Tag: lifestyle

Podcast Episode: Embracing a Lifestyle Beyond Religion

Podcast Episode: Embracing a Lifestyle Beyond Religion

Pip: Religion, relationship, or something else entirely — cj has been working through a question that sounds simple until you actually sit with it.

Mara: The Way of the Rabbi this week lands on a third option: lifestyle. We're looking at what that word does that the other two can't, and why it matters for how faith actually gets lived.

Pip: Let's start with the case for moving past both labels.

Embracing a Lifestyle Beyond Religion

Mara: The tension here is one most people in Christian circles have heard: "not a religion, a relationship." The post takes that motto seriously before pushing past it — asking whether relationship alone captures what following Yahoshua actually demands.

Pip: The turn comes through John 15:15, which the post reads closely: "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Mara: That verse does real work. Friendship implies mutuality, knowing, being let in on something. It's a different posture than mere compliance.

Pip: But the post doesn't stop there — because friendship, as the post illustrates with a casual exchange between two friends deciding their evening, implies autonomy. Two people, two wills, loose plans. And the question the post is quietly raising is whether that's quite right either.

Mara: Right — and the post surfaces the complication directly. Just before verse fifteen, Jesus says "you are my friends if you do what I command." So the friendship is real, but it's not without shape.

Pip: Which is where the post reaches back through Scripture — Adam recognizing God's footsteps in the garden, the Angel sharing a meal with Abraham, Moses at the burning bush, David's raw plea in Psalm 4. The throughline is that God has always wanted proximity, but proximity with purpose.

Mara: Micah gets quoted on exactly that tension: "O man, you have already been told what is good, what Adonai requires of you — no more than to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." That's not a checklist. It's a way of moving through the world.

Pip: So religion gives you rules, relationship gives you warmth, and the post argues neither word carries the full weight. Lifestyle does — because a lifestyle is the habits, attitudes, and moral standards that together constitute how someone actually lives.

Mara: The post lands it this way: entering covenant means agreeing to live by a set standard, taking on the lifestyle of Yahoshua — ambassador, royal priesthood, set apart, marked by obedience. The phrase the post settles on is "a lifestyle not a religion," and it's deliberate: a lifestyle, unlike a label, outlives every era it moves through.

Pip: That's the practical upshot — if what you're carrying is a lifestyle, it travels with you into every room, every relationship, every ordinary Tuesday.

Mara: Which is exactly the kind of whole-life integration the next territory opens up.

Pip: What stays with me is that third word — lifestyle — doing the work that the other two couldn't quite finish.

Mara: Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly. That's the shape of it. More on how it gets lived, next time.

Embracing a Lifestyle Beyond Religion

Embracing a Lifestyle Beyond Religion

Religion, relationship, or lifestyle? The motto for many Christians is; “Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship.” And they get this idea from Jesus Himself. He calls His followers, friends and brothers. The “Church” is described as the “Bride of Christ.” So there is good reason to use a motto that pulls on the idea of relationship. Religion in our culture has become a byword for rigidity, ritual, rules and regulations, requiring strict adherence. So yes when you put the two side-by-side, relationship is far more appealing than religion.

The definition of religion is: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs; the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith; strict faithfulness; devotion.

The definition of relationship is: a connection, association, or involvement; connection between persons by blood or marriage; an emotional or other connection between people.

When one reads John 15:15; “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” It is easy to see the idea of relationship. Also, the idea of relationship makes it feel like a partnership. In a partnership there are two-sides, generally equal and therefore autonomous, moving freely, within the relationship.

Two friends are having a conversation, “What are you doing tonight?” friend one asks friend two. “I don’t have any plans, just gonna go home and watch TV, maybe get takeout on my way.” Friend two reply’s. “You want to grab a bite together and then hit up downtown, there’s a block party tonight?” He asks, adding, “And I don’t want to go alone.” Friend two hesitates, “Come on, it will be fun.” Friend one pushes. Finally, friend two relents, “Ok, I’ll go.” Regardless of how this conversation ends up it is two individuals, making individual decisions.

Religion is as defined a rigid devotion to the rules. If the religious leader says, do this, a good devout religious person, will do it. Wash your hands this way, before eating. In order to join our order you must do this or that in this order, no exception. You must follow these rules precisely or you will need to ritually cleanse yourself. It is focused and it is one-way. One is simply an observer in a collective observance of said religious practices. A participant in the pre-ordained ritualistic rites. No conversation, no friendship, just instruction.

