How to Become a Car

By Peter Lundell –

It’s been said that sitting in a church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. I decided to test the theory myself. Still human.

Since the time of Jesus, people have been confusing the commitment and lifestyle of following Jesus with the religion of Christianity. We easily forget that Jesus never came to start a new religion. He already had one. We call it Judaism. Jesus came to connect us to God.

People have a habit of adding things like rituals, institutions and allegiances—any of which can either help or hinder. Besides things we do in worship services, or how we spend our time, we can also confuse our spiritual identity with our national or cultural identity.

Christianity as a religion too often replaces the intimate relationship Jesus intended for us to have with God. What a cheap substitute! We too easily settle for going through motions rather than engage the harder prospect of life transformation. No wonder people often leave church.

This tendency has a lot to do with why evangelicals often have a bad reputation in America. And why so many of them do things to deserve that reputation. When we lose sight of what Jesus cared and didn’t care about, we say and do all kinds of dumb things.

I’m not saying don’t go to church. People who bail out on church sever themselves from the main social/spiritual fabric God established to keep us spiritual healthy and interactive. The church is essential. The issue is what the church does about what Jesus said and did.

Where do you fit in all this?

PRAYER: “Lord Jesus, beyond any church routines and any of my comfort zones, I hunger for You. Change me and keep changing me. May I be a blessing in my church so that my church will better help people connect with You.”

“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:9 NIV).

Today’s devotion is by Peter Lundell, author of the award-winning book Prayer Power. A rising new voice on connecting with God, Lundell is a pastor, Bible college teacher, and conference speaker. Visit him at www.PeterLundell.com for his inspirational “Connections” and free downloads of articles, parables, short stories, and book chapters.