What Biblical Christianity Really Is (Ep.25)

Sarah Annie Schneider: Welcome to the Addicted to God Podcast. I'm your host and Bible mentor, Sarah Schneider. And I am addicted to God. Addicted to God is a community of imperfect people who are pursuing a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. For over 20 years, I have been on my own Addicted to God journey. This movement was inspired by the hundreds of incarcerated women I have had the privilege of mentoring in my local jail. The more I learned about their addictive behaviors, the more I realized that my zeal to know God's word is not that different from their uncontrollable desire to use their drug of choice. So in a nutshell, addicted to God is where we transfer the unhealthy, unsatisfying, and destructive habits and choices to the freedom and fulfillment that can only come from the one and only healthy addiction, which is God and his limitless word. I do ask that you share this podcast so we can end addictions, the bad ones, encourage anyone who's defeated, and help those who want to have a relationship with God but don't know where to start. So thank you for joining me on this journey and let's get addicted to God together. Today I want to talk about something that comes up over and over again, and I have heard so many times over the years, where I've spent with women sitting in the jail. leading support groups and walking with people who are trying to rebuild their lives. But I hear, I've always been a Christian, or I grew up in church, or I accepted Jesus when I was a kid. And then you start to dig a little bit deeper into those claims and you realize they've never actually met the Jesus of the Bible. They've met a version of Christianity that is cultural or moral or sentimental, but not biblical. I've been there. I've been there. If you want to check out episode two, you can hear my story. For a long time, 32 years of my life, actually, I thought being a Christian meant to try harder, look better, and hope that God would be somehow impressed with me. It left me exhausted and empty. Honestly, it was until that day that my mother-in-law questioned my beliefs. I didn't even realize that I wasn't an Honest Christian. I wore the label. I remember being overwhelmed as a wife, a new mom, working to while trying to finish college. We were buried in a pile of debt, and I was striving to be fit and thin and perfect, doing all of it. I literally added church, volunteering at church, Bible studies at church, and attending every seminar, conference, and retreat that our church offered. I didn't have time for anything. But I did it. I did it all. And do you want to know why? Because I thought it would make me a good person. Look like a good person or be liked more. And the church could raise my kids better than me because I didn't know what I was doing. The church was my security blanket. If I failed, whether that be in my marriage, parenting, career, or whatever else I would mess up, At least my kids could learn good morals, how to be good people, and for my own selfish benefit, I hoped my kids would be good kids so I could impress other people and at least give the impression I was a good mom. Even when I knew that my home was less than perfect. And in my soul, I wasn't perfect either. I remember sitting with a counselor and literally uttering the words. I feel like a hamster on a hamster wheel and my feet are going so fast that I can't keep up. But if I stop, I'm gonna just spin and my body will get smashed around while the world just keeps on going. That should have been my first clue that this is not Christianity, let alone God's version of following Jesus. That's one of the reasons I can now confidently say that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, because he saved me from myself. He saved me from my twisted idea of what a Christian was supposed to be. And most of all, he saved me from hell, which was exactly where I was headed with all of my efforts to impress other people and earn favor with God. One passage that makes me shudder to my core is Matthew 7, verses 13 through 15. It says, Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Do you see what I mean? I was on the broad road. Was thinking. God, he pulled me through the narrow gate and set my feet on a path that leads to life, eternal life. And I'm serious, you guys. This is what the Bible says. And my heart is yearning that God puts this podcast in the lives of people who are just going through the motions. They look like they're doing it all right and doing all the right things, but they've never actually met Jesus. So today I want to ask a simple but very important question. What is biblical Christianity really? Not the version we inherit from culture or family tradition, but the one the Bible itself describes. If you've ever felt like Christianity didn't work for you, or you've wondered whether there's something more than a religious version than what you grew up with, This episode is for you. So let's start with a clear definition. Biblical Christianity Biblical Christianity is not a primary set of rules to follow, a political identity, a moral improvement plan, or a cultural label that you wear. At its core, biblical Christianity is a relationship with the living God through the person and finished work of Jesus Christ, as revealed in Scripture. Jesus Himself said it this way in John 17 3. Now this is eternal life That they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Did you catch that? Eternal life is knowing God. Not knowing about Him, not performing for Him, truly knowing Him. The very first time the word Christian appears in the Bible isn't until the book of Acts. Specifically, it's actually in Acts 11 26. It simply says the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. The word means little Christs or belonging to Christ. It wasn't a brand, it was a description of people whose lives had been reoriented around Jesus. Paul summarizes the heart of the message in 1 Corinthians 15 in verses 1 through 4. He says the gospel he preached and the gospel that saves is this. