Renewing My Vows

We fight so hard against "The World" and "The Flesh" - and rightly so. But, I believe that Jesus followers have another mortal enemy hiding right in front of our eyes. This threat is hidden in plain view - mocking us, tempting us, derailing us, smothering us and emasculating us. This enemy is "Church".

Notice that I did not say "The Church". For, I believe that "The Church" - Christ's active, living, loving body on earth - is a God-ordained gift. My issue is with the charlatan replacement that is standing in her place - the false system that is propositioning believers to come away from the real thing.

As believers, we fight so hard to convince the world (and maybe even ourselves...) that Christianity is not a 'religion'. Oh no! What we have is something different. It is a 'relationship'. Is there real truth in this declaration or is it mere self-righteous semantics?

If we are not in a religion, then why is there a dress code? Why are some trivial things demanded while other meaningful things are disallowed? If 'religion' means empty ritual, vain repetition, dead orthodoxy and the absence of true transformation, then how many Christians would seem to be more into a 'religion' than in a loving 'relationship'? Perhaps far more than any of us would care to admit...

But as I sit here tapping out judgment with my digital pencil - I wonder... which do I have? Is there a two-way interaction with the risen Lord at the base of my faith? Or is there a discarded corpse - the leftovers of what I thought was a relationship? Is there an inseparable bond between me and my lover? Or are there only the sad remains of what was once a vital, thriving relationship which has emaciated down to mere dust and ashes?

And when I check in with my Jesus- I feel those sparks, get that tingle in my gut and know this is far more than some dead religion. I refuse to trade my fresh, alive, vibrant relationship with my loving Savior for some one night stand with a set of pompous rules. God forbid that I sell out the love of my life for 30 pieces of church-plated silver!

I want the real thing- the true Lord. I want the long walks, the deep talks, the easy laughter and the heartfelt tears. That sleazy, glitzy religion has never had much appeal to me. Yet, her seduction is slow and subtle and we can find ourselves taking a second glance at a flash of her leg before we even know what has happened!

So, this is a renewing of my vows. Not a commitment to a structure and its organizing, shackling, adulterous, lip-licking - but a pledge to the love of my life.

Jesus, I love you and only you. I'll continue to do all I can to make this relationship work, but when it comes down to it - it's all up to you. I want to keep my heart pure, but you know my eyes stray...You chose to chase after me in the first place and I sure enough played hard-to-get. Now, with all that is in me, I am indeed chasing you back.

But, when I cheat (for I will cheat) forgive me. Love me all the harder. Overlook my lustful heart. Remind me of your great love for me. Please, please invite me back into your loving arms! Let some other 'John' have that trampy kind of religion. An authentic relationship with you is what my soul is longing for.