But what does Scripture teach us about the dynamics of this faith that we have? In the beginning, we read that there was a relationship so close-knit that Adam recognized the footsteps of God in the garden. We see the Angel of the God having a meal with Abraham. Even disclosing what was about to take place, the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah. We see a burning bush and Moses, then later a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day. We see a covenant established between God and the people of Israel. A set of instructions given that if they obeyed them they would be blessed. But, if they did not obey them they would be cursed.

Israel was to be the Nation to the nations, a city set on a hill that drew all nations to God. A priestly nation, each with a particular part based on the tribe they were from. Yet, even it what appears to be the establishment of Religion we see that it was still wrapped in a fundamental desire to have a relationship. David, who is said, “a man after God’s own heart,” writes in Psalm 4 a plea.

“O God, my vindicator! Answer me when I call! When I was distressed, you set me free; now have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.” This is not the cry of religion this is the cry of a relationship. He continues, “Men of rank, how long will you shame my honor, love what is vain, case after lies? Understand that Adonai sets apart the godly person for Himself; Adonai will hear when I call to Him. You can be angry, but do not sin! Think about this as you lie in bed, and calm down. Offer sacrifices rightly, and put your trust in Adonai.”

This reminds me of what the Prophet Micah wrote; “With what can I come before Adonai to bow down before God on high? Should I come before Him with burnt offerings? with calves in their first year? Would Adonai take delight in thousand of rams with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Could I give my firstborn to pay for my sin, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? O man, you have already been told what is good, what Adonai requires of you – no more than to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”

David finishes Psalm 4 with this: “Many ask, ‘Who can show us some good?’ Adonai, lift the light of Your face over us! You have filled my heart with more joy than all their grain and new wine. I will lie down and sleep in peace; for, Adonai, you alone make me live securely.“

Adonai Elohim, has always desired relationship with His creation. He does however do so with a purpose. There is order, there is righteousness, there is Holiness. He being loving, made away for Israel and later to all the world through Messiah Yahoshua. So this beings us back to the religion or relationship? And to that I say, yes! We began with John 15:15 “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” However, just before this He says, “You are my friends if you do what I command.“

If we take religion and relationship we get a lifestyle. The definition of lifestyle is: the habits, attitudes, tastes, moral standards, economic level, etc., that together constitute the mode of living of an individual or group.

This is why I have chosen “a lifestyle not a religion” over the common catchphrase, “not religion but a relationship.” Some would say this is simply semantics, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. However, like the conversation between two individual friends, there is autonomy. However, when we enter into covenant with the Father we are agreeing to live by a set standard. We are taking on the lifestyle of Yahoshua, “fixing our eyes on the Initiator and Completer of that Faith, Yahoshua – who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before Him, endured death on a tree as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.”

It is His lifestyle that we are to carry. We are called to be Ambassadors of the Kingdom. Living in the world but not of the world. We are to be the shining city on a hill, that beacon of light that draws the nations back to Elohim. We are His chosen people, a royal priesthood, ministering to the poor and needy, the nobles and the kings. Living set apart lives as Adonai instructed in His Word. That same Word taught by the Apostles. One continuous letter to humanity, from the Creator of all things. His call for us to return to His Way. Dying to ourselves we put on the new self, the lifestyle of our King Yahoshua, that is marked by obedience.

John 15:9-14 –
“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

The way of the Rabbi, a lifestyle not a religion, for a lifestyle outlives every label.

You are loved,
cj

The Call to Be Ambassadors for Messiah

Ambassador –
* a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.
* a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by a government to represent it on a temporary mission, as for negotiating a treaty.
Plenipotentiary –
* a person, especially a diplomatic agent, invested with full power or authority to transact business on behalf of another.

The above definitions are taken from Dictionary.com. They represent what the role of an Ambassador is while serving in a foreign land. They do not live in the land permanently. They still hold to the principles of the land that they represent. They can engage in particular aspects of the hosting nation. However, they must hold true to the convictions of the sending nation. Ambassador’s take their instruction from the King or the Governments that they represent. Although, they are individually themselves. They have distinct characteristics, mannerisms, and linguistic styling. Yet, they conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the office, presenting a unified message.

