Remember a time when someone asked a question about something that seemed so simple you would automatically answer in your mind “It’s not rocket science?”

I have from time to time.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why are things so complicated?”

We could ask that question concerning a number of things in our lives from our workplace to our family to where we’ll spend our vacation. I mean, think about it, things can even become so complicated by just asking the question, “Where are we going to eat?” after church on Sundays.

My question is why does being a Christian have to be so complicated or, better still, why do we make living the life of a Christian so complicated?

Before going further, I think it’s important to point out when I talk about being a Christian I’m not talking about someone who attends church for political, social or economic reasons.

I’m not talking about someone who says they are a Christian but their lives shout out loud to everyone around them they are anything but.

I’m talking about a person who believes Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. That He was born of a virgin. That He lived a sinless life. That He shed His blood to wash me of my sins, that He died and He rose on the third day and is now at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. That I can have eternal life in Christ!

Now as simple as that sounds, and as true as it is, there are a whole lot of people who believe being a Christian is anything else but what I have just described to you.

I’m not talking about religion. I’m talking about have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

With that explanation complete, allow me to ask the question again.

“Why do we make living the life of a Christian so complicated?”

The simple answer is it doesn’t have to be!

Matthew 22:37-39 tells us “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

All we have to do is follow the instructions. Read the manual if you will. Do what the word of God says to do.

We, as the church, have a job to do. I’m not talking about just your church or my church, I’m talking about the body of Christ!

As I’ve described above, it’s not about having a religion, but a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

What is our job as the church, the body of Christ? To tell people “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved,” (John 3:16-17).

Let’s do it church. Let’s tell people about Jesus.

Tell them that being a Christian, having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, doesn’t have to be complicated.

Christ has made the message so clear that it’s not rocket science.

The Rev. Michael S. Smith is executive pastor of Church of the Living God, located at 114 Franklin Ave. He can be reached at astormike@wincitycolg.com.