In recent months, I have had conversations with someone who, in her own words, once "had the belief system" (Christianity), but lost it. My interpretation: She once had faith in the "belief system," but no longer has it. Her talk is liberally peppered with references to religion; the mere word gives me the willies.
In our first conversation, she shared with me some of her church history, and I, in return, shared some of mine. Not until very recently have I keyed in on her facial expression when she learned I had come full circle in returning to an evangelical (nondenominational) church, ten years ago, after having left the denomination of my youth. I think we held two very different views of that return: I have long recognized God's marvelous sense of humor, as He led me from church to church, and then led me back to an environment I had often said I was finished with. You know--never say "Never!" to God.
I think she heard my return to the evangelical church with disappointment, hearing only that I had "gone back" into what she found greatly wanting, years ago.
What I long to share with her, if the opportunity arises without my pushing it, is that I don't believe God ever calls us back to where we were, before. Nor does He ever call us to religion. I do not believe for a minute that Jesus Christ died that horrible death in order to found a religion. He died and was raised from the grave through His Father's awesome power to reconcile us to the Father.
So the call of God on us is to a relationship with the Father, through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Not to religion--any religion--and not to a belief system, but simply to faith in Him and in the One He sent to us.
That is the reason I celebrate Christmas: God, come to earth as a babe, ushered into our fallen world both hope and redemption. Emmanuel--God with us. And Merry Christmas, everyone!
