Belief, Identification, Reliance

Those of us who are Evangelicals have often be taught that "Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship".  It is sort of code for "you don't have to do certain acts, follow certain rituals, say certain prayers to be saved", and we all sort of knew what religions or Christian denominations were being discussed there.  And yet, Evangelicalism has developed over the years religious behavior and expectations all its own - believe these 12 points of doctrine, dress this way, give this much, have communion just so.

It's not my place here to discuss how new movements within religions start out as breakaway groups from a hidebound central authority, and then about 3 generations later become hidebound  themselves.  What I do want to mention, though, is how simple Christianity really is supposed to be, and yet how profound.

It is a simple matter of believe, identify, rely.

"If you believe in your heart, and confess with your mouth, that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), you will be saved."

That's sort of it.  Simple.

Somehow you come to believe that the historical Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah, the Chosen One of Israel whom God promised to sent to redeem His people.

Then you take some public step to identify yourself with Jesus; put on the jersey, so to speak, get the tattoo.  Be "out there" about it, go all in, so that people can't have doubts about your allegiance.

Finally, you stop trying to reach Heaven, to convince God of your worthiness, to work for salvation, and simply rely on Jesus as your "sponsor", so to speak.  He will vouch for you as being one of His party, so you don't have to bribe the bouncer at the door or dress to impress him... Jesus will have told him in advance that you were coming.  :)

Pretty simple, but not exactly easy.

For one thing, you really can't get there, can't make it past that first step, without understanding on at least some basic level that God is greater than the Universe, that the Spiritual trumps the Material, that back in time in Israel, at one moment the metaphysical entered the physical in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

You may not be able to articulate the theology very well, but you sure need to be able to recognize the miracle of the Incarnation, the extraordinariness of God taking on flesh.

That's not easy, it is profound... but it is simple, nonetheless.