Just to be clear, I don’t think religion is inherently evil or bad. Like I said, this post was about connotation.
I love James 1:27…”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.”
I really resonate with the heart of what you're saying—especially the longing for soul-deep transformation over surface-level behavior. That hunger for the real Jesus, not religious pretense, is something I think we all feel in different ways.
At the same time, I’ve also found that the very rhythms and rituals Jesus practiced—prayer, Sabbath, communion, Scripture—are not hoops to jump through but wells to draw from. They’re places of encounter, not performance. I think when those practices are paired with good pastoral care, sound teaching, and relational discipleship, they become channels for the kind of healing you described.
The real issue often isn’t the presence of ritual, but the absence of obedience and intimacy within it. Jesus says His commands are not burdensome—they’re life-giving. And when we ignore them, it's like refusing a doctor's prescription and wondering why we're still sick.
Rituals without Jesus are empty. But rituals with Jesus are how we walk with Him daily, even when our souls are raw. That’s where I’ve found the most unexpected grace.
We are definitely in a weird gray space with how 'charged' religious language is.
Pastoring is like trying to restore people's eyesight to behold the beauty of Jesus and then telling people to practice religious things without religious language often times lol. "Have you tried talking to God." "Maybe you should take one day of rest and dedicate it to the Lord each week." "Have you tried abstaining from food and giving that extra time to God." and then once they get started you teach the deeper, beautiful, theological truths and realities surrounding them.
Beautifully said, Samuel! I completely agree! There’s a huge shift when you begin to see the practices of Jesus as a way to engage with him and not rituals. They’ve become a huge part of my own life.
I love this so so much. I honestly needed to read this on this day. I agree 1000% with EVERYTHING YOU SAID. Thank you so much for allowing that to flow through you. It sounds a lot like my two most recent posts. Take a look if you'd like on my substack..
I appreciate your response! I have followed you on Substack. Feel free to explore my latest posts. Haven't posted anything recently but what I have posted is "timeless" in my humble opinion 😉 lol Briefing human and the divine through the core roots of our being. Very important as we are sew weathering the quick changes into more technological advances.... I have my reservations but I know I can't control that wave.... so I do my best to keep the old and true alive as best as I can, as far as I can "see" thanks for your subscription. All my content is free... not sure if I will ever make it paid or not but that is not my goal....
Thank God, we don't have to prove ourselves to God. When is it enough works? And then when we fail and miss the mark, we're just so hard on ourselves. Jesus is such an easy solution for people. They have nothing to lose everything to gain if only they would believe and yet the world is blind, and still rather perform. . And which religion is the right one? Thank God GOD showed us the way through Jesus and his grace.
I learned a very long time ago that there is a difference between the Church and the people who run it. Not saying the latter types are all bad or wrong, that would be both very incorrect and unfair and bigoted. However, the difference you mention is very real and a core religious Lesson.
I’ve embraced the word “religion” as descriptive of my spiritual life, and have to respectfully take issue with your conceptualization of it as form without function. The forms of faith are purposeful. They are designed to create the heart change you describe through adherence to and ritual participation in them. You can certainly participate in them without engaging your heart, but by not participating in them you do not replace them with something more effective at changing your heart.
Call yourself religious, if you are religious. Don’t shy away from the word. Give it the power that it has been robbed of by people who picture it as stodgy adherence to forms without meaning.
I respect your point of view here and do not strongly disagree with you. If you knew more of my background and the people I’m generally writing to, you may better understand why I went this direction.
If someone grew up with an abusive father, you may not choose to immediately emphasize God as Father until you did some other work. I think this is part of becoming all things to all people. We can agree to disagree on this one.
I can understand that. I have my own history from working for a decade in a toxic ministry culture where I experienced religious abuse. My story has really led me to see religion not so much as the institution as the practice and tradition. Religious institutions are really only a part of that, and the most flawed part. The practices of prayer, hymns, liturgy, stories, and interpretations, as they stand the test of time, are the place where transformation happens. That's where I'm coming from.
