Freedom’s just another word for…

What would happen if we excised the word “should” from our relationship with God?

What would happen if we approached it with brand new eyes; absent the filters of religious tradition and what we experience in the American church?

You know how if you become too familiar with a word, or a story, it loses it’s meaning?  We begin taking it for granted and not really considering it as anything but established territory.

I think that is the case with both how we view Christ and the word “freedom.” 

When I think of church, I break out in a metaphorical cold sweat.  I think of the heavy bonds of obligation.  There are never enough workers in children’s ministry.  There are never enough funds.  There is never enough time to attend and support the many programs going on at any one time.

But when I read about Jesus, he promises abundance.  I’m not talking about prosperity doctrine.  He talks about the fullness, joy and contentment of a relationship with him.  I never felt that way within traditional “religion.”  I felt tapped out and resentful of the time spent there instead of at home. 

Then I read this from the Message translation and it has reset my vision of Christ and made me question whether all the heaviness of my former relationship with him:

Mathew 11:28-30 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.

Could this be true?  Could it be this easy?  Could we follow Christ and forgo the heaviness that accompanies religion?  Are we brave enough to trust God will lead us and keep us from falling into laziness, or falling away from him?

I don’t know.  What I do know is that this is the single most compelling paragraph I have ever read in my life.  I am running to him for rest and he is actually showing me new things.  The heaviness is gone and…what’s that?!  Peace and joy and freedom.  Not just worn out words that I sing without connecting with…but real peace.  Real joy.  Real…freedom.

~ by nonamiss on April 30, 2008.