RELIGION or RELATIONSHIP
You’ve DEFINITELY have heard of this topic before in SOME way.
“We’re not religious, we’re in relationship with Jesus”
And we probably all would agree with it’s explanation.
Those who are RELIGIOUS are those that are like the Pharisees and Sadducees. They went throughout the communities enforcing law over people, and immediately condemning anyone who didn’t follow those laws.
On the other hand, those who are in RELATIONSHIP with Christ are bound by love for one another rather than condemnation. They have grace for each other; and instead of living under subjection of the law they are following Jesus in the nature of loving God and each other.
Let me first address what is TRUE: The Pharisees and Sadducees were wrong in their actions. Also, Christians are to work in the nature of love. Both reasons are part of Jesus’ ministry, to refute their false teaching, and explaining and showcasing the love we are to have.
However, subjecting these issues to simply saying one is because they are RELIGIOUS and the other are in RELATIONSHIP…….is that SOUND?
First let’s tackle the Pharisees and Sadducees.
We see them constantly after Jesus to condemn Him of claiming to be God and accusing Him of breaking Mosaic laws.
Jesus exposed them in three different matters.
When it came to God’s law, the TEN COMMANDMENTS, Jesus exposed that they corrupted them with their own interpretation, which turns law into tradition.
Matthew 15: 3-9 - And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER IS BE PUT TO DEATH.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’ And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN’ “
Which is why in Christ’s first message he re-emphasizes the spirit (or intent) of God’s law when mentioned. (Matthew 5: 21-30)
When they came arguing on Mosaic Laws, Jesus exposed their glorifying of outward practice alone while ignoring the intent of being spiritually clean when it came to things life food and ceremonial cleansing.
Matthew 15: 17-20 - Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.
Basically read Matthew 15
Jesus exposes their hypocrisy altogether by their neglect of the intent and the Spirit within the laws.
Matthew 23: 25-28 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
They sound RELIGIOUS…however…
The failures of the Pharisees isn’t an issue of mere religion, but BAD RELIGION.
Religion [by definition] is - a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Biblical definition of Religion is - religious observance, the outward ceremonial service of religion, the external form; practical piety rightly directed; the worship of God; the devoutness arising from godly fear.
Where is RELIGION used Biblically?
James 1: 26 - 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.
This shows that there is an invalid practice of RELIGION. Like how Jesus exposed the ‘law enforcers,’ it was revealed that how they were handling the laws weren’t the intent that God had for them.
Now let’s look at how RELIGION IS MEANT TO BE.
James 1: 27 - Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and keep oneself unstained by the world.
Think about that last verse. Being “unstained by the world” sounds like the call of Christians. And to visit widows and orphans……That sounds…..loving.!
The truth is:
PURE RELIGION IS RELATIONSHIP
Personal moment: Growing up in a black southern baptist church in Marion, South Carolina, you can probably imagine the type of music we sung. But a frequent song I remember singing is one I believed is titled; Certainly Lord. Being a call of what we are to do and be under Him. One of the lyrics is; “Do you have good religion? CERTAINLY LORD!”
I mention this because I never fully could understand this trend, when at the same time I’m meant to take scripture “at its word.” And I know because the term “religion” is only mentioned a few times, mainly in James, it’s possibly just forgettable. But when I look at how pure religion is defined here, not only does it align with the other scriptures that reveal who Christians are and what they are meant to do, I can’t help but to see a connection that since we’ve rejected this term, we’ve also talked less and less about being: UNSTAINED by the world (instead we are to believe that a sin nature is inevitable), less on BRIDLING OUR TONGUES (instead Christians keep going further and further in “reckless” speech) and less on taking care of orphans and widows. I’m not saying NOBODY is doing these things, but it’s easier to talk less on them when you remove RELIGION, and thereby removing the chance to search this part of scripture.
Again, like I said at the beginning, I understand the concepts that have been used in this new “RELATIONSHIP over RELIGION” theology of today’s church. But if I were to ask the question: IS IT SOUND? It just isn’t.
If scripture is plain, let it be plain. Let’s just….get back to the Word.
*Definition of religion sourced by dictionary.com as of 9/12/2025 and biblical definition via Parallel Plus App on IOS
*Scripture shown in NAS95 version of the Bible via LITERAL WORD app on IOS