Thank you!!! I can remembering actually spewing my coffee in a restaurant years ago when a friend shared with me that I should view God as I did my father. That was good for another couple of years of inaction in my journey toward Christ.
Wow, thank you for sharing that it’s honest, deep, and speaks to something so many of us feel but don’t always say out loud. I get it completely. Like you, I don’t want to be known for being “religious” either. Religion, the way you described it checking boxes, keeping up appearances, doing things just to stay on God’s good side completely misses the heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t die so we could follow a bunch of rules He died so we could be *free*. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery That’s exactly what religion can feel like sometimes a yoke of slavery, heavy and lifeless. But what Jesus offers is relationship, rest, and real transformation. Matthew 11:28-30 hits it perfectly: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. He didn’t come for polished people who know how to fake it He came for the broken, the tired, the people like us who are willing to admit, “I need help.” When you said He speaks to you in ways no one else can, not even yourself—I felt that. That’s the Holy Spirit, alive and personal. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that while people look at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart. And He knows yours. He sees every moment you’ve collapsed before Him, every tear, every question, every raw confession—and He meets you there. That’s not religion. That’s redemption. That’s Jesus. He’s not after perfect behavior. He’s after surrendered hearts. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not when we had it all figured out. Not when we finally got our act together. While we were *still* a mess. So no, I don’t want to be seen as religious either. I want to be known as someone who walked with Jesus in the highs and lows, who lived in the freedom only He can give. That’s the real Gospel and I see it clearly in what you shared. Keep going, brother. That kind of honesty and hunger for God is exactly what this world needs to see.
Chris so appreciate this post and specifically your thought - “Jesus is the healer of the human soul and our souls are often in worse shape than we realize. When I use the word “soul,” I’m referring to the essence of who we are. If that’s the soul, when’s the last time you thought about how yours is actually doing? We simply don’t live in a world that’s kind to the human soul. Our fast-paced, performance obsessed culture encourages us to hurry through our lives and numb whatever pain we may be experiencing. This is clearly not an environment that fosters soul transformation.”
There is so much incoming in this carnival world that fractures our souls….. deeply.
I have been speaking on something for a while and started to write about it here on substack - peace over performance….. would enjoy your comments on my starter posts if you ever wander over to my substack 😊. We need intimacy with Christ now more than ever.
So - I also appreciate Samuels comment here as well - that it’s not about the ritual but the intimacy you find with it. I have had 25 years walking with Christ. And I have been involved in so many different Christian denominations- and I got gained something valuable out of all of them. I love liturgical services the intimacy and sacredness of holy communion… I also love evangelical services with people loving God so passionately and openly. I also found Christ with moments praying with the homeless - I have found Christ in surprising every day moments. And in my Bible devotional time how He helps me take thoughts into poetry, prayer and prose. Thank you for sharing !
My privilege and I’m so glad it was helpful! I too have found Christ in so many different places. I leave for Africa next week and hope to experience him deeply in Kenya. Thankful to be on this journey with likeminded souls. 😊
Great post. “Jesus didn’t come to create a bunch of religious robots who know how to look good on the outside and be completely jacked up on the inside.” Aligns well with Jesus telling the religious leaders how they appear clean on the outside but on the inside, they’re full of dirt.
There’s a big difference in man-made religion for man driven power and control and abuse of authority… and Jesus’ Church of humility and compassion and authenticity !
"Religious observances are to soul healing what bandaids are to cancer." - this was my favourite quote but obvs the who thing was very insightful and relatable.
I often use the term Christian straight out or say I'm a "person of faith" because I also don't like the connotations of religion. I also can't say I'm spiritual because that's a thing in itself nowadays as well. Thank you for sharing :)
When my son Adam was about to make his first holy communion, he had to go through penance, as part of the ritual. Afterward he walked up to the Monsignor of our church and asked innocently "aren't the statues in the church idols?" Monsignor very roughly said to him "NO, they are artist depictions of the saints." My son looked at me and said in class his teacher said they should pray to the saints, he knew at 8 years of age that these were false idols. Religion is harmful to what is truly taught in the word. That these things are a means of diversion from the actual truth. Thank you JESUS, for calling me out of the grave.
