I’ll be honest I have gotten this question a lot and I never quite knew how to respond. I don’t prefer the term “religious” due to the fact that it has a lot of rules and regulations attached to it. I simply believe in having a relationship with God and following his word. Many man-made religious rules turn people away from the church and make it seem knowing God unattainable. If we do not live up to certain man-made standards then the guilt kicks in and we can be trapped for a very long time. Guilt and shame are not from God, because they put the emphasis on us. Conviction however is from God because it helps us recognize our errors from not following his word and then propels us to him. We are not creatures designed to grow on our own, we are made to need God. So much baggage can come from viewing religion as a performance rather than an everlasting walk with God.
Oxford dictionary defines religion as a “particular system of faith and worship.” Although they may be correct it comes off as rather cold and empty. A relationship is defined as “the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.” The keyword is connected. We are connected to God through a relationship with him, not by trying to live up to a worldly standard that constantly makes us feel guilty.
Revelation 3:20 says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
The other definition of religion is “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.”
Verses like Revelation 3:20 and many others prove time and time again that God is not just some overarching powerful being controlling everything but a God who wants to be with you. Scripture explains we need just open the door as he knocks and we will spend time together as friends. He longs to have a relationship with us, which is so much deeper than the word religion gives him credit.
God is not a God who controls us but a God who gave us free will to choose to be with him or not. We are not forced to open the door but we can and he will freely enter.
John 1:10-13 says, “He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”
If being religious means I believe in some distant superhuman who I have to execute life perfectly for with no help from him then I am not religious.
If being religious means the emphasis is on a man-made system or building and not on God, then I am not religious.
But I do have a personal relationship with God.
I do believe he sent his Son to die for me.
I do strive to be who he wants me to be, with his help of course.
I do love him and know when I pass on I will be in his presence.
Sources: Oxford Dictionary, NLT Bible 2011, and The Communicators Commentary by Earl F. Palmer.