It's funny, the labels people try to stick on members of the Body of Christ. "Christian" is one that gets thrown around a lot, especially when I start talking about Jesus. And "religious"? That one comes up too, usually with a sneer, as if it's some kind of insult. But here's the thing: I'm neither. I'm not a Christian, and I'm definitely not religious, at least not in the way most people understand those words.
Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me explain. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe He's the Messiah, the Son of God, the one through whom God is reconciling all things to Himself. I believe He died for our sins, that He was entombed, and that He was roused the third day, just as Paul proclaimed. I believe that because of what He did, all humanity is guaranteed eventual salvation, immortality, and sinlessness.
So, why not "Christian"? Because "Christian," as it's commonly used, means something far different from simply believing in Jesus. It means belonging to a religion, a system of beliefs, practices, and institutions that, frankly, has distorted the true Gospel beyond recognition.
Think about it. What do most people think of when they hear the word "Christian"? They think of denominations, doctrines, creeds, rituals, and rules. They think of church buildings, pastors, sermons, and tithing. They think of a "gospel" that's all about "accepting Christ" to avoid "eternal torment" in hell.
But that's not the Gospel that Paul preached. Paul's Gospel, the "Gospel of the Uncircumcision," was a message of unconditional grace, universal reconciliation, and the finished work of Christ. It was a message of freedom from the Law, freedom from religious obligation, and freedom from the fear of death. It was a message that declared that salvation is entirely God's doing, not ours, and that all humanity is already reconciled to God through Christ, whether they believe it or not.
The "Christian" religion, on the other hand, has turned the Gospel into a transaction, a bargain, a system of works. It tells you that you must do something, believe something, accept something, in order to be saved. It places the burden of salvation on human effort, not on the grace of God.
And that's why I reject the label "Christian." Because I don't believe in that "gospel." I don't believe in a God who demands human effort for salvation. I don't believe in a "hell" of eternal torment. I don't believe in a "Trinity" that contradicts the clear biblical teaching that God is one being and one person: the Father.
The "Christian" religion, with its doctrines of the Trinity, eternal torment, and salvation by "free will," is a perversion of the true Gospel. It's a system of bondage, not of freedom. It's a "yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1), not the "easy yoke" and "light burden" of Christ (Matthew 11:28-30).
And that brings me to the word "religious." I'm not "religious" either. Because "religion," as it's commonly understood, is about human effort to reach God, about doing things to earn His favor, about following rules to achieve salvation.
But the true Gospel is the opposite of that. It's about God reaching down to us, about His work, His grace, His love. It's about recognizing that we are already saved, already reconciled, already accepted, because of what Christ has already done.
So, no, I'm not a "Christian" in the traditional sense. I'm not part of a religion. I'm a believer, a follower of Christ, a member of His body. I'm someone who has been given the faith to understand and believe the true Gospel, the message of God's unconditional grace and universal reconciliation. And that's a message that transcends the limitations of human labels and religious systems. It's a message of hope, freedom, and life for all humanity.
To learn more about this wonderful message, you can find a detailed and comprehensive exegesis here
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