Thanks! I have always cringed at that word "religious". I don't like to hear others say it about me because I try to live more than that. . . much more. I'm trying to live a spiritual life, and to me that represents a whole other paradigm, living "the way" as Christians were referred to before the word Christian became the norm. A spiritual life, and by rote a person who is spiritual, is one who is living "the way", and thus is, as you so appropriatly said.....following Jesus.
Just to be clear, I don’t think religion is inherently evil or bad. Like I said, this post was about connotation.
I love James 1:27…”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.”
Let’s reclaim real religion!
I do and I rebuke that in the name of YHWH
Sorry, just so I’m clear…what are you rebuking?
Religion
Religion
I’m with you!
I really resonate with the heart of what you're saying—especially the longing for soul-deep transformation over surface-level behavior. That hunger for the real Jesus, not religious pretense, is something I think we all feel in different ways.
At the same time, I’ve also found that the very rhythms and rituals Jesus practiced—prayer, Sabbath, communion, Scripture—are not hoops to jump through but wells to draw from. They’re places of encounter, not performance. I think when those practices are paired with good pastoral care, sound teaching, and relational discipleship, they become channels for the kind of healing you described.
The real issue often isn’t the presence of ritual, but the absence of obedience and intimacy within it. Jesus says His commands are not burdensome—they’re life-giving. And when we ignore them, it's like refusing a doctor's prescription and wondering why we're still sick.
Rituals without Jesus are empty. But rituals with Jesus are how we walk with Him daily, even when our souls are raw. That’s where I’ve found the most unexpected grace.
I completely agree. I definitely don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. I too see certain rituals as wells to draw from.
We are definitely in a weird gray space with how 'charged' religious language is.
Pastoring is like trying to restore people's eyesight to behold the beauty of Jesus and then telling people to practice religious things without religious language often times lol. "Have you tried talking to God." "Maybe you should take one day of rest and dedicate it to the Lord each week." "Have you tried abstaining from food and giving that extra time to God." and then once they get started you teach the deeper, beautiful, theological truths and realities surrounding them.
Hahaha so well said!!
Beautifully said, Samuel! I completely agree! There’s a huge shift when you begin to see the practices of Jesus as a way to engage with him and not rituals. They’ve become a huge part of my own life.
I love this so so much. I honestly needed to read this on this day. I agree 1000% with EVERYTHING YOU SAID. Thank you so much for allowing that to flow through you. It sounds a lot like my two most recent posts. Take a look if you'd like on my substack..
Thanks again for this, dear Soul!
My privilege!
I’d love to read what you’re writing and subscribe to each other! 💛
I subbed to you too btw*
I appreciate your response! I have followed you on Substack. Feel free to explore my latest posts. Haven't posted anything recently but what I have posted is "timeless" in my humble opinion 😉 lol Briefing human and the divine through the core roots of our being. Very important as we are sew weathering the quick changes into more technological advances.... I have my reservations but I know I can't control that wave.... so I do my best to keep the old and true alive as best as I can, as far as I can "see" thanks for your subscription. All my content is free... not sure if I will ever make it paid or not but that is not my goal....
Thank God, we don't have to prove ourselves to God. When is it enough works? And then when we fail and miss the mark, we're just so hard on ourselves. Jesus is such an easy solution for people. They have nothing to lose everything to gain if only they would believe and yet the world is blind, and still rather perform. . And which religion is the right one? Thank God GOD showed us the way through Jesus and his grace.
So thankful for Jesus!
I love what you said - there is no need to prove ourselves to Him.
