“No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse.  This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of
the Father, has made him as plain as day.” - John 1:18 The Message

As word of warning to all English majors and otherwise experts in writing: This is written as an idea, an invitation for your thoughts verses a well written piece of literature. Free form. Enjoy. Why is the sharing of Jesus Christ so important?
People walk through life wondering if there is a God. If there is a God, what would God be like?  Is God some divine clock maker who set the world in motion and sits back to watch the thing unwind?  Would this God even care what is going on?  Does God care about me?

Religion is often turned to as the source of helping people find God.  And why not, after all as religious people we speak of God, we say prayers mentioning God, we sing hymns about God and over all we try to understand and explore the mystery of God.  Religion however is only a means to help people function as the body of Christ and to connect with God, but is not and never can be an end unto itself.  After all, we are imperfect people trying to do the perfect work of God; while God never fails, well guess what, we sometimes will.

We as followers of Jesus Christ are fundamentally, primarily, first and foremost people of faith.  We are people of relationship.  Relationship with God and one another as the body of Christ.  When we start from this place of faith, then religion becomes a holy, beautiful work of God to aid and lead us in our life of discipleship.

In the course of our faith-filled relationship with God, our faith walk within the United Methodist tradition, we must never offer people stand alone ‘religion’ as the answer to their questions.  To do so becomes a cruel substitute for their true desire to meet the living God.  They will quickly realize that our religion (if not coupled with faith) is not the answer and leave thinking we live a façade faith.  I am proud of our Church tradition, our United Methodist Church.  But only as the greatest way for you and I to live out our faith life… our life in Christ Jesus.   

How may we differentiate or clarify the distinctions of religious or faith-filled religious life?  Ask yourself, “Why is the Good News recorded in the Bible good news to me?”  Our primary work in sharing the good news is to share how we have encountered the living Christ.  You do not need to have all the answers to life’s many questions.  But it is vital you know how Christ has changed your life.   Through the work of fellow Christians?  Through a church ministry?  Through bible study?  Through a prayer group?  Sunday school?
 

Perhaps we are afraid to ‘talk religion’ because we may not know all the answers. Okay.  However, only you are the expert at knowing how your life has been affected through Christ’s work.  Share what you know, and be willing to admit openly when you don’t know.  God will use the measure of faith you have, your ignorances and all, to change someone’s life… and people will be relieved to see you don’t have to be perfect to follow Jesus. 

 
At the core of the Gospel, I see that there not only is a God, but The God cares deeply about each and every one of us.  When I see the life of Jesus unfolding in the Gospels, I am moved beyond question to this being the very embodiment of God.  If Jesus is revealing God to us, then I am all in.  No reserves will be held back from this companionate and redeeming God.  If God is not like Jesus, well then I’m not sure I’d have anything to do with God.  We share Christ because in him we have met the living God.

In Christ, Chris Yost
Chris Yost, Pastor: New Church Start
Chrisyost380@gmail.com  or  972.335.2882 ext: 509