Religion vs Relationship

The Bible is NOT a book of dos and don’ts.

Using the Bible as a “rule book” decontextualizes the Word. There is not a hierarchy of commands – nor can one “pick and choose”. The Bible is important in its entirety. This is how we come to know our God – Who Abba Father is, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

The entire framework allows us opportunity to develop an ever-deepening insight into our Creator, giving the Bible relational redemptive value. It is a Holistic view of our history and holds relevance for our daily lives as “there is nothing new under the sun”.

Additionally, placing ALL import on the behavior boundaries of Christians minimizes the Creator’s redemptive plan as this “behavior only” view highlights only that man must ‘behave right’ to be viewed as righteous. This is not Truth. Truth is that once you believe and accept Christ’s forgiveness and enter into relationship with Him, you are supernaturally covered by His Blood and are therefore in right standing with the Father. That is, in its most basic meaning to be biblically righteous, this is to have a right standing with the Father.

Not that our choices and behaviors are not important, quite the contrary. Yet our behaviors do not and cannot bring redemption. We must never forget that we are unable to flawlessly keep all commands at all times. Furthermore, the "rules only" view does not provide the Plan of Freedom through Christ from the power of sin and death. Instead, it acts as an overwhelming and burdensome “yoke”. So, a religious view demanding a “commandment only” expectation removes the very power of the Cross. This cannot be!!

The Bible is God’s Love letter to all of creation. In His Love letter, He shares our beginning perfected state, His original Divine Design. He also shows us our frailty and how easily we are drawn away by our own flesh, by our own sinful nature that began with Adam and Eve. Yet despite this constant affinity to turn away from Him, He has not removed our free will. Instead, He has pursued His children relentlessly with an undying Love. A Love so perfect and absolute that despite our misuse of this freedom, He still desires relationship with us. In His Love letter, He lays out His plan from Eden to the end of human days. His plan rests on Jesus, the Perfect Lamb, His One Begotten Son to be our substitute. Jesus was the only One who could cover, once and for all, the sin of all mankind. Jesus' Sacrifice redeems man to the Father, completely covering the stain of sin. The main theme of the Bible, of our Creator’s Love Letter is this: God’s fallen Creation unable to redeem itself, redeemed through His Only Begotten Son Jesus, the only True Perfect Sacrifice, who is patiently awaiting, not wanting any of us to perish but to repent (turn from sin back to Him).

The Word of God is not just a Book of doctrines (teachings). If this becomes our only view or a primary view – it eliminates/minimizes the depth and capacity, potential, and endless well of wisdom as well as over- and deemphasizing specific passages or books.

When we fail to base our view of the Word of God and Life from a place founded on the Gospel, the true purpose of the Word is then missed and misused. This results in the very Power and Purpose of the Word to be of no use to those who strive to be right with God from a behavior and rules only position.

The only Way we can be in right standing with God is through belief in Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary. The Bible is a written account of God’s Love shown through the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and imminent return of Jesus Christ. This is a Christ-centered view of the historical relational redemptive Love of God, of our Abba Father.

Abba uses the Bible to reveal Himself to us and tell the story of how He pursues us, of His Love for us so profound and His deep desire to live in restored relationship with us that He would make a Way, even at the cost of His own heart.

Think about it, Abba’s Love for us cost Him His first fruits, His Son Jesus. A hefty price to pay for the lot of us fickle, on again off again, humans who are flawed and vain, self-focused and prone to stray.

I sit here pondering in Awe on the enormity of such a Love that pursues and engulfs, rescues and restores, heals and strengthens. His Love includes a Grace that draws me back to Him, that covers my frail human vain state. His patience and Love that draw me ever closer to Him. His Spirit that lovingly work and wills. The Word that daily renews and transforms me.

Oh the Love of my Savior who would step down from Heaven just to understand my plight, so He could be my Kinsman Redeemer, paying a price He did not owe for the debt I had no ability to pay. I am surely blessed to be Loved by Him!

To be known by Him and Loved, in ever deepening relationship with God is the noblest of goals a human can spend a lifetime pursuing.