It’s not a surprise that I’m a Christian; I make no secret of it.
I love my faith and I embrace it. It makes me who I am. I have a passionate belief in the existence of God and that he sent His son to die on the cross for my failings.
This blog is not a place that I would usually say that. Not because I’m scared to, not because I worry it would lose me followers, but simply because it is not appropriate. I know my audience, and the majority of you do not share my beliefs.
And that’s ok.
I still love you anyway 
I do not want to push them on you. I don’t want to Bible Bash or preach or anything else from this purple patch of interwebz. I don’t think I need to. The times when I do speak, it is not from a place of proselytizing; it is simply because it is who I am, and I endeavour to always be authentic.
And for this place, I think that’s enough.
But it’s Good Friday, so I’m breaking the rules today. If you don’t want to read, that is fine; I completely understand. But this day is pivotal to what I believe, and I can’t not write about it.
That would be inauthentic.
I don’t describe myself as religious.
I wouldn’t even say I subscribe to ‘organised religion.’ To be honest I hate those terms. They scream of rules and regulations and a huge list of do’s and don’ts, and that doesn’t gel with what I know of God.
That doesn’t sit with who Jesus is.
Religion has done a lot of bad over the years; we don’t even have time to go into it. Human agenda has mixed it self with so called biblical principles and twisted and turned God’s word until it no longer resembles anything it was supposed to.
And it’s not just Christianity that’s at fault.
Every religion has done it’s bit. You don’t have to look past September 11 to see that.
It’s no wonder people don’t want anything to do with it.
But there is one thing that separates Christianity from every other religion in the world, and that is the reason for Good Friday.
It’s grace.
Look deep enough into any major belief system, and you will soon find an outrageous list of rules and condition on obtaining heavenly status.
Door knockers who hope for your conversion to boost their standing with God.
Items of clothing that are necessary for forgiveness and redemption.
Specific phrases that are the only way to invoke grace.
Bombs strapped to the chest in the hope for a higher heavenly status.
The list goes on.
People need to face certain directions to pray, or watch the clock for what time it is. They need to sacrifice particular foods or objects or burn specific scents. You must read your holy book umpteen times a day, or fast through specific periods, or observe religious holidays…..
And if you don’t?
What then?
Where is the Grace?
There isn’t any.
Christianity is different.
Because in that story, the Maker saw that nothing we could ever do would ever be enough. He understood that the list of rules was impossible; that the sacrifices the Jews had been dependent on for years were unsustainable. That it didn’t matter how much good we did, it would never be enough to balance how much bad we did.
Or thought.
Or dreamt of.
And so the Story Teller enters the story. He sends His Son into take the punishment and bear the weight. All of our blame, all of our failures, all of our shortcomings loaded onto One Man for three hours, so we could be forgiven should we just ask.
Completely radical.
Perfect Grace.
When Jesus entered the world, He understood the history of the thousands of Jews that had come before and the commandments they had guided their life by. The idea was never to replace that rich history; it was to complete it.
So the list of rules was replaced with a simple ‘Love the Lord Your God with all Your Heart, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.’
The countless sacrifices were fulfilled in one; a sinless, perfect man who chose to die so I wouldn’t have to.
There is nothing religious about that.
It is not rules and regulations and list of what you can and cannot do.
It’s straight out grace for the every man who has no hope otherwise.
It doesn’t impose.
It doesn’t demand.
It simply stands on its own and says ‘take it or leave it.’
So you see, I’m not a religious person.
Not really.
I’m imperfect.
And yet, I believe, Justified in my imperfection.
Because I believe.
Because of Grace.
Jess, this was absolutely beautiful! It was so well worded and put,mi couldn’t help but nod and agree with you – one of the things I absolutely love about you is how authentic you are and unashamedly, and rightfully so! I needed to read this today to remember that grace and that sometimes I might need to show that also!
Lyndal recently posted..cheers to you, old mate
Thanks Lyndal, you are too kind.
I find showing grace to be the hardest thing, which is hard cause we all need it.
Amen
Beautifully written – and thank God for grace! Have a wonderful Easter.x
Debbie @ Aspiring Mum recently posted..A Child is Still a Child.
You too Deb! Xx
Just beautiful Jess. Wishing you a wonderful Easter
Rhianna recently posted..Thankful Thursday – Inspirational and Thought Provoking People
Thanks Rhi. You too. Xx
I am a practicing Catholic but I do share your belief. It is a wonderful reminder this Holy Week of the true meaning of faith. Thanks for this thought-provoking, inspiring and timely post. Dropping by from FYBF.
Tey@Supermac’sThoughtBalloons
Supermac recently posted..Escaping Facebook and Our Culture of "Likes"
Thanks for the visit.
This week is a great time to stop and reflect, but I was telling my kids this morning we don’t have to wait till Easter to remember. It should be a way of life.
Jesus is awesome! I too stand where you do for the same reasons you write in your post…wonderful to meet a like minded soul such as yourself. Good Friday a day to reflect and Sunday a day to celebrate!!! Have a Blessed Easter Jess. Thinking of you.xx
Thankyou Jess!
Love how the Internet connects us all! Xx
Religion is not to blame for evil that is committed in the name of religion. If you are not religious, you are faithful and you follow your faith.
What a well thought out post!
Cranky Old Man
Cranky Old Man recently posted..THE FOX SQUIRREL
Thankyou!
I love how you have worded that, and it is such a wise, reflective statement.
It is true. All we have to do is ask for forgiveness and all our sins are washed away. No conditions. How awesome is that! Happy Easter weekend Jess
Ai Sakura recently posted..Tips from a Busy Working Mama | 1 Watch, 5 Workwear Fashion Styles
Thanks Ai!
