Specializing in Simplicity

I don’t need a lot of spices, a lot of recipes, a lot of fancy equipment, or never-ending instructions. I love simplicity and spontaneity. I guess that’s why I’ve never been a fan of organized religion. I prefer to simply “taste and see that the Lord is good” moment by moment.

Spiritual awakening occurs when people go beyond highly structured nominal religion into the blazing faith of simple Christianity. A deep “hunger and thirst for righteousness” can’t be satisfied by merely listening to religious words. It longs for an ongoing heart-to-heart relationship with the risen Jesus.

Simple Christianity is about continually experiencing the presence and reality of the living Jesus. There’s nothing complicated about it. Simply stay focused on Jesus and do what He prompts you to.

Simple Christianity doesn’t require a building, sermon-hearing, a religious professional, a written creed, an institution, ritual, music, or money. It just requires a heart open to continually listen to and talk with Jesus and to do what He says. The Bible calls that being led by the Spirit. Simple Christianity requires only one thing, a personal relationship with the living Jesus as Lord (Master and Ruler).

Religious professionals can’t put the fire of God in your heart. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. “Be filled with the Spirit.”

“Peace that passes understanding” doesn’t come from nominal religion. It comes from “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Simply your faith. Make room for the risen Jesus to be your all in all. “Quench not the Spirit.” Let the Spirit’s inner rivers of living water continually flood you with “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

The further Christianity gets away from the risen Jesus the more complicated it becomes. I love the simple definition that Paul gives in Romans 8:14: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” When Christianity is controlled and defined by religious professionals, they make it difficult for people to be led by the Spirit.

When the living Jesus is your Lord (absolute Master and Ruler) Christianity is very simple–just listen to His Spirit and do what He tells you to. However, when Jesus is just one aspect of your faith, Christianity becomes complicated and loaded down with requirements, formalism, and traditions.

The only Christian faith that can survive extreme persecution is simple Christianity. That’s because it doesn’t require meetings controlled and run by a religious leader.

Throughout history Christians have been persecuted, put in prison, and forced to live stripped bare of the complexities of institutional Christianity. Some of the most powerful Christian writings throughout history (including several books of the Bible) have been written by believers who were forced by incarceration to live their faith without the formalities of organized religion. “O taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Religious organization obscures the glorious reality of simple Christianity. It causes people to believe that they have to depend on a religious professional and/or a religious organization to make them right with God, when all they need to do is to continually surrender their heart and life to the risen Jesus.

“Joy unspeakable and full of glory” doesn’t come from passive religion. It comes from continual surrender to the living Jesus.

Religious professionals can’t forgive your sins, heal your hurting heart, and set you free. You need the risen Jesus to do that for you.

Religious professionals can’t produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life. You have to let the Holy Spirit do that.

Tired of jumping through religious hoops? Connect heart to heart with Jesus and experience simple Christianity.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” Don’t leave your faith in the hands of a religious professional.

[image error]Pexels.com" data-medium-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." data-large-file="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." tabindex="0" role="button" src="https://hopethoughts.com/wp-content/u..." alt="" class="wp-image-41397" />Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com