religious person until I realized that this is NOT the impression I wish to make on my family. I am a believer in Christ and I walk and talk to Him every day, thus having a personal relationship with Him.

Thanks for reading!

[Brian Rackley]

Gary,
Soooo true. I had someone recently say that a friend their's played the lottery religeously. The base word being religion in itself doesn't always imply Christ in any way. I remember an old song by Scott Wesley Brown entitled "I'm not Religeous, I Just Love the Lord". I am thankful for my personal relationship with Jesus, and am thankful that I can worship him "religeously".
Brian Rackley