Have we forgotten (or maybe we never learned) what the term “Christian” means?  The Greek word “Christianos” means “follower of Christ”.   Hmm.  Next question. What does it mean to follow Christ?  Well, we would have to study the life of Jesus to know him and to understand how he lived.  As we do so, we would change our own lives to mirror his.

Ok, that’s what it means to be a Christian.  But, what does it mean to be religious?  And was Jesus religious?  According to its definition, to be religious, one must have or show a belief in and veneration/respect for God, especially as it is reflected in the practice of religion. Religious implies adherence to religion in both belief and practice.

I think it’s safe to say Jesus demonstrated an adherence to religion in both belief and practice throughout his life. He had a relationship with his Father in heaven, which was demonstrated by his teachings, prayers, fasting and other spiritual disciplines.  His character also attested to his faith. Jesus was truly a courageous man.  He walked the road to the cross, knowingly.  He even told his disciples as they approached Jerusalem of his death.  Yet, he walked the road anyway.

Jesus was also compassionate.  We can read about numerous encounters Jesus had with society’s outcasts.  He healed the sick and dined with lepers.  He showed compassion toward men and women trapped in their own sin.  And he forgave them.  Remember the story of Mary Magdalene? Mary had been condemned to death by society because of her adultery. Jesus intervened.  He forgave her and instructed her to go and sin no more.

Jesus also prayed.  We read of countless times, Jesus separated himself from the crowds to pray. He would pray in the morning, pray on a mountain and pray in the wilderness. Prayer was apart of his daily life.

Jesus also studied the Old Testament Scriptures.  He often quoted what he read.  He taught in the Temple. His messages were based on Old Testament Scripture.

Jesus also loved the Church.  The church was not a building. It was not a set of rules.  It was and is the body of believers.  The church, described in Acts 2, described Christ followers as devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.  All of the believers were together and had everything in common.  They would sell their possessions and goods to give to those in need.  They spent their time praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

Jesus’ life attested to his faith and relationship with His Father in heaven.  He most definitely practiced religion, making him “religious”.  Therefore, in order to be a Christian (or Christ follower), one must actually be religious.

My point is this, the term “Christian” is used too loosely today. It’s important we understand what we’re calling ourselves.  If we truly understand the life of Jesus, Christianity and even the Church, perhaps being “religious” wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

P.S. If anyone would like to explain to me the difference of being “more spiritual than religious”, please do.   I still don’t understand what that means…

HGTV is my failsafe. If nothing good is on TV, I turn to the home and garden channel. Well, sometimes I don’t even surf the stations…but that’s not important. For those that don’t know what HGTV is, the station plays a lot of home improvement/design shows.

Last night I was watching House Hunters – neither a home improvement or design show, I know. This is a show that allows viewers to observe the house hunting trips of those looking to buy a home. We see three homes and then the buyer decides which one they prefer. At the end of the show, the camera crew returns to the buyers home months after the purchase to show the changes the buyer has made to the home since the purchase.

As I watched last night I came to probably the same realization that many of you had as you read that last paragraph. Why. Why would you watch that show? Why do you care what homes they buy? Why does it matter?

The reality is it doesn’t matter. Nothing really matters…

As many of you know, this past month my grandpa (Papa Hayes) passed away. He was 85 years of age. On July 1, he lost his battle with congestive heart failure. When I received the news, I had just left church. It was a Tuesday night. I sat in my car, listened to my mom speak over the phone and felt the tears run down my face.

I was sad.

It’s that realization that anything unsaid will remain that way. Forever. Did I tell him that I loved him enough? Did I visit enough? Did he know how much he meant to me?

The viewing was on Friday and the service was on Saturday. I was honored to meet so many of Papa’s former players, students and friends. I was proud to be his granddaughter. I was happy to celebrate his life with others. You can touch a lot of people in 85 years.

The military burial was beautiful. The sound of “Taps” made me cry, but I was at peace.

Mom and I returned home late Sunday night. By Monday, I was exhausted, but ready to get back to work. I seemed to be getting back into the swing of things when it happened. Friday morning, July 18, my cell phone began to ring off the hook. At first, I didn’t answer because I had a lot to do. But, after several calls from different people I became concerned.

Sarah called again and I answered. I heard her crying, unable to speak. She managed to get one word out, “Chiv.” And I knew. Our roommate/teammate/friend was gone.

Suddenly, work didn’t matter. Where I ate lunch, didn’t matter. Meaningless.

Carrie (Chivington) Roeth, a life-long athlete, had been diagnosed with cancer just three short years ago. And on July 18, three days before her 27th birthday, she lost her battle.

Why?

There is no answer. I don’t understand why God would allow someone so full of life to be taken so early. I don’t understand why Justin will have to raise their three-year-old little boy without his wife. It doesn’t seem fair.

I am confused. I am sad. And I am humbled. I am humbled by the brevity of life. Death is a reminder of everyone’s destiny. We are not guaranteed any certain number of days on this earth. How we spend our time matters. Perhaps HGTV isn’t the best use of my time.

Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully. – Psalm 24:3-4

I’ve come to my senses
How did I get so far from home
The lies dissipating
Revealing I’m so alone
And I remember now how strong love can be
And I wonder how did I ever leave

Burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I’m still too far away to see it
But I’m aching for its warmth
And I’m so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, ‘cause I’m comin’ home tonight

This isn’t the first time
I’ve wandered away from home before
You’d have every reason
To slam and dead-bolt the door
But I remember now how strong your love can be
And I wonder how you might welcome me

Burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I’m still too far away to see it
But I’m aching for its warmth
And I’m so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, ‘cause I’m comin’ home tonight

Into your arms, to my back yard
Where I used to play
How I miss the days…

So burn your fire on the altar
Leave a candle on the porch
I’m still too far away to see it
But I’m aching for its warmth
And I’m so tired and cold and dark and lonesome
But still I hear your song inside
So sing it louder if you want me home tonight
Sing it loud now, ‘cause I’m comin’ home tonight

I like Lucado for several reasons. The first one is simple. Lucado has this ability to create word pictures. To give you an idea of what I mean, I have included an excerpt from “A Gentle Thunder” below. Take a look…

Come and see the pierced hand of God touch the most common heart, wipe the tear from the wrinkled face, and forgive the ugliest sin. Come and see. He avoids no seeker. He ignores no probe. He fears no search. Come and see.

Lucado also has this ability to take a complex theology and teach it simply. This past Sunday he shared what his favorite verse in the Bible is. Most can recite it without the help of Scripture. It’s John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Lucado then asked a question. “What’s your favorite word in that verse?” Love? Eternal? One and only? His favorite word was “whoever”. He went on to explain that God has a whoever policy. And we can see this policy reinforced throughout Scripture.

…whoever confesses and renounces (sins) finds mercy. – Proverbs

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. – Matthew

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life… – John

Whoever means the invitation is open to all. Gender does not matter. Race does not matter. Status does not matter. Salvation is available to whoever you are, however you are; wherever you are; and whenever you are.

It was a good reminder that we are all equally human. We are all equally unworthy. And, we are all equally able to believe. The choice is ours.