http://charleswear.com/2007/06/03/get-religion/ the publisher of Next-Wave Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:32:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 http://charleswear.com/2007/06/03/get-religion/#comment-22 Leon Hebrink Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:31:04 +0000 http://charleswear.com/2007/06/03/get-religion/#comment-22 "If religion is not the answer for those who need forgiveness, why do we Christ-followers behave as though it is?" Because it's easier. Incorporating myself, a seeker or a convert into a system of behaviors and expectations that are codified and institutionalized into a moralistic group think set of obligations and duties with benefits is far easier than a "long obedience in the same direction." Getting one's name on a membership list of a religious organization is seen as a means to an end by the vast majority of church members. It is a means to "purchase" marrying and burying priviledges, fire insurance for eternity, street cred in the local community, comfort for the future of your children, and an assortment of other perks associated with belonging to a religious club. Entering a transformative relationship with Jesus and journeying along a narrow path of nonconformity and cultural/social dissonance is not nearly as comfortable or definable. An important parodox of the Kingdom is that the "burden" of Jesus following is easy or light in Kingdom terms but bitter and repellant in the world's view. Religious membership does not require nor expect transformation in a "morphe'" sense but rather "schema" in conforming to the religious expectations of that particular group so as to gain the benefits of membership. In the case of the religious organization I simply find the schema that already fits me and I join. In the case of Jesus following I humble myself under the mighty hand of God and am morphed through the spiritual disciplines into Christ, growing up, producing fruit and pleasing God. “If religion is not the answer for those who need forgiveness, why do we Christ-followers behave as though it is?”
Because it’s easier. Incorporating myself, a seeker or a convert into a system of behaviors and expectations that are codified and institutionalized into a moralistic group think set of obligations and duties with benefits is far easier than a “long obedience in the same direction.”
Getting one’s name on a membership list of a religious organization is seen as a means to an end by the vast majority of church members. It is a means to “purchase” marrying and burying priviledges, fire insurance for eternity, street cred in the local community, comfort for the future of your children, and an assortment of other perks associated with belonging to a religious club.
Entering a transformative relationship with Jesus and journeying along a narrow path of nonconformity and cultural/social dissonance is not nearly as comfortable or definable. An important parodox of the Kingdom is that the “burden” of Jesus following is easy or light in Kingdom terms but bitter and repellant in the world’s view.
Religious membership does not require nor expect transformation in a “morphe’” sense but rather “schema” in conforming to the religious expectations of that particular group so as to gain the benefits of membership. In the case of the religious organization I simply find the schema that already fits me and I join. In the case of Jesus following I humble myself under the mighty hand of God and am morphed through the spiritual disciplines into Christ, growing up, producing fruit and pleasing God.

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