I heard a new word a while ago. At least, it was new to me. My husband and I were attending an evening worship service at a church conference. A young man stood on a stage, ready to lead a large audience in worshiping God through music. As his band adjusted their equipment, he chatted and scanned the audience. Suddenly he grinned and said, ?I see there are a lot of Chrispies here tonight.? A few people chuckled. I was just about to ask my husband if he knew what a Chrispie was when the young man said, ?You know what a Chrispie is, don't you?? He then asked all those who survived the 60's to raise their hands. ?You're all Chrispies ? Christian Hippies.? Although I tend to resist labels (it's a left-over from the 60's), I had to laugh and admit my husband and I fit the description. We lived through the era of rebellion, that time when anything having to do with the ?establishment? was held suspect. Some of our attitudes and opinions still show the influence of that philosophy.

For instance, I dislike the word religion. It makes me think of a large institution whose only goal is to control its members. It conjures up images of sober-faced people climbing an endless flight of stairs on their knees in hope their penance will convince God to forgive them. It speaks of women held under a heavy hand of oppression and men seeking a bloody martyrdom. When I hear the word religion, all my defenses go up. Perhaps that's why it took me so long to discover that when you become a Christian, you do not convert to a religion, you enter into a relationship. It is often compared to a marriage ? a bond between two people that grows into a wonderful intimacy.

My husband preached a sermon once during which he said, 'religion conforms, relationship transforms; religion makes us aware of our sin; relationship takes it away.? He was talking about the relationship available to us when we say yes to Jesus Christ. There is no need to climb staircases on our knees or commit suicide for our faith. Jesus is a God of forgiveness and love, not guilt and murder. Religion without that relationship is a destructive thing. It kills joy and peace. It breeds fear and guilt and sometimes even bitterness and hatred. Religion without that relationship is like a dirge, a slow walk toward death. Religion with the relationship is a celebration of life.

The young man who called us all Chrispies opened his concert with a song he said was just for us. It was all about love and peace. It was not about the sexual promiscuity that erupted during the 60's, or about refusing to go to war. It was about the love and peace God instills in us when we turn to Him. It was all about relationship.

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book, The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com
Copyright Marcia Lee Laycock, 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005