Some of the most difficult people you could introduce change to are people that have been doing the same thing the same way for years. They’ve adopted a way of doing things and it’s become a culture. It might have been something passed down from another generation, something that has always been accepted as the norm. Accepting the norm as the standard without thinking paralyses your intuitive and creative ability.
One of the things Jesus did within his three and a half years of active ministry on earth was to change the perception of religious leaders who were stuck in religion and couldn’t see beyond their set programmes, rules and obligations.
Jesus realised religion was keeping people (especially the ones labelled “unworthy”) away rather than welcoming and initiating transformation in their lives. The religious people could not see pass the dos and don’ts. The religion became bondage rather than freedom. For example, they questioned Jesus for healing on a Sabbath. Religion says you have to be clean before you can be part of the movement. Jesus introduced a radical shift from that line of belief. Jesus accepted that Christianity was a religion but emphasised that it was more than mere religion. Christianity is relationship-based. Christ emphasises relationship rather than just rules. Every invitation he gave was for friendship and relationship.
Christ modelled this new way of religion and unexpectedly many outsiders were touched, transformed and converted. He introduced this concept that God was more interested in His relationship with people than what they did for Him or on His behalf. Working for God is not the same as working with God. Working with God requires a level of relationship and intimacy. Jesus Christ also gave the religious leaders a new law that fulfils all the laws they had held and obeyed unreservedly: “Love God with all your heart. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” He introduced a new and better way of life- interaction and engagement geared by nothing but LOVE.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and you would see history repeating itself. We have created our culture and doctrines that are keeping people away from the body of Christ. Instead of encouraging them to come in and join the great family of God, we have presented Christianity to be a set of routines that must be fulfilled to truly feel the essence of the religion. The concern of many leaders is now more on the building than the people that make the building. We are proud of our great exploits done on “God’s behalf” hoping and thinking they compensate for our lack of relationship with Him.
Your relationship with your church is not equal to your relationship with God. The two are related but not same. Your relationship with your church should be pointing you to your relationship with God. History is there for us to learn from. Are we truly learning, or are we destined to always have religious leaders that are more concerned with manmade doctrines and rules than transformed lives?
