Following Jesus is what Christianity is all about. Religion is the formality and man made rules that you choose to adhere to as a member of a church. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t not require certain clothes or regulations, it only needs faith. It seems as though too many people confuse religion with faith. Jesus’s example trumps all the rules created by man. If you choose to have a religion rather than a relationship, be prepared for problems.
Remember when Jesus healed the man who couldn’t walk? The pharisees were more concerned about church rules then they were about Jesus preforming a miracle. Just think about that for a minute. Jesus talks to a disabled man who couldn’t walk and tells him to stand up. Knowing that this man couldn’t walk, wouldn’t you think that the Pharisees would be in amazement just witnessing the miracle that had just happened? Of course not,the didn’t care. Their rules blinded them from accepting the miracle that they had just witnessed.
You would think that these men would be astonished at what they just witnessed. They were blinded by the fact that just the voice of Jesus was powerful enough to heal a man. Nope, the Pharisees completely missed what had just happened. Instead of being happy that a man was healed they were too caught up in their rules and regulations and the control they had over people to see the truth. They were more interested in shaming Jesus than praising Him.
Following Jesus Is Easy
Following Jesus example is much easier than following man made rules. It seems that today more people are choosing me-ology than the theology of Christ.
You can never be good enough in a man’s eyes. But, in God’s eyes, we can be made new. It amazes me how many people continue to follow a ‘church doctrine that doesn’t lead anyone to Christ. Making up counter-productive rules and hoops to jump through is exactly what the Pharisees were doing to Jesus. Anyone or anything keeping you from having a free and open relationship with Jesus needs to go,
A while back a man started coming to the church I go to. He told me, that the church he grew up in didn’t feel right. The preacher would stand up and read from a book for an hour or so, and then they would say a prayer together and leave. There was no emotion or Holy Spirit there. Sorry but to me that just seems like a bunch of people going to a building following the preacher’s rules and leaving.
The only rules we need to follow are God’s rules. If you find yourself caught up between man and God, then you are not in a healthy place. God doesn’t want us to work to please others to please Him. He wants our direct focus on Him. Following Jesus is easy. You do not have to perform meaningless ceremonial tasks dictated by man. The only functions that we should follow were demonstrated to us by Jesus.
A friend of mine was just kicked out of her church because she drinks coffee. Can you imagine?
Jesus gave us communion to remember His sacrifice. He showed us baptism so that we could be made clean. He even humbled Himself by washing His disciples feet to show His humility and service to others.
Following Jesus is as easy as being Christ-like and emulating His example.
From Pity to Praise 