by
You'll often hear Christians say, "I don't have a religion; my faith
involves a relationship with Him." This little book is a nice
elaboration on what Christians mean when they say that.
To me the distinction boils down to this: Religion involves rituals and behavior tailored to win God's approval. But the "relationship" with God (that Christians speak of) requires us, first, to admit that nothing we could do ourselves could win God's approval. Instead, we have to ask God's grace and mercy to forgive us, and then take the "relationship" from there--in a new humility of repentance, and a new willingness of obedience.
Not a lot of people are willing to concede this complete bankruptcy, of course. The gap between ourselves and God can't be that vast, can it? But the author of this book, Mart De Haan, reminds us of the Beatitudes in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, which recites the humble features of those who seek full relationship with God (pages 29-30)--They are: broken in spirit, mourning their wrongdoing, meek in their willingness to accept God's guidance, hungry for righteousness. They yearn to be: merciful of others' faults, pure in heart, and peacemakers bridging chasms between persons and between persons and God. ("And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:18))
From there, De Haan describes the change of heart a true relationship with God brings. The focus of the relationship is a person's inner self ("First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well." (Matt 23:26))
The book is short, but it is sharply written and invites re-reading. Thumbs up.
To me the distinction boils down to this: Religion involves rituals and behavior tailored to win God's approval. But the "relationship" with God (that Christians speak of) requires us, first, to admit that nothing we could do ourselves could win God's approval. Instead, we have to ask God's grace and mercy to forgive us, and then take the "relationship" from there--in a new humility of repentance, and a new willingness of obedience.
Not a lot of people are willing to concede this complete bankruptcy, of course. The gap between ourselves and God can't be that vast, can it? But the author of this book, Mart De Haan, reminds us of the Beatitudes in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, which recites the humble features of those who seek full relationship with God (pages 29-30)--They are: broken in spirit, mourning their wrongdoing, meek in their willingness to accept God's guidance, hungry for righteousness. They yearn to be: merciful of others' faults, pure in heart, and peacemakers bridging chasms between persons and between persons and God. ("And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:18))
From there, De Haan describes the change of heart a true relationship with God brings. The focus of the relationship is a person's inner self ("First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well." (Matt 23:26))
The book is short, but it is sharply written and invites re-reading. Thumbs up.
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