The Ambassador is there on a diplomatic mission, in some cases to restore relations or in others to negotiate treaties. They come with full authority and in place of the sending King or Government. This allows them to conduct business with confidence. The Ambassador also knows that their mission is temporary. That they are not a citizen of the host country but simply passing through. This reminder keeps them balanced and helps them to remember where their allegiance lies.

In 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 we read this:
“All this is from Elohim. Who reconciled us to Himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That Elohim was reconciling the world to Himself in Messiah, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Messiah, as though Elohim were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Messiah: Be reconciled to Elohim. Elohim made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. So that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.”

It is simply foolishness, naive even, to think that Elohim would make Yahoshua, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that He could enable us to live a life of sin. No, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. John writes, “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar! The truth is not in him. However, whoever keeps His Word, in him is the love of Elohim perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in Him. Moreover, whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” Later John writes, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices Torahlessness, sin is Torahlessness. You know that He appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him.” (1 John 2:3-6 & 3:4-6)

How can we say that we represent the King, if we don’t do as He says?
How can we say that we represent the Kingdom, if we do not practice its laws?
How can we say that we have become the righteousness of Elohim, if we won’t even follow the instructions of righteousness?

As an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven, we live where we live as representatives of the King of Heaven. One day that Kingdom will be here on earth. When Yahoshua our Adonai and King returns in the clouds to rule in Jerusalem. Until then the Kingdom is within us and we as representatives of the King must live as such. We follow the laws of the land because we live in the land. We answer to a higher authority who has instructed as such. We speak truth in love in hopes of reconciling others through Messiah unto Elohim. This gospel message is one of repentance. A turning from the former way of living and following the instruction of the Rabbi.

How can we say that we represent the King? We claim the name of Messiah Yahoshua and His lifestyle. How did He live? “We live not by bread alone, but by every WORD of Elohim.” What word was Yahoshua referring to? His Instruction handed down by the Prophets, those written by Moses, those breathed by Elohim. Did Yahoshua eat meat considered unclean? No, not by definition of Torah. Did Yahoshua break the Sabbath Day or change it? No, not by definition of Torah. Did Yahoshua dismiss the Feast Days? No, not by definition of Torah. Did His death and resurrection somehow negate these things? No, not by definition of Torah, or the teachings of Paul and the other Apostles.

How can we say that we represent the Kingdom? “Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” The Sabbath will be observed in the millennium and Heaven. The dietary law will be observed in the millennium and Heaven. The Feast Days will be observed in the millennium and Heaven. If we are asking for His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as in Heaven . . . How can we say this and not do what we know we can do? To follow the Sabbath isn’t too hard or difficult. To follow dietary law isn’t too hard or difficult. To observe the Feast Days isn’t too hard or difficult. To honor Elohim is NOT TOO HARD or DIFFICULT. It is absurd to think that it is too difficult to keep the Sabbath but pretend to keep Sunday. It is absurd to think that it is too difficult to keep the Feast Days. Yet, people celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Valentine’s, Saint Patrick’s, Fourth of July, Veterans, Memorial, Super Bowl, etc., without hesitation.

How can we say that we have become the righteousness of Elohim? We can say this when we repent and follow Yahoshua. What does it mean to repent? To turn from sin. Literally that is what it means. Not just to be sorry that we are sinning but to do a one-eighty. We repent, we ask for forgiveness, we put on the new self. We enter into covenant relationship. The new covenant is the old covenant but written on our hearts. We can read this in Jeremiah and Hebrews. The difference is simply that now we have the Living Spirit of Elohim. The Ruach Hakodesh (רוח הקודש) empowers us to do so. By this we put on Messiah Yahoshua. His Name, His lifestyle, His Word, His Truth.

If you are a follower of Yahoshua you are an AMBASSADOR! LIVE AS ONE! You are a representative of the KING of kings and the MASTER of masters. He has called you to bare His Name. You are to show His lifestyle. Extend the message of reconciliation to all who will listen. Part of this includes living within the culture yet separate from it at the same time. We are to live set apart, while living among the inhabitants of the community we live. We don’t demand others change. We live in such a way that others see Messiah in us. This stirs a want for change. We live as examples of the Way.

This is the Way of the Rabbi,
You are loved,
cj