I continue to be amazed at how it always seems that religion complicates what God has made simple. I was reading last night in Matthew and reminded at how often Jesus tried to expose the complexities of religion.
Matt 23: 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
I grew up in a system of religion that was very similar to this. The “demands” often left me feeling crushed and wondering if God could ever accept and love me.
I discovered over time that religion and the rules that accompanied it really only produced two things: defeat, if you were honest, and hypocrisy, if you were not.
I spent years in hypocrisy which was fueled by my fear that I wasn’t “good enough.” I’ll be forever grateful that I eventually exchanged that system of religion in for a story of redemption. I’ll be forever grateful for discovering the meaning behind these beautiful words of Jesus…
Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Tired of trying? Need some Rest?
Come to me…it’s that simple…
I often wonder how many have not come to Christ because they have not heard this? Awesome post…
.-= Michael´s last blog ..LT, Brian Westbrook, and Our Reltionship With God =-.
Finding the place of living daily in the grace of God was a long road for me. I still struggle sometimes to stay there…I too grew up in that same religious climate. It is freeing, encouraging and full of joy to walk in that place of grace and know that God loves me…even when I’ve messed up royally.
Thanks for sharing.
.-= Randy Kinnick´s last blog ..Come as You Are, But You Won’t Stay That Way =-.
I find it interesting that Jesus describes his yoke as “easy to bear” and “light” – and then he walks that road to Calvary.
I like how he describes himself as “humble and gentile at heart” – and through his humility and love he lays down his life.
What does this say about his invitation for us to take up his yoke? (Stop trying to work your way into my heart; just follow me?)
… I know what it is to be tired…
.-= Derek ´s last blog ..We Stand On Guard For Thee (Oh Canada) =-.
good thoughts Derek!
I still find myself VERY VERY confused. At times I want to just give up and quit living the right way, it often seems easier to me because I do not understand a lot of what I read. But for some reason I keep on….I know that God has a plan for me and I am atill jsut waiting for him to show it to me! Does that make sense?
Pete, if it’s ok, what system did you grow up under?
.-= nate´s last blog ..Beer Blogger Brewoff Tasting Podcast =-.
I grew up Free Will Baptist Nate. A lot of the “expectations” I grew up with were self imposed though.
Wow! Pete thanks for being so honest and putting that into words. I think many can relate.
Really, it’s all about Grace. Yet we struggle so much to accept God’s grace and to give it out freely. But dang, what if we did?
Pete, when I was in India I had the same thought. That we had complicated faith and church to the point that we’d lost sight of what was really real. I find the trappings of religion to be very frustrating to me now…….and I find myself completely unwilling to step back into traditions and teachings that make me feel guilty (defeated) all the time. Maybe it’s my age or maybe God has set me free, but it is so restful and freeing.
.-= Jan Owen´s last blog ..Our Greatest Enemy =-.
Thanks for sharing..
There is probably no greater form of defeat in this life. I grew up in religious climate that defines itself by “what-we-don’t-do”..and a lot of it was stuff I wanted to do. When I understood “Come unto me..” was really that simple, I cried. I still struggle to hold on to the reality of those words…and everyday I it still find the load to be light.
Great post and reminder! Thanks Pete. I completely agree. It’s always amazed me how the deeper you grow in relationship with God, the simpler it is. When things get increasingly complicated, I have to look and see where I adopted other ideas or believed wrong assumptions.
Again, great post!
.-= jasonS´s last blog ..Light Friday Hit List: 2/26/10 =-.
Well said Jason.
I once met a man who chose Islam over Christianity because he said it was less complex. No trinity. Just a simple God who was easy to comprehend.
I was hurt that he wasn’t able and/or willing to ponder the awesomeness of a transcedent God beyond our comprehension.
I don’t find any comfort in an easy, oversimplified faith. I need richness, complexity, mystery, something confusing and incomprehenaible to remind me that God is real and it wasn’t someone else in the room (or me!) who made up this easy thing.
I agree with this post. BUT I recall that the same Word of God inspired another NT author to remind us to work out our own salvations with fear and trembling.
I’m not even sure what that means. And I’m glad for that.
[Off subject epilogue: I find that my OVERSIMPLIFIED mobile browser does not allow me to go back and edit this comment now. Oh well. Take my typos with fear and trembling.]
.-= Jeff Holton´s last blog ..A metaphor for Another Allegory =-.
Hmmm…. this is the 2nd or 3rd time this week I’ve heard this.
And yet, I can’t accept it. I know that Christ did it all for us and we can’t earn or deserve our salvation; there is grace.
But there’s also supposed to be a response. A transformation. If we love God we will do these things: A, B, C, D,……..
It’s nearly the same as a legalist’s list.
I know that it’s supposed to be an inward love for God that shows forth outwardly in a life of service and deeds, but I struggle with what is “enough?” Is it enough to just sponsor a child in another country? Is it enough to just pray for someone? Is it enough to _______________? I can always be doing more.
You talk of rest but I don’t see rest in my life. I still feel that I’m not doing enough, will never do enough. And I know all the stuff about grace we’re saved and all that, not what we do. But I’m so scared of being a lukewarm Christian who says I love God and has nothing to show for it.
.-= Torybee´s last blog ..Harder To Believe Than Not To. =-.
I completely understand where you are. I was there. Lately I have been realizing I need a deeper understanding of Grace. We have to work out our salvation, we are continually saved from ourselves by grace. The list of do’s and dont’s will only cause striving. God wants us to surrender to him and rest in His ways through us.
The fact that you are worried about where you are with God and that you don’t want to be lukewarm means your heart is toward God. That’s a good thing! You are on a journey with God, to grow closer to Him and know Him better. Enjoy it, don’t hurry past the things he wants to teach you. I hope that You can find rest in Him.
