Some words are worth keeping

Browsing social media earlier today, I was greeted by a graphic leading with the words, “The difference between Jesus and religion…” It went on from there to claim that religion shames people, while Jesus stoops to wash their feet. Pitting Jesus against religion rarely ends well. My gut reaction was an inner groan, but I thought it deserved a little more thought, a little more reflection.

Giving the benefit of the doubt, the creators of the image likely mean that following Jesus is intimate and relational, rather than a production or self-righteous pursuit of glory at the expense of others. They want followers of Jesus to show grace, mercy and kindness in the same way that Jesus shows grace, mercy and kindness. And I heartily agree. Those who have run to Christ have been given new hearts, and that shows up more and more in the fruit of our lives. Those who have been forgiven ought to similarly forgive (Luke 7:41-47) and be reasonable (Philippians 4:5) towards other sinners.

But all too often, what I sense in posters is an undercurrent of self-protection. “You can’t judge me! Jesus is loving and patient and just so nice. Be like Jesus!” But what they want is not to be loved well, but to be left to do as they please. I hear a privatized faith throwing off much-needed input from brothers and sisters in Christ. And it gets hearty amens. Sometimes, instead of Jesus and religion contrasted, it is spirituality and religion. Here they really emphasize what matters. It is personal. It is private. It is spiritual. We live in a hyper-individualistic age. And Christians can be just as caught up in “living the dream” as their non-Christian neighbors. But is this private faith all there is? Is that what Jesus’ sacrifice secured? Is that what it means to be spiritual?

The Bible repeatedly answers, “No!”

Gospel Creations

Jesus’s sacrifice in our place means we don’t have to wallow in guilt or shame. Jesus has paid the penalty. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). His sacrifice is enough! But we should be quick to repent (1 John 1:8-10; 2:1; ), and welcoming of those who would call us to repent (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:19-20; 1 John 5:16).

Also, we should be cautious of turning Jesus into someone he is not. When we casually excuse our sin on the basis that Jesus is merciful and loving, we are deceiving ourselves, ignoring mountains of Scripture that point to a coming judgment, and Jesus as the judge (Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 19:11-16; 22:14-15). As new creatures in Christ, our hearts should respond to the conviction the Spirit produces. And often that conviction comes through the warning and rebukes of faithful believers who love us through our waywardness, for our eternal good.

Indeed, the life, work and death of Jesus accomplish more than just the forgiveness of past sin, the removal of guilt and shame. The New Testament repeatedly point to the way that Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension secure all the promises of God. For starters, all our good works rest on the work of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-10). Then our peace with God and one another is in Christ: For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility (Ephesians 2:14). And to the end, we find the Holy Spirit given by Jesus as a guarantee (2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14) of all these great promises.

Faith Taking Shape

Each of these facets of the gospel is worked out not just in individual terms, but in communal terms. As we are made new creatures, we take on new desires that are for the benefit of others, not ourselves. As we experience peace with God, an end to hostility, we are united to God’s own family as brothers and sisters of Christ. And the Spirit that guarantees the promises also empowers us that we might build one another up. And this is all fleshed out, not in an intangible affection for unnamed and unknown believers, past, present, and future, but rather in tangible bodies of Christ, local outposts of the kingdom.

What I mean to say is that faith in Jesus never stops at the personal, the individual. It always overflows into the corporate (“body”), into the communal, into the other. And these together, the individual and the communal, the private and the public, are religion. Jesus is not opposed to religion; he gives it its true form. Apart from Jesus, religion is a human enterprise, an attempt to reach God on our own terms, if not an attempt to replace him outright. With Jesus, religion is the response of faith. We need more than a shapeless “faith” or spirituality. We need Jesus, who brings us into right relationship with himself and with others called by his name.

James speaks similarly. James doesn’t suggest that faith in Jesus is opposed to religion. Instead, the truth of our religion is made visible by the wedding of word and action. Religion that is “pure and undefiled” works itself out in acts of loving sacrifice for others, especially those who are unable to care for themselves (James 1:26-27). Far from rejecting “religion”, James seems to encourage a robust and enduring practice of the faith.

So let’s not fall into the trap of pitting Jesus against religion. Religion is not a bad word. And our claims to know Jesus while rejecting religion might just suggest we haven’t fully considered the cost of our peace, the nature of discipleship, and the ends Jesus is working towards.

Disciples of Jesus

Your private faith in Jesus is born out by your participation and belonging in the local church. It is love for brothers and sisters in Christ in local community that is proof of saving faith (1 John). So to pit Jesus against religion, and in these terms, a private faith versus a faith lived in relation to others, is to fail to follow Jesus where he leads.

Yesterday, we had a panel discussing missions and meaningful membership in the local church. One of the pastors helpfully talked about the responsibility we have towards one another. Talk of responsibility, duty, even requirement, sends some Christians running for the hills. As if the freeness of grace were in conflict with doing and behaving (i.e. religion). Sadly, talk of what Christians “should” do, though rooted in Scripture, inevitably leads to accusations of legalism. But there is a big difference between believing our works save us, or even contribute to our salvation, and believing that we are called to live holy lives flowing out of transformed hearts and our growing love for Jesus.

This purported dichotomy between Jesus and religion suggests that what we say we believe is more important than what we do. It puts the authority and power on our self-assessment, and bars the way to those who might challenge us. But being a disciple of Jesus is corrosive to this sort of thinking. Because he calls us to act on our faith. He calls us to live in relationship, to submit and care for one another. And much to our displeasure, this often comes as fellow members of the church call us to greater holiness, even when we are rather satisfied and content with our reputable sins.

As a disciple of Jesus, you are not your own. You are called to live in close relationship with a body who will have the privilege to speak into your life, just as you speak into theirs. So, reclaim the word. Be known for a pure and undefiled religion, one that worships a holy God and is meaningfully made part of his people. Worship a God who unites perfect justice for sin with the sweetest of mercy to those who repent and trust in Jesus. Having been born again, live by the Spirit, giving no place to the flesh.

Grace and peace – GM