Introduction
The pitfalls of religion over a relationship between
oneself and the Lord Jesus Christ of Creation must be supreme. Some people believe
that religion is superior to a relationship. This author believes that a personal
relationship over human-made religion becomes paramount.
Many will reject what I am saying to embrace a religious
denomination, that my friend is their choice, and I respect what they believe, but
I disagree with them about this choice. Religion will tie one’s hands, but a relationship
sets us free.
Religion
During this stage, people in a crisis will turn to
a religious denomination that comforts them. However, when this predicament ends,
those same individuals who embraced religion will fall back into their old ways
of life.
According to the dictionary, religion is a belief
in some superhuman controlling person. This control could be why people run to faith
when a catastrophe presents itself. Religion is a set of rules laid out by the founder
of that religious sect, or today, we call them denominations.
List of Christian
Denominations
Each has its regulations that the devotee must adhere
to or face ex-communication.
James 1:26-27 says,
If anyone thinks himself
to be religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this
man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God
and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself
unstained by the world.
It speaks of a “Pure and undefiled religion,” but
not all human-made religions are pure or undefiled. Many religions seem laced with the beliefs of the Pharisees of old, with an extensive list of “do’s and don’ts.”
A “Pure and undefiled religion” is a relationship between individuals.
Relationship
According to the dictionary, a relationship is how
people connect or how individuals act toward each other. When one connects with the Lord Jesus, it is not about “do’s and don’ts!” It is about how one shows one's love and respect for each other.
If we love the Lord Jesus Christ, obeying Him will
be easiest. Our first task should be as the scripture teaches.
Matthew 22:37-40 says,
And He said to him, You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with
all your mind. And this is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like
it: You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. These two commandments depend
on the whole Law and the Prophets.
If one loves the Lord, then all else will fall into
place. There is no religion here, but a relationship between God and people. There
are no “do’s and don’ts” to follow in a relationship because one does it out of
love.
Husband and Wife
The first relationship was between God and Adam,
out of pure love. Then God created a woman, and now, a relationship was among humans,
and no religion was involved here.
Ephesians
5:25, 33 says,
Husbands love their wives,
just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her. Still, each individual
among you must also love his wife even as he loves himself, and the wife must see that
she respects her husband.
It has always been important for relationships, not
the human-made religion of today. If one has love and devotion to an individual,
one will do anything to make them happy.
That is why a relationship is far superior to any
religion.
Family Relationships
It is all about relationships with all humans, regardless
of their color.
Ephesians 6:1-9 says,
Children, obey your parents
in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (the first commandment
with a promise) so it may be well with you and that you may live long on the
earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the
discipline and instruction of the Lord. Enslaved people, be obedient to those who
are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity
of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves
of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart and with good will render service,
as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each does,
this he will receive back from the Lord, whether enslaved person or free. And
masters do the same things to them and give up threatening, knowing that both their
Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
The above passage is not about religion but the relationship
of children toward their parents and vice versa; it is also about servants and their
relationship to the master and how the master treats his servants. All healthy relationships
are from the Lord and must be from the heart.
The author contends this whole passage is about relationships
with other individuals. Religion will not work because it has too many rules.
The Ten Commandments
Relationships with others are so meaningful that
even in God’s Commandments of Moses, most were to show how our relationship was
to be with our fellow man.
Relationship Toward
God
You
shall have no other gods before me.
You
shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember
the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
Relationship Toward
Man
Honor
your father and your mother.
You
shall not commit adultery.
You
shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
There are more commandments towards man than God;
as God shows us, it is a relationship superior to religion.
Conclusion
The relationship is far superior to any religion.
Religion only translates into denominationalism. Religion, denominationalism, or
whatever one wants to call it, is a tool that has caused divisions in the body of
Christ called the Church. Genuine relationships bring only one closer to each other
in love and devotion.
Humankind has gotten so wrapped up in religion it
has forgotten people. Do not let religion rule your life; commit to a personal relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ, and see the results soar to the next level.
God has no religion with us, but He has a relationship
waiting if we ask.
Sola Scriptura–By Scripture Alone
Sola Fide–By Faith Alone
Sola Gratia–By Grace Alone
Solus Christus–By Christ Alone
Soli Deo Gloria–Glory to God Alone
Copyright George L Gallant,
©2021, Updated: ©2024
New American Standard Bible:
1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995)
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