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If you are a Christ-follower, you generally believe that God has a plan for your life. If you have nothing to do with religious things, you believe typically you make your own way.
Humanity is not some mindless drone operating according to a programming code. You have a choice. So, where does that leave the Christ-follower who believes God is in charge of their life? It is an interesting question that deserves an honest answer.
Growing up in a religious community taught you not to question God. “The Lord works in mysterious ways, his wonders to behold” is perhaps one of the strongest religious quotes to silence the honest questions of young converts attempting to follow Christ. Did you know that the quote is not even from the Bible? Several scriptural references in Old and New Testament books can be justified as viable verses, but no such verse exists.
I believe religion is the single largest cause of genuine Christ-followers walking away from following Christ. The religious mandates of do’s and don’ts have tripped up countless people, causing them to walk away. It makes sense, and here is why.
Religion is a devil-inspired attempt to get close to God. Like the endless laws of the Old Testament, it spotlights people’s sins and shortcomings rather than points them to Christ. “If” you jump through these hoops, you will be able to see Christ is not a rewarding process.
Here is the difference
The religious leaders had the woman dead-to-rights. They caught her red-handed in the act of prostitution. Religion said to stone her to death. Throwing her at the feet of Jesus, they expected him to lead the charge by hurling the first stone—as they were so eagerly ready to do.
Jesus, however, came to her defense, saying if you are without sin, throw the stone—the power of those simple words cut to the very heart of every religious person present. Stones began plunking to the ground one by one as the wind was sucked out of their sails.
Once alone, Jesus turns to the woman, saying, stop sinning, or something worse will happen. He did not let her off the hook, but he did choose to forgive her and give her the option of changing her way of life.
The fundamental difference between religion and a relationship is found in this story. According to the law, religious leaders had every right to demand such an outcome. Forced obedience leads to rebellion. This is religion.
On the other hand, willing obedience leads to life, and this is a relationship. Jesus compassionately reached out to this woman, offering hope—change your life. Religion punishes your mistakes (sins) because you are not allowed to make them. Although overly simplistic, I hope you see the difference.
Why this matters
If you allow me, there are two plans, one religious, the other righteous. The plan is to move you from where you are to spiritual maturity. But the paths are vastly different. The religious plan for spiritual maturity is riddled with peer pressure and manipulation. A measure of self-righteousness is thrown in to make it complete.
Jesus tells a story of two men going to pray in the temple. One man is religious, and one is not.
The religious man explains why he is not like the unreligious man, listing everything he does and does not do. The unreligious man cries out for mercy. Jesus shocks his followers by saying that the unreligious man left the temple justified before God rather than the religious man. The reason Jesus offers is that the religious man was self-righteous.
The unreligious man talked with God from his heart and not his (self) righteous position.
Let there be no mistake; the righteous plan requires discipline. There must be a heartfelt effort to do what is not naturally comfortable.
The Apostle Paul talks about Christ-followers needing milk (about an infant), not strong meat (referring to an adult).
The infant needs constant, guarded attention, while the adult can care for themselves. A righteous (unreligious) person can take care of themselves because they operate from the heart, relying on God to carry them through.
A religious (infant) person relies on their ability to follow the program, quote the right verses from the Bible, and recite the correct prayer while their heart is nowhere close to God.
This is the place where most Christians miss the mark. They are led by the program rather than their heart.
The righteous (unreligious) may know the program (because it is not bad), but they are led by their heart as they follow Christ.
This is why I call them Christ-followers.
Christ-followers tend to think in terms of then, then, and there (eternity), while Christians (the infants the Apostle Paul speaks of) tend to think in terms of here and now.
The plan of God is to prepare you for his purpose in the place called eternity. It means here and now serve as preparation for then and there.
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