Christianity is Not a Religion
It’s a relationship…
In the country such as UAE, we will encounter different kinds of people from all over the world who practices different rituals, beliefs and religions. It is a common question among the Filipino groups especially if you are attending a different church from the rest “anong religion mo?” Sometime back, I don’t know how to answer such question because I really don’t believe on religion. What I believe is that I have a relationship with Him. Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.
Baptism…
Last December, my friend Benedick took his leave and went for a vacation. We came to
Dubai in 2003 together and this is his first time to go back home. As part of the same cell group in Sharjah, we use to pray for him and his family; we believe that what seems to be impossible to man is possible to God. And what we believe in is definitely right.
I was so glad to hear from him that he got baptized in a church in
Baguio where his wife is attending the service. The church is also praying for his family’s salvation as well as for his coming last December. It happened. Our God is not a deaf to hear our prayers. He is a God who answers and bring comforts in the time of grief. I can’t contain the happiness that I felt that day he told me. I feel so blessed to a have a living God, a prayer answering God.
Baptism isn’t what makes us a Christian. Our trust in Jesus and our commitment to be His disciple is what makes us a Christian. The Bible teaches, "It is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
It is written in the bible that baptism is a way of responding to Jesus’ call for you and me to become His disciple. Faith saves us; baptism is our first step of obedience to our new Master, if we are willing.
