Disconnected Religion

Some days we don't take our faith very seriously.

It's not that our faith wavers from one day to the next. It's more likely that our focus shifts because of other stimuli that are present in our lives. On some of those days we may not focus on study or on prayer although we may still "check in" with a short prayer or with a simple reminder to ourselves that we do have faith and then we move on with life. Most often, we live disconnected from our faith.

This disconnection is really putting life in one category and faith in another. And it's not faith at all, rather it's a belief in something, rituals (such as prayer) to keep it active, and hope that life will get better or easier through it. But that's not faith. That's religion. And religion, even when integrated into our lives, isn't what God expects of us.

Religion is rules, rituals, actions that put us in a better view of God and in God's better view. And the Christianity that many have been taught and even still live is more religion than it is faith.

I know that my own teaching has sometimes bordered on religious practice. I often focus my teaching on reminding us that we have great responsibility to act according to our faith, to take seriously what we say we believe, to serve, to give, to pray. But I'm not advocating religion. Rather I teach and try to provide opportunities to relate to God.

"But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe - Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise." (Galatians 3:25-27, The Message)

We are to live faith. That faith is being in close relationship with God. It's a freedom to live not by practices that might please the Almighty, but inviting God to share in them with us. Our baptism is the beginning of not living disconnected from God anymore.

It's our acceptance of God's personal invitation to share our whole lives with God.

That's what faith is all about!

Peace ><>
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