Pastor's Corner: Commit yourself to practicing religion

Luke 2:22-24: “When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took (Jesus) to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”

When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple, they participated in a very religious act, carefully obeying the Law of Moses. It has been said in our times that “Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship.”

Such a statement misses the whole point of religion. Perhaps a more accurate statement would be that “Christianity is not a matter of empty religious rites; rather, it is heartfelt religious practice in a personal relationship with God.”

In any case, whatever we do to pursue our personal relationship with God usually becomes a form of religious practice.

If we genuinely claim to follow Jesus, we will commit ourselves to practicing religion, just as He did. Mary and Joseph were righteous Jews who walked faithfully in the Law of Moses. Jesus Himself practiced Judaism, living in obedience to the law at the deepest level. When He went to John the Baptist to receive His baptism, he did it “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Like Jesus, true Christians are religious people.

They pray,

they fast,

they attend religious services,

they read the Bible,

they get baptized

and participate in Holy Communion.

They marry their spouses,

they consecrate their children to the Lord

and they celebrate feats like Christmas and Easter.

And they do it with all their hearts — not out of some sense of obligation, but because practicing Christian religion gives them a closer personal relationship with God.

This new year of 2019, let each of us invest in consistent and disciplined religious practice in our relationship with God.

Like Jesus did.

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The Rev. Edroy “Curt” Curtis is president of the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association