It’s about the relationship

At lunchtime today, our lab staff had a discussion on the Christian religion. I’m not sure exactly how it started, but I know that it escalated into each person taking turns stating why they don’t go to church anymore. Points of view came from both Protestant and Catholic perspectives, and the conversation looked something like, “I don’t go because I don’t believe in doctrine X…” and “I don’t believe in God because so-and-so does Y…”, not to mention “I don’t understand why the Church believes Z…” The discussion wreaked of assumptions, stubbornness and hurt. My friends spoke out of integrity, and I really appreciated that.

I sat silently while these deliberations were going on; until one of my lab mates who has lengthy conversations with me about the Church spoke up and said, “Marie-Linda, why are you just sitting there, not saying anything and defending the Church? Aren’t you the most devout of us all?” I didn’t answer. All I could think was, “Yeah, well, you’re not ready to listen; so why would I speak?” and “There is too much to tackle here”.

However, when I came back home, I realized that there isn’t actually all that much to tackle. My friends are associating being a Christian with following the precepts and rituals of the religion. This is not entirely wrong; but it completely escapes the essential. I decided that if I had answered, this is what I would have told them:

Imagine some really rich person comes up to you and says, “I love you. I love you so much; you can have all my money.” And the person hands you a check of 10 million dollars, free for your use. Would you refuse that??? And let’s say this person says, “By the way, I am so powerful I don’t die. I can save you from death too, if you love me.” Could you say no to the offer of living forever? And let’s say this person says, “I love you so much that I’ll serve you all the time and give you all you need.” Would you be crazy enough to push them away? Wouldn’t you fall in love with them just because they love you so much?

Don’t you guys want to see again all the ones you love who died? Don’t you want to be unfadingly ecstatically happy? Wouldn’t you want to take a chance at all this, even if you’re not sure? Wouldn’t you want to risk a lot, knowing that you could gain so much more? Don’t you want to check it out, if only to benefit yourself?

Being a Christian is not about following doctrines. It’s about a relationship; a relationship with a Living God who came to us so that we could see Him. He gives us Perfect Love. He can make us alive forever. He can bring us back together again with everyone we love (by eternal life and forgiveness). He can give us everything. He isn’t less real because certain people make mistakes in showing who He is. Why would you not want to love Someone so great?!? Are you afraid to not get all these good things in case He doesn’t exist (i.e. are you afraid to be deceived)? Even if that were the case, you would still live better for believing in Him. So why not just take the chance?

Religion is supposed to nurture our relationship with the Lord; not take over it; not hinder who we are; not become the focus of our devotion. It is a means to the end of loving God. It helps us understand the relationship; it guides us as to how to act on it; it shows us examples of what others have done with it; it gives us a chance to share this relationship with a community; it gets us to put the relationship into practice. But it is not the relationship.

Guys, why are you so caught up in these questions??? I struggle with questions about the church too, but that doesn’t mean I abandon it; I am in it for the sake of the relationship that needs to continue to grow. Don’t stunt your growth.

It begins with Love. It begins with the heart. If you love God, you will see that knowledge will follow, just like when you love someone and then wish to get to know them more. Once your heart is set on Him, no matter where you are in the Church, you will see that all your questions will get answered and all your obstacles will be overcome.