Didnt you know? Christianity isnt a religion. Its a relationship.

Before I got to Poly, I always used to think that Christianity was a many complicated and restrictive thing.

In Civics and Moral Classes..since pri school even, we were taught that that there were a few big religions in Spore. Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism...

Amazingly enough...when they talked about Christianity.... I didnt have a personal connection to Christianity..except that I knew what they were talking about. Jesus, Cross, Resurrection, Washing away of sins etc

Note: I was a christian then. Since young, I followed my grandma to church..went through some sunday school etc

But I never had the motivation to continue with sunday school...

Then as i got older...God started to mean something to me after I looked back on all the instances that he was in my life.
1) I was facing the wrong way when my mum was giving birth to me. We had to do a cesarean to get me out safely
2) I almost drowned in the adult pool
3) I feel and hit my chin...the skin around my chin opened up...Had to go to hospital to get it stitched
4) I could have gotten abducted when I tried to walk home from sch w my friends...in Pre-sch
5) I had liquid in my lungs and had to stay in the hospital for 1 week...had to pump my phlegm out
6) I almost fell off the side of Bukit Timah Hill during Sec Sch trekking..it was raining
7) Scored highest for Eng exam when my composition inspired by King David..pulled me up
8) Failed my A's, ended up in Poly
9) Got into many many opportunities to host, sing, act, dance
10) Went through a bad relationship...came out eventually being stronger for God
11) Got to be in the SP Musical, performed in Mediacorp, Esplanade
12) Got to work w students in DSD
You must be wondering which part of each incident was God involved... I believe..every part. Worse could have happened but it didnt. Many of these things led to the next. Without the 1st, the latter wouldnt have happened and more blessings wudnt have happened and I wouldnt be where i am now.

But back to the topic.
The Bible says that Jesus told the people to pray in this manner "Our Father In Heaven..."
The word "Father" in itself is a very personal word. For you to address someone as Father means he is someone who has given birth/created you,
Then answer me this..did not God do this to Adam?
We too are created by God because He knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb. He knew us and our temperaments. His word is His Bible and His Bible is full or words of wisdom, counsel, encouragement.
For us who read the bible and take into consideration His word, is as if we are listening to our Father's counsel. Even everything Jesus personally said in the Bible is God's word because Jesus says that everything he does is from the Father. Like how Moses who was not eloquent before he was appointed by God to lead the Jews out of Egypt...he got every word that he spoke to Pharoah..from God. God-inspired.

God is personal to us because He is our Father. Aside from the Bible, like how Moses & Jesus received personal words from God the Father...likewise we have this privilage. Our Father never changes.

Yes some may argue that our relationship with our own earthly fathers are not always strong too so maybe our relationship with our Father doesnt have to be close
But as is said...earthly fathers.
Our Father in heaven isnt earthly and is not succeptible to world issues. He loves us in pure love, unconditional, gentle at times, firm when needed. Encouraging at times...but with counsel and rebuking at times when needed. Our fathers who are prone to this..dont always know the best way to handle us or at times..are unable to do so for many reasons.
And btw..which other Father lets His eldest son die for his other children?

I guess the biggest difference between seeing christianity as a relationship as opposed to a religion...is that...the starting point is different.
In a Father child relationship...there is not choice...your Father comes before you and loves you before you come out. No father in the right mind hates his child before they are born. Most of them, smile in amazement when they feel for their child's kicking in the Mother's belly..some tear when they see their child's heartbeat during the doctor's checkup. When  the child is born, hardly conscious of whats around them, the father 's first look at his child causes his own heartbeat to speed up. He holds his child nervously for fear of hurting the little life. All before the child proves its worth of being a good son/daughter.
Seeing it from this way...putting God into the place of an earthly father...how can you not love your Heavenly Father? The one who waited for you to be born since the beginning of time?

In a religion, there is choice. Yes some people are born a christian..born a muslim child..but they're personal belief in God is dependent on themselves. Your faith isnt determined by whether you are born a particular religion..or the length of time you are labelled a christian/catholic etc..its by what's in your heart.
You can choose your religion..you can choose to believe wholeheartedly in it..to follow its rules/rituals..or you can choose to be a free thinker. Free to think.

Calling Christianity a religion belittles the immense love God has for us! Belittles His forthcomingness to bring us nearer to Him. Belittles His grace..and focuses on us having to go to Him.

When people mention certain religions...they automatically think of the religious buildings and how people go there to pray to their God.
Actually..they belittle how God is always around us and aside from the church, we can also speak to Him, be in His prescence anywhere, anytime.

Some people are labelled as religious when they adhere and commit to the rituals etc..As a relationship, the doing isnt the main point...is how deep our love for God is...not always displayed using rituals

Yes Christianity is a relationship with God...because without 1st feeling His love, we would never be convinced to be a true Christian.without 1st feeling His love, we wouldnt have the lasting drive to keep going to Him, to keep believing Him, to keep fighting for Him.

God Bless