I was sitting in the break room enjoying a few quiet moments when Jeff came in. He said that Ramon had suggested that he talk with me because I was religious. I wasn’t sure where this conversation was going, but it intrigued me. Ramon knew I was a Christian, but I didn’t think he held any set of religious beliefs. It seemed odd that he would suggest that Jeff talk with me.

Well, Jeff wanted to know how come the Bible is a book full of a bunch of rules that are impossible to follow. After some discussion, it became clear that he viewed the Bible as a rule book and only a rule book. In an angry diatribe Jeff let me know how upset he was with God, his parents, his church, and with the Bible.

I almost started to cry. Jeff had learned about religion, but he had not learned about the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He hadn’t heard the gospel, the good news. Somebody had taught Jeff that he had to live by God’s rules and standards to be accepted by God, but he found the task impossible.

He asked me how I could believe in a God that had all those rules. He wanted to know how I could believe in a God who had such high expectations that we could never make him happy. He wanted to know why I was a Christian.
I felt so sad for him, and I was not sure how to answer him. He had obviously been hurt by the spiritual oppression he had lived under. I wanted Jeff to know the God that I know. I wanted him know that the Bible was so much more than a book of rules.

So that day, in that break room, I told Jeff that I didn’t think the Bible was a rule book. I told him that the Bible was the greatest love story ever told. I shared John 3:17 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” I told Him that Jesus loved us so much that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).

Jeff seemed unfazed by my enthusiasm for the good news of Jesus love for us. He asked if I followed rules. I shared that I did follow Biblical guidelines and commands because I knew that a Loving Father instituted them for my health, safety, and protection. I didn’t obey out of fear of further condemnation.

I told Jeff that God wants us to know His great love for us, a love that is so deep it is beyond our knowledge or comprehension (Eph 3:17-19). He didn’t say too much, but he didn’t argue either. I sat there praying that some of this would sink in and Jeff would come to know Jesus as his own personal Savior. He spoke to me often during the time we worked together. I kept encouraging him to read the Bible and see how often God’s love takes center stage. I don’t know if he ever did.

As far as I know, Jeff still doesn’t know Jesus. But I had a chance that day to share the Good News, the gospel. The good news is that Jesus loves us so much that he died for us. He died even though we were in disobedience and didn’t follow any rules. He didn’t expect us to follow the rules to earn love or forgiveness. He gave love and forgiveness because He is God and “God is Love.” “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:16, ESV)

Dear friends may I challenge you this week to share the Good News with someone around you? Many people are confused like Jeff. They can’t understand why we want to be Christians, because they believe it is a religion of rules. Share with them that being a Christian isn’t about rules, it is about God’s love for us. God proposes to enter a covenant relationship with us for eternity. An intimate, loving relationship is waiting for all who respond to the loving offer and accept the free gift of salvation from our gracious and loving God.