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, according to the scriptures. That's the non-negotiable center. So biblical Christianity is a relationship with God that begins when we trust what Jesus has already done for us, not what we can do for him. So let's talk about what Christianity, specifically biblical Christianity, is not. But before we go further, it helps to clear away some of the counterfeits because a lot of people have been hurt or confused by versions of Christianity that don't match the Bible. Biblical Christianity is not cultural Christianity. Cultural Christianity is the idea that because you live in a certain country or your family went to a certain church, or you celebrate Christmas and Easter, that somehow that makes you a Christian. And that is not what the Bible teaches. As a matter of fact, I call it Christian with a capital C if you are a true born-again believer. A small c is a Christian who bears the label for association to moral beliefs. It is the popular modern belief that God mostly exists to make us feel better about ourselves and help us be nicer people. That version of God is small and manageable. The God of the Bible is holy. As a matter of fact, it's repeated in Scripture that He is not just holy, but holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. And he confronts our sins before he comforts us. It's not a self-help program either. I remember scanning the aisles of Barnes and Noble when I knew I was on that hamster wheel. I was searching for self-help books, a book that could tell me how to be a better person. You will not find the message, believe in yourself and try harder in the pages of scripture. You will find the message, you cannot save yourself, but Jesus can. And it's not about earning God's approval through religious performance. if you've ever felt like you were on a spiritual treadmill, trying to pray enough, read enough, serve enough, or clean yourself up enough so God would finally accept you, that is not biblical Christianity. That is religion, my friends, and religion will wear you out. I've watched women in recovery trade one addiction for another. Alcoholism for perfectionism. Drugs for people pleasing, chaos for rich rule keeping. None of those are the freedom that Jesus offers. And sometimes the counterfeit doesn't look religious at all. Some people may even be extremely wealthy, and for others, that wealth becomes their God. They don't need the God because they can just buy whatever they want. In Matthew 19, Jesus is talking with a rich young ruler. And at the end of this conversation, he says this. Truly, I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished. And they actually asked Jesus, then who can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, With man, this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. And that's Matthew 19, verses 23 through 26, if you want to check it out. What Jesus isn't saying is that rich people can't go to heaven. He is saying it's harder for them because they're tempted to trust in their money instead of God. This is why I love mentoring incarcerated women. I don't have to tell them this. They instinctively know they need to be saved from their lives. And they know they can't do it in their own strength. They cry out to God to save them. My role is to help them learn how to live it out. But some walk away thinking that if God is going to save them, they will not find themselves back in jail, or the judge will not give them the full penalty for their crime, or with good behavior, they might not lose their kids or get their kids back. That's not genuine. God needs to resurrect a new person in us. The Bible says we are transformed. We need to trust Him to fully meet us where we are, however we are, and no matter where we are. Rich, poor, in jail, burned out, exhausted, or think you're actually doing okay. And the counterfeit can even look extra. Religious. In jail, I've watched women carry their Bibles around. They tuck it under their arm like a shield. They place it under their pillow at night, but some of them never even open it. Week after week I ask them, What did you read? Let's talk about it. And they will say, I didn't read it. But I didn't swear this week. That's so hard to hear because I know that that is not a permanent change. It's not a heart change. The Bible doesn't come as a good luck charm. The Bible is God's living word. And I understand. I did the same thing when I was on my hamster wheel. I never cracked open my Bible, but I doubled down on praying for success, prosperity, and happiness. I learned that a closed Bible can't save you and neither can a church pew. Only Jesus can. It's more personal than that. We've made it very complicated. And by the way, it doesn't matter what religion you affiliate with. God isn't looking for your affiliation. He's looking for your heart. Another friend I know collects angels. She wears cross necklaces every single day, and she has literal Bible verses tattooed on her body. But her language is profane. By all appearances, you would think she loves God and even think she knows the Bible. But the Bible says in Matthew seven twenty, thus by their fruit you will recognize them. Now, at the risk of playing God, I wouldn't and won't confidently say whether or not people are or aren't Christians. We are all on our own journey and ultimately God is the judge. But what I do know is that the Bible says there is evidence. He calls it fruit. Fruit in our lives that gives us a hint about who is a true follower of Jesus and who's just pretending to be. If you don't know for sure where you stand, I encourage you to go back and listen to episode 16 of the Addicted to God podcast. Get curious. Be certain. I really spell that out in that episode. But what are the marks of a real thing, a true Christian? I have five of them. So I've told you what the biblical Christianity is not, but I want now to tell you what actually marks the real thing. First, biblical Christianity is centered on Jesus Christ, his person, his death, and his resurrection. Everything rises or falls on who he is and what he accomplished. He is not one option among many spiritual teachers. He claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life in John 14, 6. Either he is who he says he is, or the whole thing collapses. The gospel is not trying to be like Jesus. The gospel is Jesus did for you what you could never do for yourself. The second mark of the real thing is that it is rooted in Scripture. Scripture is our final authority. Feelings change, cultures shift, popular teachers come and go. The Bible remains. When our experience or our preferences can conflict with what God has already spoken, we submit to His word, not the other way around. That doesn't mean we never struggle or ask hard questions. It means we let Scripture have the last word. We live it out until we understand why God said it that way. The third mark of a real thing is that it is dependent on grace through faith, not works, not the things you do, not the actions you take, not the deeds you perform. Ephesians two eight and nine is as clear as this is going to get. The Apostle Paul writes. