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A few weeks ago, a friend and co-worker of mine was talking with me about the problems that she and her husband have "with the Christian religion". Her claim that the religion itself is what bothers them made me instantly skeptical because I've spoken to many people in the past who have said the same thing, but really were just turned off by individuals they met along the way. So with my curiosity piqued, I asked my friend what she and her husband have against the Christian faith. Sure enough, she started telling me about how her husband was raised Catholic, but it was shoved down his throat. She also shared that she had been raised going to church, but members of her husband's family and church made a big deal out of their disappointment that she would not convert to Catholicism. She and her husband have since denounced their faith due to the pain and frustration they experienced from interactions with other Christians. So even though they say they have problems with the Christian religion, their issues are not really with the faith at all, nor are they with Jesus Christ!

I encouraged my friend that I understand how she feels, for there are many in the Church that do not accurately represent the life, love, and teachings of Jesus. But I also challenged her to go directly to the source and see for herself what Jesus actually lived, taught, and modeled. I asked her to read the gospels, because she'll probably find out that Jesus isn't hardly anything like most of the people she has encountered in the Church to this point. Now, I'm not just trying to bash the Church here. But there is a reality that we all need to face: It is only because of God's grace that we can accurately represent Jesus even part of the time. For a majority of the time, we are a very poor representation of him because of our sin, our pride, and our agendas. We also have to face the fact that it was the religious figures who were enemies to Christ throughout the gospels. The authority figures of God's people (the Jews) were the very ones who persecuted God's own Son! They pushed their own agendas and attempted to submit Christ to their beliefs rather than submit their beliefs to Christ. If you read the gospels, you'll discover that there isn't much difference between then and now.

As Katie said, the gospels are about the good news of Jesus Christ. What amazes me most about the gospels is how their method of composition so closely resembles the very message of the One about whom they are written. The writing of the gospels was far from an exact science. There wasn't necessarily a set of rules or guidelines that was followed. Two of the four authors are not said to have ever even spent time with Jesus in person. Only Matthew, the former tax collector who left his post to follow Jesus (Matthew 9), and John, also known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 21), walked with Jesus while he was alive on this earth. Luke tells us at the beginning of his account that information about the things that have been fulfilled was "handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word" (1:2). Mark most likely received the information in his account from the Apostle Peter. So whether we want to admit it or not, even the original writing of the gospels came from information that was passed on by word-of-mouth. While rules and commands are included within, they are not the main focus. Rather, the love and mercy that can only be found through RELATIONSHIP with Jesus takes center stage. Four different authors present four different views, emphasizing different things based on their target audiences. Each account introduces something fresh, because real life situations and encounters require it.

All of this is true about the life and message of our Savior. It's not about facts, figures, rules, and religion. It's about encountering Jesus through a RELATIONSHIP! Everything isn't always black and white. There are shades of gray that can only be explored through RELATIONSHIP. Jesus doesn't handle every situation and every person the same way. He brings something fresh into your life because he knows exactly what you need, when you need it, and how you need it. If you've been taught that Jesus is nothing more than a religion-pusher and agenda-driver, or if you've encountered such people who claim to worship in his name, I urge you to take time to read and meditate on the gospels. You will encounter something challenging, refreshing, and inspiring unlike anything you've ever experienced before as Jesus draws you into a RELATIONSHIP with him.