Our Christian Gift Is About Relationship, Not Ritual

Many Christians today and throughout our history, have missed the true point in their beliefs and practices with what they observe and do in their obligations to our Father in heaven. What I mean by this is, that many of us emphasize on the ritual aspects in the bible as the path that can be taken to personally reach heaven by. Many of us emphasize on many ways of interpretation on the bible's written word that we miss the most important two wishes, (commandments) that our Father wants us to do for Him.

Our Father's first wish for us is that it is that we develop and have a deep, meaningful relationship with Him. His second wish is regarding our treatment and actions towards our fellow man.

In Matthew 22:35-40 (NCV) Jesus was asked by one of the Pharisees that was an expert in the Law of Moses which commandments in the law is the most important. Jesus answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." "All the law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands."

An example in the Bible that shows the true emphasis is on relationship and not ritual is Matthew 12:1-7 (NCV) Jesus was walking through some fields of grain on the Sabbath day. His followers were hungry, so they began to pick the grain and eat it. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, "Look!" "Your followers are doing what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath day." Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and the people with him were hungry?" "He went into God's house, and he and those with him ate the holy bread, which was lawful only for priests to eat." "And have you not read in the Law of Moses that on every Sabbath day the priests in the Temple break this law about the Sabbath day?" "But the priests are not wrong for doing that." "I tell you that there is something here that is greater than the Temple." The Scripture says, "I want kindness more than I want animal sacrifices." "You don't really know what those words mean." "If you understood them, you would not judge those who have done nothing wrong."

Yet time and time again throughout history Christian leaders, clergy, and layman have missed or overlooked this emphasis as the basis for our Christian beliefs. Mark 7:9 (NCV) "You cleverly ignore the commands of God, so you can follow your own teachings."

Galatians 6:1 "Brothers and sisters, it someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again."

I can only pray that those who read the above will be enlightened and blessed by these words.