Over the years, many people have asked me, upon our first meeting and knowing nothing about me, if I am "religious." My answer to that question has always been and will always be, "No, thank God!" Unfortunately, this response is often interpreted to mean that I don't believe in God. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Christianity is not a religion—it is a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s a relationship where His Spirit dwells within us, and by faith, we believe His Word and trust Him completely with our lives. There is a profound bond between the Creator and His children. We live in Him, and He lives in us. This is the essence of Christianity: a dynamic, living relationship.
On the other hand, religion is merely a set of man-made rules, ideas, and regulations that, on the surface, may appear to be good. But in God's reality, they are often nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Jesus Himself hated “religion” and spoke harshly to the Pharisees, who were judgmental, spiritually prideful, power-hungry, and outright hypocritical. These men were spiritually dead, despite their outward displays of righteousness.
In Matthew 23:13, Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to." He continues in Matthew 23:27-28, saying, "Woe to you... you are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
Jesus did not mince words! He was direct and bold with His criticisms. Often, people picture Jesus as a mild-mannered figure, tiptoeing through life, but the reality is He spoke with authority, telling the truth plainly. He made it clear in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no room for compromise; it’s His way, or the highway.
Religion as a Cocoon
Religion can be likened to a cocoon. Its cell walls are impermeable, not allowing God's truth to penetrate and instead trapping toxic beliefs and actions inside. It chokes people, slowly strangling them from the inside out. A religious practice that becomes more important than Jesus Himself is an idol, and those who bow to it are idolaters. This happens far too often within the church—where the focus shifts to committees, fundraisers, worship music, church buildings, routine rituals, or even the denomination itself. When people become fixated on these elements, church becomes a Christian country club, rather than a place to worship Jesus in spirit and truth.
I was once told about an experience a friend had at a large gathering where a famous preacher was speaking. The crowd was chanting the preacher's name, waiting for his arrival as if he were a rock star. This is a prime example of idolatry. While this preacher may have been criticized by other ministries, the real issue was with the people—Christian people, mind you—who elevated this man to a place that only Jesus should occupy.
The Danger of Idolatry
Revelation 21:8 warns us, "But the cowardly, the unfaithful, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." This passage serves as a sober reminder of the dangers of placing anything—or anyone—above God.
So many in the church today perform religious practices, going through the motions without any real connection to our Lord. Deep down, these individuals are empty and searching for something meaningful. That "something" is a true, loving relationship with our Lord. It's not about what we can do through religious performance, but what Jesus already did for us on the cross out of His love.
Are You Religious?
Do you believe that following rules and regulations will make God happy and guarantee you a spot in heaven? Or do you recognize that only through a relationship with Jesus Christ can you truly experience peace and eternal life?
Examine yourselves today. As 2 Corinthians 13:5 urges, “Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don’t you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test?”
Let's take this moment to reflect on our hearts and the place we’ve given Jesus in our lives. Are we trapped in the confines of religion, or are we truly walking in the freedom of a relationship with Christ?
~Kimberly - Minister/Teacher @ God's Healing Power Radio Ministry . GodsHealingPower.org
Hope For Healing Radio
© from our newspaper column
Please like and share!
Comments