The "Is"

Considering becoming religious? I mean going to church, taking an interest in dogma, giving up Saturday nights etc. voting Republican?
No?
But why?
What’s that? You already believe in the Bible, Jesus, and the disciples and all that... you already ARE a Christian?
Oddly, religion, (Christianity in our context) is often defined by all the outward descriptions listed above, and more. This is really very incorrect; it is not really those things at all. It’s like defining the loving companionship of a husband or wife only in terms of taking out the garbage, doing the laundry, or grocery shopping.
Yet, there IS something that interests you. Isn’t there?
Perhaps this is it.
That something that interests you is the same thing that has inspired men and women for centuries. It is a many faceted loving relationship, but it is not mere religion. Mere religion appeals to perfect people, or those that think they are.
That IS can often be the desire for truth, righteousness and justice. The desire for congruency in life contrasted with the crookedness of the rest of life is a powerful hunger too. That’s a good topic for another discussion.
Yet, what interests many is the desire for a loving, Father, who guides, directs, comforts and is a companion on life’s seashore. This is a timeless universal hunger. It is the real motivation for men and women of all places and times to seek God.
Dogma and external church participation are very good, by the way, as a foundation and by-product. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than going in your garage makes you a car. Yet your car needs its garage. You and I need that foundation, fellowship and shelter.
I said these are universal hungers. That is proven by the hymns we sing. One of the very old hymns of our faith, written by a man who lived from 1182-1226 is "All Creatures of our God and King, by Francis of Assisi. One of the lines says, "And all ye men of tender heart, Forgiving others take your part, O sing ye! Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on Him cast your care: O praise Him, Alleluia!" (p183 Ambassador Hymnal)
That’s a long time ago. Another more recent, Fanny Crosby, "All the way my Savior Leads me, What have I to ask beside…" (p469 Ambassador Hymnal)
What got me thinking in this vein was the postlude after church one Sunday. The pianist played a familiar tune, which I hadn’t been thinking about specifically. But I was compelled to begin singing the words which came back to me from some corner of my memory: "Jesus my Lord will love me forever, From Him no power of evil can sever, He gave His life to ransom my soul, Now I belong to Him…" by Norman J. Clayton. That was a hymn which we sang in church from time to time in my youth.
Some have politicized it. Others have legalized it. Still others have popularized it, and then some have scandalized it. But they haven’t changed it.
The hymn writer’s, and the millions of believers have not only this common love and care from our Heavenly Father, but a bond with us. The truth can be recognizable between believers. I say can be because we’re fallible. We can be fooled, though God can’t. There is a special bond between believers.
Not only is it something two individuals can uniquely share, it spans borders and languages.
Ravi Zacharias retells the story of two men who randomly cross paths on a street corner. One is humming a tune. They don’t speak each other’s language. But as they approach the second man becomes exited because though he doesn’t speak the language he knows the song--it’s a hymn. They can’t speak each other’s language, but they share the spiritual fellowship. That’s amazing!
This is perhaps why the young man approached Jesus in Luke 18:18-27. He had wealth and religion. But he was looking for that something else. But he couldn’t pay the price, because wealth had him.
No, you are interested in eternal life a secure shelter and warm hearth for your heart through Christ Jesus. Men and women spanning time and distance share this with you. Reach out to Him, whom to know aright is life eternal.
That’s what I know a poor part-time country preacher.