CHRISTIANITY VERSUS RELIGION

Christianity is a relationship with God. A connection to your maker, like a branch is connected to the roots of a tree. It is absolute dependence on God for every instruction in every area of your life, it is a lifestyle of walking with God, in His absolute will for your life everyday. 

It is constantly dying to flesh and yielding to the spirit of God and allowing Him to manifest. Christianity is dynamic and not static. It is not occassional or ceremonial, but personal and continuous.

In one Sunday school class, one of my favourite teachers broke it down to:

CHRIST + ME = CHRISTIAN

CHRISTIAN – CHRIST = I. A. N 

Which is an acronym for I Am Nothing. 

We are nothing, people! Without Christ, I am nothing, you are nothing. Let’s get it straight, it is not going to church that makes us Christians, but living like Christ. You might ask how you can live like Christ, just hold on darling, I will tell you how. It is simple: yield to the spirit of God and exhibit the fruit of the spirit. 

It is noteworthy that spiritual maturity is a consistent and constant exhibition of the fruit of the spirit. Let me be the first to tell you that it ain't easy, but the grace of God is sufficient, so it is possible.

On the other hand however, religion or being religious is just ceremony, no relationship whatsoever, rules and regulations if you let me.

Nowadays, I hear people say things like: “all these spiritual people,...blah blah” and it is mostly used, from my observation, to explain away their shortcomings, inadequacies, inabilities and refusal. 

Refusal to yield to the spirit of God. 

Refusal to stay unoffendable.

Refusal to exhibit the fruit of the spirit.

Refusal to accept the Lordship of Jesus. 

Refusal, just plain refusal, and the lack of desire to up their game. So they just explain away their shortcoming as “non spiritual”. Don't do that.

Sweetheart, if the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are a Christian. If you allow Jesus reign in your life, you are a Christian. If you depend on Him for everything, you are a Christian. And as such, you are spiritual.

So I just heard you say what of Christians that ‘misbehave’? I know what you mean, but let me be the first to tell you that this relationship is dynamic.  Like I mentioned before, we grow into maturity and not jump into it. So sometimes, we fall or misbehave, but we do not stay down or keep misbehaving.  

And the sweetest part of this love relationship (so you didn’t know it is one? You had better start treating it as such and love up on Jesus already!) I digress. I was saying that the amazing thing is you can and should bring this relationship into every area of your life.

If you are a student, why not up your game and be a Christian student? Make Jesus red carpet famous right there in your classroom and in the exam hall. As a doctor, can you allow the Great physician work through your hands? If you are a teacher, is it too much to allow the wisdom of the Great Rabbi flow through you? 

Dear business tycoon, how about becoming an Apostle in the marketplace, bearing in mind that the Lord hates dishonest scales? I could go on and on, but I believe you get it already. 

The summary is, whatever you are, be a Christian one! Christianity is the sole identity from which every other expression flows from. That is exactly how it should be.

Now, let me explain what I mean by “religious”. It  is a term widely used today and I could be thought to be rude if I didn’t explain what I mean. Religious people are those who people perceive to follow formulars and do good works.

Not necessarily from the place of having a close personal relationship with God. They are done for God and usually without God. Jesus did not die so we could have religion. 

He died so we could be one with God through Him, hence Christianity. So we could have a deep personal relationship with the Triune God.

Just like every relationship, you must invest and nurture it if it'll ever blossom. Nurturing this relationship comprises you intentionally working to strengthen and deepen your convictions or else the pressures and distractions of this world will choke it. 

Make it an assignment to consistently find ways to fan the flames, put in more wood and keep the altar burning. Structure your daily routine to include habits that fan the flames of your passion for God.

Forget about what you do not want to do for now and focus on what you should be doing. 

Whatever you know to do that strengthens your faith, do them and watch what you don't want to do diffuse away.

Pray, study and meditate on the word, read good books, listen to sermons, connect with friends that'd sharpen you in that area, etcetera.

Christianity is a relationship with God, go and relate with God.

Cheers to strengthening your faith,

Nancita ✨