Religion Vs. Relationship

This is a topic I have wanted to make note of for quite some time. I think recently even more so, because it has been brought to my attention several times. With that being said, I think I'll begin by quoting the song by Jason Gray- More Like Falling In Love. "All Religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet-it never set me free" The first time I heard one of my friends say "I'm really not a religious person" it concerned me. He had been one of those people at youth gatherings that I had always looked up to...and now he was saying he didn't consider himself religious. At the time, to me "religious" meant what most people would assume... someone who believes in God..and simply that. I asked him about this..and that's when I learned what he meant. "Well, religion is a practice, and for me, I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Although I'd never heard it put that way, I understood what he meant...foundationally anyway. It's difficult sometimes for me, because people who know me on a personal level probably know I love the Lord, even though I'm not terribly outgoing about it. I would never deny God, it's just my philosophy that forcing it on people is a pretty unsuccessful route. I will have friends who aren't Christians who will say "I know you're religious, but..." Doesn't bother me...but at the same time, I want to point out that I'm not religious. In fact, the textbook definition of religious today is so twisted from people who present themselves as Christians, and treat people SO far and so very different than what Jesus ever intended. What I want to explain to them is that I have a personal relationship, and that is why I am who I am. Not because I go to church every single sunday, or read my bible everyday, or whatever it is that is "expected" that someone who is religious should do. It is because I LOVE Jesus Christ, and I fully admit I wouldn't be anything without that relationship. Anyone who knows me on a personal level will also know that while I am a Christian..I also am fully and wholly a sinner. I do things I shouldn't, say things I shouldn't, and while I try to minimalize my "mistakes", I know I'm nowhere perfect. I guess I'm pointing this out, because without those flaws, I wouldn't have a reason to love my savior. My biggest goal in life is to love others like I am loved-but people have to understand that I am human, and God is God. We all fall short of His glory. So if you want to know why I'm a Christian, you will get an answer; without my relationship with God- not perfect church attendance or "good works", I wouldn't be who I am. <3RP