You can be free

“Most men, indeed, play at religion as they play at games, religion itself being of all games the one most universally played.” – A.W. Tozer

Of games and futile endeavors

“Life just seems like a game to me sometimes. People start talking to me about their religion, or their philosophy. I’m just not sure, but I don’t really wanna hear that. Everyone is just playing the game, you know, so I don’t feel like I need their religion or philosophy. I really wish there was someone that could show me the way, show me something real, you know? Just give me the truth so I can be free of all the games.” – anonymous

If you can identify even a little bit with the above sentiment from this anonymous writer, you may be surprised, or even relieved to know that neither religion or philosophy is the answer or the truth.

If you look at any formal religion you’ll find it shares a common theme with all religions, that a “believer’s” obligation is to work and earn his way to acceptance by, in some cases, a Supreme Being often identified as God, or in others a “prophet” or godlike leader with special revelation.

Looking at philosophy, you’ll find another form of religion with a twist, based on its believers achieving some revelation or truth in the mind solely through rational argument and discovery, without acknowledging belief in any God.

Followers of these age-old endeavors, while claiming to seek truth, in reality aspire to achieve higher moral ground in order to be rewarded in some esoteric or even material way.

Likewise, both are outward, corporeal endeavors striving to satisfy or fulfill inward, spiritual longings. Can’t happen. Forms of religion and philosophy are indeed games that cannot be won. They are futile endeavors. They will never set you free.

All that said, maybe you’ve thrown out religion, and along with it you discarded any consideration for the existence of God, believing that He is simply a creation of religious people down through the ages. This may seem like a reasonable conclusion that frees you from the encumbrance of religious manipulation. Perhaps you’re chasing philosophy instead. Either way, you’re not alone. If your intense desire is to be free, to find something true and real, then you’re actually sensing something that is essentially the human condition. Hang in there, and keep on reading! We are with you, and together we’ll discover where that deep inner longing is coming from, and ultimately where it can take you. You can be free.

Jesus: breaking free

Sadly, whenever the name of Jesus Christ enters into the conversation most people immediately equate Him with the game of religion! Or they say he was just a great philosopher. This really misrepresents and mischaracterizes Jesus. He is all about something very different, in fact, something starkly opposed to all the games.

Jesus can’t be confused with the hundreds of world religions or philosophies because He transcends them all! He is eternal, pre-eminent to all of them. Jesus brought to humanity an invitation to a way of life like no other, a life for which we’re created, not based on sight (your outer life) but on faith (your inner life). Yes, you and I can be free! Something true and real is waiting for us.

If you have a Bible or even just a copy of the New Testament and are willing to make use of it during the course of this journey, you’ll see that during His earthly life Jesus didn’t play the games. He didn’t seek out the religious or philosophically minded. He wasn’t looking for morally superior people. He was after relationships with people that were tired of the games, that were willing to accept that they had an inner longing they could not fulfill. They honestly struggled with life and humbly knew how much they longed for someone who would give them Truth and show them the way to be free. This is an ageless proposition. Jesus has never changed.

Today, as you read this, Jesus is passionate for a relationship with you, no matter where you have been, where you are, or what you currently believe.

• You may consider yourself religious and doing some pretty good things for God. He wants you, not your “goodness.“
• You may see yourself as an enemy of God. He still loves you.
• You may doubt the existence of God. He still believes in you.
• You may vehemently disagree with the teachings of Jesus Christ in Scripture, and prefer to engage in endless debates. But He waits for you.
• You may have confused Jesus Christ with religion or philosophy your entire life. He still wants to show you a better way.

You may be turning away right now. But He just can’t take His eyes off of you.

The freedom you’re designed for

Author’s personal note (confession): For many years, I was playing the game of religion! I was double-minded. Inside I knew that I was lost somehow, but I just couldn’t find my way out of this game. My outer life looked “pretty good” but my inner life was a mess. In my case, I claimed to be following Jesus, but it was a lie. It was fairly easy to act. I knew the right things to say and do to look the part in my outer life. But inside my faith was futile, fractured and failing to have a real and transforming power. Most importantly, I was not discerning the still small voice of God within me, so I couldn’t respond to Him. I didn’t know how.

This may not be your experience. Maybe you’ve never been near a church or part of any faith – Christianity or otherwise. The beautiful thing about our search for freedom and truth is that we’re designed to boldly and genuinely live in both.

Yet, for some reason the truth is so often overshadowed, neglected and replaced by all kinds of other things, religious and otherwise. And many distractions disguise themselves as freedom. All the while, we remain desperate, deceived and powerless to find our way. The question still remains: why haven’t we found that better way – genuine freedom, real Truth?

To get to the answer, are you willing to consider something other than religion, philosophy, “your own truth,” counterfeit freedom and all the other games? If so, just take a few deep breaths, set the distractions and debate aside for now, and think about this from a beginning point that is indisputable and universal for humanity:

Let’s start thinking in terms of the common ground we all share in our life experience. None of us were born alone on an island, of course! No human being has ever lived even a brief life without at least one relationship, that is, the influence of someone in a caring position on whom we’ve depended. Whether this has been a caregiver, parent, teacher, coach, mentor, or person of authority, we’ve all experienced at least one of these relationships. This is our common experience as human beings, no matter what era, culture, belief, nationality, race or location in the world.

Maybe there’s a reason for this. Given this common human experience of relationship, let’s look more deeply at this experience and why it’s foundational to this freedom you’re designed for.

For reflection or discussion:

1. How do you feel about the quote from A.W. Tozer at the top of the page? In what ways do you think religion may be thought of as a game? What about philosophy?
2. What is your experience with religion and/or philosophy? Has it been positive or negative? Why?
3. Of the five bullet points above, which one comes closest to where you are now?
4. Are you comfortable with challenging or rethinking where you currently stand?
5. Do you feel comfortable sharing with another person how you have struggled with your faith/belief (similar to the author’s personal note above)?
6. What is your comfort level with thinking of your belief/faith in terms of a relationship with Jesus? If there is hesitation, why would that be?

Navigational note: The best way to proceed through this site is to follow the links at the end of each page (below). The link on the left takes you back; the link on the right takes you forward.

a special relationship >

Photo by Stefan Kunze