I love the simplicity of the gospel. God does’t make it hard!
Great post! My mother’s quite religious (it’s only Good Friday afternoon and she’s at her third service since last night!) though not in a scary way. Although my brother and I both attended Sunday School (he was an altar boy and I was a Sunday School teacher) we are both agnostic now, but my mum truly doesn’t worry about that or judge us.
I like the moderate approach, as I don’t believing in judging others for their beliefs either. We’re all different, we all have our passions and we all have our foibles.
When I’m home I’ll occasionally go to church with mum for Easter / Christmas etc but it’s only to keep her company, especially if she’s doing readings etc. I don’t go up for communion (would be hypocritical) but I know the Minister and his wife pretty well and also like that they don’t care.
Should be more of this type of acceptance I think!
Deb recently posted..Why I’m not a fashion blogger
Absolutely!
I know that it’s hard because religion is such a passionate thing, and the views can be quite polarizing, but that is no excuse for a lack of respect.
It was really nice to read this after reading an article about groups in the US who want anti-bullying laws relaxed so they can bully homosexuals! For a start, we are all sinners and none of us have a right to cast stones. Secondly, moral crusaders can’t pick and choose which parts of the Old Testament they want to uphold. Finally, the God I know never preached hatred. He preached love and forgiveness and acceptance of EVERYONE! He didn’t say love your neighbour…unless they’re gay.
A great piece Jess. God bless and Happy Easter.
Cathy recently posted..bChill Review and Giveaway
Exactly Cathy.
Even though Jesus had very string opinions on certain behaviors (obviously) he never let that get in the way of loving people.
It’s those kind of ‘moral crusaders’ who make the rest of us look bad.
This is really beautifully written Jess. I think that many of us have been ‘put off’ by religion for all those reasons you mention and for the hypocrisy that so often accompanies religions. Thankyou for sharing a much more enlightened view.
Thanks for reading even though you’ve seen enough hypocrisy not too!
I honestly believe its a way of life and not a list of rules, which may sound like the same thing, but really they are not.
Beautifully written Jess and worded with a huge amount of Grace. My hubby and I are very different from each other in our religious views as I’m a Catholic and he is well I’m ot really sure what he classes himself as, he believes in a god but he also believes in Huey God of the surf and he relates to the Buddhist religion the most. But we respect each others beliefs. He allowed me to send the kids to a Catholic school despite the fact they try and force him every year to be baptised. Our kids think they are going to heaven and Dad might not be let in because he is not Catholic and that is totally not cool. I don’t like the way religious uniforms be it Catolic or Baptist or whatever allow one of their own to be pitched against another, don’t we all share the same belief???? Sorry, I got on a little rant there.
happy Easter Hun, I hope it is wonderful one for you. We have just celebrated it by having all the family together which is a tradition and we see it as a day of celebration, forgiveness and gratitude. Xx
Sonia recently posted..You Gotta Heart those Silver Linings!
So glad you had a lovely Easter Sonia.
I understand that religions come with very strong view points, but it makes me sad when they leave the grace and relationship parts of them off. That was never God’s intent.
You have communicated this so beautifully Jess! Thank you for sharing this part of who you are. I can totally relate. When people realise that I go to church they start talking about that R-word, which brings so much baggage with it. Today is Friday, but Sunday’s on the way. YAY! xx Al
Alice recently posted..Say Hello Workshop
Thanks Alice.
Gotta love Sunday!
A great post for Good Friday! What a lovey read and how true your words are. Grace should never be forgotten.
Lou Lou recently posted..Chickens. Daffodils. But where’s my fucking chocolate Easter egg?
No it shouldn’t. We should practice it daily
I love the fact that we live in a society where people are free to express whatever religion they subscribe to.
Workingwomenaus recently posted..Social Media For Social Good
We are so blessed aren’t we? It’s so nice to write something like this, and not fear for my life!
Excellent post Jess!
You’ve expressed something that I have felt for years. I am not religious but I have faith. I don’t tell people I am a Christian for the only reason that I don’t want them to look at my life and think “she is such a hypocrite” which I am, and then taint all Christians and Christianity with my brush. I stopped going to church years ago for the only reason that I do not like the way certain people in churches behave. I freely admit I’ve become disillusioned with the church, but not my faith in God. I have never pretended to be perfect and I’ve always been open and honest with the fact that a lot of the things I’ve done in my life have been in direct contradiction to the Christian religion. But I saw so many people who aren’t open and honest, who say one thing and do another and don’t have the humility to admit that they are doing wrong or to ask for forgiveness and I just had enough.
However just because I stopped going to church doesn’t mean I stopped believing. Doesn’t mean I stopped reading the bible. Doesn’t mean I stopped looking and wanting to find a church where the majority of people, rather than the minorty of people, are about the faith and the grace, rather than the religion and rules, despite the fact they don’t actually follow the ‘rules’ themselves.
I don’t tell people I’m religious, but I do make the distinction that I believe in God, I believe in Jesus and that he died to save us from our sins, and that by grace I am saved, not by how ‘religious’ I am and how well I follow the rules created by men.
Not sure if that makes sense, its hard to express how I feel about it all sometimes.
Kylie @ A Study in Contradictions recently posted..2012′s Top 12′s
It makes perfect sense.
I wondered what your background was because of your sisters blog.
Don’t forget though that it’s ok to be open about what you believe and still fail. That doesn’t make you hypocritical, just real. xx
Jess recently posted..When City Girls go Bush