Praying for you. I know it may be hard for you to believe but God could not love you anymore or any less then He does in this very moment.
You untangled my thoughts in one simple post, thank you!
I too grew up with all the rules and have finally over the past 8 years come out of the defeat and hypocrisy of feeling I was having to follow each and every rule. I love that passage in Matthew!
.-= Becky´s last blog ..Picture Time =-.
Pete,
I almost walked away from the faith about 5 years ago. Raised a Insane Fundamentalist. I know the Hyprocy and I hated myself for my own short comings and guilt. In desperation, I turned to one of the most gentle men I know – Mark Driscoll. After feeding on Mark for a year I was a different type of Christian and ready to get back to doing Gods work.
Glad you didn’t walk away!
Rest would be good.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..WIN TICKETS to the Home Foundation Benefit Show =-.
“I’ll be forever grateful that I eventually exchanged that system of religion in for a story of redemption.” AMEN!! That is my story as well!
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..Favourite Links Friday 2/26/09 =-.
Pete – you nailed it – resting in Jesus… Amen! Years ago I knew an elderly person whose favorite hymn was “Abide with Me” – and am still moved to tears when I hear it and recall the explanation of the word “abide.” It means to stay connected as grapes on a vine – just hang out – connected to the life source. We never see a bunch of grapes trying to work their way to beauty and ripeness. They just abide. I love just resting and hangin’ out with Jesus!
Thanks Pete! I thank God that you escaped the “system of religion in for a story of redemption” and thank you for living out your redemption with truth and grace. You have given me hope for the church at a time in my life where that hope continues to fade.
As the church today we are with out the law, which is all “religion” seems to produce. I’ve been really hit in the last couple of days with the thought that Jesus’ burden is supposed to be light, yet it seems that church leaders are trying to play “Holy Spirit” for their congregations.
Jesus commanded us to teach and lead them as He has taught and lead us. I get worn out trying to keep up with everyone and what they’re doing. As a minister all I really want to do is love on them and help them. I don’t want to have to play “Holy Spirit” and add more burdens.
Thanks for the post!
.-= Mason Stanley´s last blog ..Coffee makes everything better =-.
I’ve been guilty of that before.
But, as pastors, how do you reconcile the fact that you are paid to produce motivating sermons and to “succeed” according to institutional demands for numbers of attendees, tithes, programs, etc.? Do you get paid for simply loving people and helping them out (even if that means a church does not grow) or do you get paid to work a system? Just curious… to see how two different ministers might answer.
There is always a place for structure and systems; our bodies are full of them. In fact I was thinking today how the church would be well equiped if it had a re-active structure for ministry and a pro-active structure for ministry. Kind of like a Hospital with rooms for physicals and check ups, as well as with a room for emergencies.
However, there would be no need for the structure, systems, programs, attendance records, and so on and so forth if it were not for the purpose of following God’s specific desire for us as a church. (I say specific because no church is called to look exactly the same as all the others; our God is way to creative for that)
I don’t get paid to produce results, I get paid to lead others as Christ lead them and to minister to others as Christ did. Knowing that every salvation, every tithe in the box, and every decision is completely dependant on the Holy Spirit is relieving. It allows me to teach and lead as God has called me to. It’s when I make it all about my abilities to produce results that it gets messy. Ministry is completely dependant upon the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Anything more we add onto that is an excess burden. (in my opinion)
.-= Mason Stanley´s last blog ..Coffee makes everything better =-.
@Mason Stanley
I love your transparency, vulnerability and honesty. You have everything that is needed for the journey, and I am sure God will do great things in you and through you.
.-= anewcreation´s last blog ..Do you want to worship IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH? Then this one is for YOU! =-.
I can relate to having gotten caught up in religion in the past only to end up with that constant “not good enough” feeling. I too, am grateful for His grace and mercy that I’ve come to experience in the last few years.
I especially adore the way the Matthew 11:28-30 passage reads in the Message paraphrase:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
May we each keep company with our Savior every day.
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Stranger than Fiction =-.
Giving up the plastic changed my life.
So grateful for my time of rest…it took 16 months, but it has been worth every moment.
.-= jessica´s last blog ..Breaking the Funk =-.
“I discovered over time that religion and the rules that accompanied it really only produced two things: defeat, if you were honest, and hypocrisy, if you were not.”
That is so true! Good stuff, Pete!
.-= Chrystie´s last blog ..What In The World Are You Drinking? =-.
I grew up a preacher’s kid in a Southern Baptist home. I learned much. Some things were great…the things that were not became shackles that nearly destroyed what faith I had.
I was brought to the realization that the Jesus taught in so many religions, is NOT exactly the same Jesus of the bible.
Every time I had doubt, or worry, or I was overwhelmed by something, I felt like I was less of a christian. Something HAD to be lacking in me.
Imagine my surprise as I am learning this is not the actual way of things.
I have been thinking alot about this after a recent conversation with my Mom and a comment left on Facebook for my daughter by my FIL…talk about religion!!!
I am so thankful for finding freedom and am praying for our parents to do the same…a system of fear was passed down to my family that we are learning to overcome!
Thanks, Pete!
.-= bluegoose´s last blog ..Getting to Know YOU! =-.
I’m so glad our God loves us beyond our performance. Otherwise, I’d be screwed.
.-= Jordan Clark´s last blog ..Serving Saturday! 2-27-10 =-.
i’ve felt like the “not good enough” issue has been hitting me heavy lately. i grew up in a church that sounds like the one you mentioned. judgement was found more readily that grace. while i have found God’s grace now, that feeling of not good enough creeps into other areas of my life.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Project Life – March 2 – 8, 2010 =-.