Religion vs. True Relationship

Written by Danica Hobbs Reed

As I have already previously discussed, I am a Christian believer. However, I am now going through a point in my belief that some collective, traditional based customary services are not my cup of tea. It is almost torment to my soul to sit through one of these church services. It is ironic that I feel this way because my husband is an ordained minister. I just believe that religious tradition and a true relationship in Jesus is two different things. Most of the time the majority of our Christian believers have a tendency to confuse the two.


One of Webster’s dictionary meaning for religion is “extremely scrupulous and conscientious”. This definition implies customary tradition which many believers have taken on today. In other words, this meaning implicates that you can religiously eat. You can religiously drink. You can religiously curse. You can religiously visit the local clubs. You can religiously do anything under the sun. James 1; 27 states, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” True religion! Pure and simple!

Webster’s dictionary meaning for relationship on the other hand is “A state of connectedness between people (especially an emotional connection).” When you actually think about this, it is so profound. You see we as Christians are in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Therefore we take on the relationship aspects of love, respect and honor. So therefore if we are Christians we should make every effort to do what is pleasing to God, because of our relationship, because of our connectedness to him.


Ritualistic, traditional beliefs move toward the ideology that it is how many usher, deacons and choir anniversary programs one’s traditional church can have as to if the true work of God is being accomplished. Sometimes the traditional mind-set of the church is so caught up in the four walls of it, that true work of God is often overlooked.

It is perfectly fine on Sunday to go and worship God with all your mind, body and soul, but when the service is over, did you receive anything from the message. Are you going to utilize your knowledge from the wisdom of the minister to bless someone else that week, or will you simply let the message go in one ear or out the other?


When we collectively gather for assembly in the House of God let’s move away from traditionalism and make a conscious effort to have a true relationship with God in every aspect of the word. By the way, did I inform you the definition of true is, “proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment: consistent not false.” Consistent, not false! This is the best way I can possibly sum up a true relationship in God through Christ. Nothing more to be said!