The more I think of 'religion' the more I have come to HATE the word. By way of definition, religion means the state of a religious; the service and worship of God or the supernatural; commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance; a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness; a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith. Where in any of those definitions is a personal relationship with Christ listed?? To me the 'definition' of the word has given it a more rigid and icy meaning. A personal set or institutionalized system of religion attitudes??? Institutionalized??? System??? Religion attitudes???
When did a personal relationship with Christ have such abrasive words attached to it? There is a new song out right now that has a statement in it that goes, "What has religion left you with? My religion has left me with rocks tied to my feet." Why can't our relationship with Christ be joyful and not 'something tied to our feet"?? My prayer today is that I will go back to my first love-Jesus. The Jesus that thought of me while hanging on that cross. The Jesus that took on my sin without questioning, flinching, or stopping The Jesus that knew when he was put on this Earth his purpose and still did it.
Who, or should I say what, is your first love?? Your computer? The TV?? Work?? If these things or others are on your list..maybe a moment of regroup is in order.
