Word every Gracious Individual should know: Tzedakah
Definition: Tzedakah (pronounced: tze-‘da-ka ); Hebrew; noun
1. Living in the right relationship with God or with others, demonstrated by fairness, charity, and trust.
Why I love this word:
I think there may no longer be any room for ‘religion’ because: religion doesn’t get us any closer to a relationship with Jesus. Christianity isn’t about reading enough scripture, blasting hillsong on the way to work, praying 'good' prayers, having a high set of morals, sharpening up on your apologetics, volunteering at the food bank, doing your devotions at the crack of dawn, taking discipleship classes, even serving the Church; otherwise you’d end up looking more like a Pharisee than you’d probably admit. Let’s not mistake these things as 'bad.' These are things you do to show your love for God, yes, but let these things you do come from an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit erupting out of you, not a 'to-do list' that gets me right with God. It’s about knowing Christ intimately. Let’s pledge to step out of 'doing' and start being children of God. It starts with talking with him and being in his presence. Learn from me as chief of sinners in this area for most the entirety of my life. This is from one young person to another. Have a relationship with God that you have personally created with him. Not what others say you must do to be connected with him.
Photograph by Roberta Ridolfi
Definition: Tzedakah (pronounced: tze-‘da-ka ); Hebrew; noun
1. Living in the right relationship with God or with others, demonstrated by fairness, charity, and trust.
Why I love this word:
I think there may no longer be any room for ‘religion’ because: religion doesn’t get us any closer to a relationship with Jesus. Christianity isn’t about reading enough scripture, blasting hillsong on the way to work, praying 'good' prayers, having a high set of morals, sharpening up on your apologetics, volunteering at the food bank, doing your devotions at the crack of dawn, taking discipleship classes, even serving the Church; otherwise you’d end up looking more like a Pharisee than you’d probably admit. Let’s not mistake these things as 'bad.' These are things you do to show your love for God, yes, but let these things you do come from an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit erupting out of you, not a 'to-do list' that gets me right with God. It’s about knowing Christ intimately. Let’s pledge to step out of 'doing' and start being children of God. It starts with talking with him and being in his presence. Learn from me as chief of sinners in this area for most the entirety of my life. This is from one young person to another. Have a relationship with God that you have personally created with him. Not what others say you must do to be connected with him.
Photograph by Roberta Ridolfi
