OK…first off…RELAX people (especially those in the ultra-sensitive Bible Belt bubble or the dominant Catholic community)…let me explain.
The headline above summarizes a Tweet (can you “summarize” 140 words?) I blasted out yesterday, stirring up a few souls in the process. It is amazing how much self-professed Christians cling to the safety net of church attendance (often random attendance at best) as a measure of their faith and think spiritual growth and security lie in the recitation of affirmations or historical ceremonies.
You can tell right off the bat I am not a fan of religion or legalism. If I am not mistaken, someone by the name of Jesus Christ spent the bulk of His ministry not opposing sinners, but opposing the religious leaders of the day. He spent His time speaking love against sin and grace/changed hearts against rules/hardened hearts. He hung out with those who recognized their sin not those who were focused on showing everyone how “good” their image could be by following rigid rules and public ceremony better than their neighbor (or in the same way so they are “keeping up with the Joneses” instead of following Christ).
Don’t get me wrong. This is not a rant nor criticism against people who find some comfort in religion and legalism. I grew up in the buckle of the Bible Belt and totally understand the mindset even though I disagree with where it too often leads (complacency of faith and detachment from the rest of the world you are supposedly trying to impact). In fact, it provided a foundation that stayed with me when I got older and actually began to find God and understand the relationship of faith. Through my upbringing in a Methodist church (which I found “boring” as most kids and youth do and did not desire to return to as an adult), my mom fulfilled the promise of Proverbs 22:6 – “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
I believe there are two styles of Christians today. On one side is the religious/legalistic believer. On the other is the relational/experiential believer. Neither is more right or wrong than the other. It is simply an issue of style. My concern is that the world of non-believers primarily sees either the religious/legalistic side speaking “Christianese” that pushes them away OR the extremities of the relational/experiential side through sideshow carnivals like nutty televangelists or crazy tent revivals.
And they judge us all on one of those two images. Or judge us under the misguided assumption that being Christian means being perfect, therefore screaming “hypocrite” when we fail in that incorrectly perceived perfection.
So, back to the headline. Don’t miss the point. If your “style” leads you to an understanding of true relationship with a personal God, then great! But if it pushes you to an extreme or toward false security in your “good works,” be careful. I have been around a ton of different churches, many different Christian styles and practices (especially over the last six years) and have seen consistency in what I’ve observed. And the main observation is that the religious/legalistic mindset turns non-believers away more often than not and leads to a false sense of security and stifled growth in the believer more than its opposing style.
And that is were I grow frustrated. I hear the criticism of the experiential or contemporary style church as merely “entertainment” from the legalistic crowd. It brings to mind images of Pharisees pointing fingers at the “sinners” simply hanging out with Christ while they are the ones “doing” the required works.
It’s the whole Mary-Martha thing. Jesus loved them both. Both loved Jesus.
But check out what happens in Luke 10:38-42 when Jesus visits Martha’s home:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
See it?
Martha was focused on her image and making sure she and her home “looked good” for Jesus’ visit and that she was “doing” things to impress Him (religion/legalism). Mary simply wanted relationship and sat at His knee to listen and learn (relational/experiential). For Martha, it was about her (even though well-meaning). For Mary, it was about Him.
Christ didn’t reject Martha. She did not lose her relationship or salvation. But He praised Mary for choosing “what is better.” Better – not “more right” or “the only style.” Better.
Should we not desire what is better when Christ Himself is pointing it out?
And he also pointed out the stress (Martha’s worry and being upset) that comes with trying to do things to earn God’s favor instead of recognizing it is all about His grace alone to give us a gift we can never earn through our works, ceremonies or traditions. (Ephesians 2:8-9 — “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”)
Martha was so busy trying to look the part and fit in with culture ( i.e. — “traditional church culture” today), she missed out on relationship with the living God when He was right there in her home. Mary understood the difference between religion and relationship.
So, that is why I say God is hard to find in church or religious tradition.
You can grow and build meaningful relationships in church and faith community is vital for one’s spiritual journey. You can receive relevant teachings in church and hear messages that draw interest to seek more. Regular church attendance in a style that connects with you is important.
You can find foundation in religious tradition, but it is destructive to rely on it as the basis of your faith strength or an image you want to reflect to others and never move deeper into the intimacy God offers. There is so much more.
As Christ Himself stated, there is something “better.”
That’s all I’m sayin’.
