Shakespeare wrote, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet." This being true, we must remember that it is important to start with a rose, and not a weed. Christian is a name that, without an understanding of what God intended it to mean, does not smell sweet at all. In fact, when Christianity is reduced to a "religion" as opposed to its true nature of relationship, it stinks to high heaven. The happy truth is that Christianity is not a religion.

Whenever you see divisions in the Christian community, it is very nearly always due to the corruption of grace and true freedom. Denominational factions (based on corrupted rules) bring shame to the cause of Christ and this shame is a direct result of "religion", not true Christianity. The true Gospel is the Good News that the "Living Law" (Christ) now makes his home in the believer and lives His life through us. This is the nature of "relationship", not religion. We truly are free because our debt is cancelled and we are now free to obey and love God. The "Law" cannot do that because its pressure on the individual is only external. The Law is the essence of God's character, but we are not God and so we fall short. The "Law" is what we can never be in our own strength. It is impossible for me to live up to a standard that I am not equipped for, so I "miss the mark" which is the meaning of the word sin in the Greek. There is a Savior, an advocatethe Living Law inside who's motivation is not fear and retribution, but love. This is far better than a religion.

There is little value in religion It cannot produce change in our behavior nor are they able to keep us in perfect peace.. They do not and have not the capability to produce some kind of "paradise" on earth. Webster's definition of religion, aptly makes this point.

Religion 3. Faithful and strict in performance; conscientious; a religious loyalty.

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of help in that, unless the loyalty is to a belief in a higher power. And only then if that "higher" power is effectual. Otherwise the religion is worthless.

Humans can be religious about anything...our car, business, or money. We may be religious in how we keep our home, or in keeping track of how many times we attend church in a week or give to the offering plate. If we are religious only out of duty or fear, of what others might think, then it becomes more of an obsession and has little

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