Fight for Their HeartsSample

 Religious Pursuit vs. Gospel Transformation

After being a believer for many years, I (Tim) came to the painful realization that my concept of what the Christian life is really all about was not working. A personal crisis put me at a spiritual crossroads, forcing me to ask, “What exactly do I believe, and what difference does my faith make?”

I finally arrived at the conclusion that I had spent my life as a believer pursuing religion rather than engaging in a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. I was busy doing, not being. I was involved in religious activity that was not changing me internally. I offered up an image of myself that I wanted people to see, but it didn’t match the person I knew I actually was. 

When we read the Gospels, we find that Jesus repeatedly addressed the religious leaders of His day for doing the same thing. (Read Matt. 23:26–28.)

When I use the word “religion,” I’m talking about the attempt to perform our way into a right standing with God. But this effort is pointless and impossible.

For years, I’d been very familiar with this verse from Paul: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Rom. 3:23). But it wasn’t until I had my own crisis that the verses just before and after verse 23 began to sink in. (Read Rom. 3:22–24.)

Phrases like “made right,” “no matter who we are,” and “freed us from the penalty” took root in my heart. These truths talked about God’s work for me, not my work for Him.

My heavenly Father was gracious to hear all my questions and lead me to His answers. He met me right where I was, with all my struggles and doubts. The encounter of seeking Him at a deeper level changed my life. The journey caused me to truly see and understand the simplicity and authenticity of the gospel for the first time.

This, of course, also impacted the way I communicated the truth of Christ to my children. From my own experience, I can say that every lie we believe, every truth of His that we grasp, every act of hypocrisy we do, and every opportunity we take to draw near to God’s heart will also be seen, heard, and experienced by our kids. That alone should be a major spiritual motivator for us as dads.

Before we move on, please allow me to repeat this statement for emphasis: there is a massive difference between pursuing religion and being transformed by the gospel.