Religion and Christianity

As I continue my walk with Christ and as we go along this journey together, there’s so much he begins to open up my mind to and so many truths that begin to blossom and grow in my mind and soul… almost like when you try to focus on an image through the lens of a camera; first it’s blurry and then with a little stillness and adjustment the image becomes clear and bright before you. That’s kind of how my journey with Christ is – and most of us I think. So many things are a little blurry at first, but with patience, stillness and steadiness, he makes them clearer to us. I’m curious, anxious and exctied about what he’s yet to teach me!

Okay what’s the point I’m driving at?

The famous Mahatma Ghandi once said; “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ” … Whoa!! Wait, what!? Did he really say that!?

When I heard that I was shocked and a little bit offended and typical of what most christians would want to do…tried to be defensive.

But then, on second thought… what made him say that and what if there’s a point we have to take from what he said ?

What if we’ve gotten this idea of Christianity all wrong and all twisted? What if we’ve focused so much on the trivial issues and neglected or just somehow missed the true treasure? What if Mahatma Ghandi had a point when said that about us Christians?

I walk sometimes into a church or meet my follow Christian brethren in other places than church and I feel some sort of mystical atmosphere surround our conversations almost like we are not earthly beings and just for that moment you come across another Christian, your language and countenance is supposed to change and you become another person. You conversations  become bible quotations and literary expressions.

I’d like to pause here for a second and clarify that I’m not by any means trying to water down the mystery of Christ and the truly mystifying moments that we sometimes experience in his presence. I’m not trying to discourage speaking words of faith and acting accordingly – definitely not my point.

My point however is that Christianity has been turned into a religion and a bunch of religious activities, it has been reduced and confined to only certain areas of our lives and even!… Even to just certain places and times.

My point… my point is that Christianity is NOT a religion or a bunch of religious ideas; Christianity IS a Lifestyle.

A life style that stretches across every little detail of our lives! To the conversations we have, our passions and interests, our relationships, our work, the projects we work on, the food we eat and even the clothes we wear – EVERY little, tiny detail!. It is (or atleast should be) an integral part of us. It’s not supposed to and wasn’t meant to enslave us. Contrarily it frees us and gives us liberty.

The first people to be called “Christians” were called so because they “behaved” like Christ – their lifestyle was like that of Christ. And if we know anything about the lifestyle of Christ we’ll know that he was a friend, a teacher, he loved, he had compassion, he went about doing good deeds and his actions were examples of the lessons he taught (he taught by example). He was kind, friendly and really just a cool simple guy! He didnt try to make everything ambiguous and unrelatable but he made it all simple and fun! 

Now adopting this lifestyle definitely isn’t going to happen overnight! It’ll take time, dedication and intention to develop! I’m working at it everyday and I hope to truly live it all out as I grow in him

So I encourage you too today to work harder at developing that Christ-like life style. Don’t get caught up in the web of religion and fail to live life to the fullest just like Christ intended for you to live!