Christians Challenged to Lose Their Religion

from Christian Post:

"Instead of developing an intimate, loving, all or nothing relationship with Jesus Christ what we've done is we have bought into religion," pastor Brian Bloye said.

The Dallas pastor, who founded West Ridge in 1997, grew up in a religious home. His way of being a Christian was following a set of rules or a list: read the Bible, pray, attend church regularly, don't look at porn, don't have premarital sex, don't listen to bad music, and don't smoke or drink or cuss. He prided himself in his list.

"It had nothing to do with pleasing God. It really was all about seeing if I could keep up with the list," he explained.

"Yet all that was just religion," he said, adding that he ultimately felt empty.

"Religion never creates true fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. All it does is create more religious people.

And a lot of times, it creates "ugly religious people," he said.

In 1987, Bloye made a decision – not a salvation decision because he already had that down – but a decision that involved total commitment and one that not many Christians have made.

"What God really wants from us is total commitment," he stressed. That means, giving God everything, holding nothing back and not playing the game.

And the motivation is the mercy of God, His grace and love, and gratitude, rather than fear.

"God doesn't want your church attendance, your money, your Bible time, ... your religious list," he said. "What He wants is you. That's all God wants from you."

Bloye is among an increasing number of megachurch pastors who have recently challenged their congregations to get off the fence and become true disciples of Christ. Last week, southern California pastor Rick Warren told fake Christians to find another church if they're not willing to be a true Christ follower.