Which category are you? 

Yesterday, while driving to my parents', we listened to this sermon by Tim Keller.

He brilliantly gives words to something that's been niggling beneath my breastbone and breaks down people into three categories:

1. The irreligious: those who don't "need" God. According to them, they're good people without Him. They give to charity, help out their neighbor, and are completely content as is. 

1. The religious: The religious are those who are "morally upright," and strive to come off that way. The Bible is a rule book they attempt to follow to the tee, and they do "all the things" that will find them favor in God's eyes. They believe that they have to earn grace and essentially are attempting to save themselves.
2. The Christian: Someone who knows they need a savior, that they can't save themselves, and relies on Jesus to save them and guide them on this journey called life. (And just to note, for the true Christian, the Bible isn't a rule book. It's a story of God's grace and redeeming love, proving that salvation can only come through Him as fulfilled by His Son dying on the cross and resurrecting back to life).

Keller points out that the irreligious and religious are essentially the same (despite their outward appearance). They define salvation on their own terms, lacking true humility and confidence in anything other than themselves.

It's interesting to note that a religious person can seemingly be on fire for Jesus and even verbally confess that they believe in His work on the cross.

But actions speak louder than words. Like Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruit." (Read the rest of His impactful statement here.)

Why is this important? Because we can easily slide into those other two categories if we're not careful (ask me how I know!). The world teaches one way, and sometimes (unfortunately), churches can teach the other.

It's why reading and discerning Scripture for ourselves is the most important thing we can do. 

And I constantly pray we all continue to do it.