Are you religious?

According to Scripture, being religious means very little. The Bible says that demons are religious and believe in God, and surely demons are not going to heaven (James 2:19; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15)!

This book is inspired by a true correspondence between two men: Kurt (the author) and Matt. The "Matt Letters" are actual letters emailed between the two men; nothing has been edited except Matt's expletives. Kurt is employed by a Christian company which has placed the Christian "fish sign" (ixthus) on its packages of merchandise. Matt is a non-Christian who has purchased this product at a local do-it-yourself center and is extremely upset that the Christian sign is being displayed in a public place. In Matt's correspondence, he communicates to Kurt that he is bisexual. Matt believes that the religious community has rejected him, and therefore, Matt vehemently rejects Christ and Christianity.

Kurt explains to Matt that though he has been rejected by religion, he will not be rejected by Christ. Christ is not religion. Religion is of man; Christ is of God! In fact, Christ rejected many of the religious leaders of his day. The religious leaders adhered to man-made commandments and meaningless traditions, which resulted in nothing more than religious bondage. They did not embrace God's love, nor did they embrace God's power and therefore, were unable to genuinely care for the people. The religious leaders rejected Christ because Christ associated with sinners. Jesus, in turn, told the religious leaders, "Thieves and harlots will enter the kingdom of God before you" (Matthew 21:31)! These leaders were, to say the least, a poor representation of a compassionate God.

There are many mainstream religions today steeped in religious bondage that poorly represent the true, compassionate God. They believe themselves to be the "Way to God," yet in reality, religion alone is not the way to God at all. Religion does not free a person from that which can destroy the physical, emotional, or spiritual aspects of life. Religion can change a man's mind, but it cannot change a man's heart. Simply said, religion is not perfect because man is not perfect (Heb. 7:19; Colo. 2:23; Gal. 3:1-3; Rom. 8:3). The Scriptures say, "Our gospel did not come in word only but in power." Christ has come to turn men "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God" (Acts 26:18; 1 Thess. 1:5; 1 Cor. 2:4-5).

Matt is bisexual. Will Christ accept Matt?

--Kurt Hamilton

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