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves. It is the gift from God, not by works, so that no one can boast. See, we can't boast. We can't earn it. Your salvation is a gift. And you don't keep it by performance either. You simply receive it. And that's the most freeing news in the world for people who have failed. The fourth mark of the real thing is that it produces real transformation by the Holy Spirit, not just behavior modification. When the Spirit of God lives in a person, change happens, but it's change from the inside out. The fruit of the Spirit, in Galatians 5.20, 2 says love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are produced in us when we are walking in a relationship with Jesus. It's not something we can manufacture. It grows as we abide in Christ. Abide means spend time with. Real Christianity changes desires, not just outward actions. Fifth, the mark of the real thing is that it is an ongoing relationship by repentance and dependence, not a one-time decision you made years ago and then moved on. Following Jesus is daily. It's learning to say what John the Baptist said. my personal life verse, John 330 that says, He must become greater, I must become less. That's not a one and done prayer. It's the posture of our hearts. So where does that leave us? If you've been carrying a version of Christianity that feels heavy, performance driven, or empty, I want to invite you to consider that maybe what you've experienced isn't the real thing. The real thing is so much better. It's freer. It's centered on a person who already did the hard work for you. Biblical Christianity is good news for people who have messed up. It's good news for the addict, the ashamed, the exhausted, and the one who feels like they've burned every bridge. It's not a club for people who have it all together. It's a rescue for people who know they don't. If something is really tugging at your heart right now, if you realize that you've been relating to God more like a boss, or you're trying to impress a father who already loves you because of Jesus, Then talk to him about it. And you don't need fancy words, just honesty. Tell him you want the real thing. Ask him to show you who Jesus really is. Take some time this week or write now and talk to God. Read the book of Matthew. Do some honest work with God and ask that he will reveal all the things that you might be doing that you may not even be aware of. But it's keeping you from him rather than driving you to him. And if you're already walking with him, if you're already my sister or brother in the Lord, let this be a reminder to keep the main thing, the main thing. Keep coming back to the simplicity of the gospel, the good news that Jesus has come to rescue us from our sin. Keep pointing people to Jesus rather than to a system or a set of rules. It's honestly the hardest part for me being a Bible mentor. People assume you pray a prayer and then all these good and churchy things come into your life and it just gets better. that's not true. If there's one thing, one thing that I beg that you hear in this podcast is that you open your Bible every day. I'm not saying you have to spend hours in it. But give God the first fruits of your day. then talk to God and listen to Him while you read it. Did you catch that? We talk to God in prayer. We listen to Him speak to us when we read His Word. That was mind blowing the first time I heard it, but it's true. And by the way, Jesus is enough. His finished work is enough. And that is what biblical Christianity has always been about. So I hope you had something you could take away from this today. Honestly, if you're feeling a little uncomfortable with something I said, something I shared, or something that came to mind as you were listening today, that just might be God putting his finger on this area of your life where you want to pursue him fully, completely, and desire him above all things. I truly am thrilled to have you on this Addicted to God journey, learning to trade every harmful addiction for the one and only true addiction that can satisfy a healthy one. And that is a relationship with Jesus Christ and His living word. If today's episode stirred something in you, I would really appreciate it if you would share it with someone who you know might be feeling stuck or hopeless. You never know how God might use this message to spark freedom in their life or your testimony by coming forward to share why and what this podcast is doing for you. And more importantly, all credit be to God for what God is doing in your story. I would also love to hear from you. If you're able to follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or Substack at Sarah Annie Schneider or AddictedToGod, I certainly would love the follow. I'm also always looking for guests. If your life has been genuinely transformed by Jesus, if you've experienced what it means to transfer your addiction to Him, I sure would love to hear your story. Email me at addicted to Godpod. At gmail.com. And as I come to a close with this episode, I do need to remind you you are not defined by your past or your struggle. When you transfer your addictions to God, he becomes your one and only healthy addiction. God bless you, friends. Don't forget to fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. And I'll see you next week. Don't forget to choose the better addiction.