I learned a very long time ago that there is a difference between the Church and the people who run it. Not saying the latter types are all bad or wrong, that would be both very incorrect and unfair and bigoted. However, the difference you mention is very real and a core religious Lesson.
Thank you for sharing and for the encouragement.
I’ve embraced the word “religion” as descriptive of my spiritual life, and have to respectfully take issue with your conceptualization of it as form without function. The forms of faith are purposeful. They are designed to create the heart change you describe through adherence to and ritual participation in them. You can certainly participate in them without engaging your heart, but by not participating in them you do not replace them with something more effective at changing your heart.
Call yourself religious, if you are religious. Don’t shy away from the word. Give it the power that it has been robbed of by people who picture it as stodgy adherence to forms without meaning.
I respect your point of view here and do not strongly disagree with you. If you knew more of my background and the people I’m generally writing to, you may better understand why I went this direction.
If someone grew up with an abusive father, you may not choose to immediately emphasize God as Father until you did some other work. I think this is part of becoming all things to all people. We can agree to disagree on this one.
I can understand that. I have my own history from working for a decade in a toxic ministry culture where I experienced religious abuse. My story has really led me to see religion not so much as the institution as the practice and tradition. Religious institutions are really only a part of that, and the most flawed part. The practices of prayer, hymns, liturgy, stories, and interpretations, as they stand the test of time, are the place where transformation happens. That's where I'm coming from.
Could not agree more. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you!!! I can remembering actually spewing my coffee in a restaurant years ago when a friend shared with me that I should view God as I did my father. That was good for another couple of years of inaction in my journey toward Christ.
Wow, thank you for sharing that it’s honest, deep, and speaks to something so many of us feel but don’t always say out loud. I get it completely. Like you, I don’t want to be known for being “religious” either. Religion, the way you described it checking boxes, keeping up appearances, doing things just to stay on God’s good side completely misses the heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t die so we could follow a bunch of rules He died so we could be *free*. Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery That’s exactly what religion can feel like sometimes a yoke of slavery, heavy and lifeless. But what Jesus offers is relationship, rest, and real transformation. Matthew 11:28-30 hits it perfectly: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. He didn’t come for polished people who know how to fake it He came for the broken, the tired, the people like us who are willing to admit, “I need help.” When you said He speaks to you in ways no one else can, not even yourself—I felt that. That’s the Holy Spirit, alive and personal. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that while people look at the outward appearance, the Lord looks at the heart. And He knows yours. He sees every moment you’ve collapsed before Him, every tear, every question, every raw confession—and He meets you there. That’s not religion. That’s redemption. That’s Jesus. He’s not after perfect behavior. He’s after surrendered hearts. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not when we had it all figured out. Not when we finally got our act together. While we were *still* a mess. So no, I don’t want to be seen as religious either. I want to be known as someone who walked with Jesus in the highs and lows, who lived in the freedom only He can give. That’s the real Gospel and I see it clearly in what you shared. Keep going, brother. That kind of honesty and hunger for God is exactly what this world needs to see.
Thank you so much for this amazing note of encouragement! I appreciate it greatly!
Great stuff Chris! This is the first Substack post I have read and I’m digging this platform so far
Glad you liked it!!
Chris so appreciate this post and specifically your thought - “Jesus is the healer of the human soul and our souls are often in worse shape than we realize. When I use the word “soul,” I’m referring to the essence of who we are. If that’s the soul, when’s the last time you thought about how yours is actually doing? We simply don’t live in a world that’s kind to the human soul. Our fast-paced, performance obsessed culture encourages us to hurry through our lives and numb whatever pain we may be experiencing. This is clearly not an environment that fosters soul transformation.”
There is so much incoming in this carnival world that fractures our souls….. deeply.
I have been speaking on something for a while and started to write about it here on substack - peace over performance….. would enjoy your comments on my starter posts if you ever wander over to my substack 😊. We need intimacy with Christ now more than ever.
So - I also appreciate Samuels comment here as well - that it’s not about the ritual but the intimacy you find with it. I have had 25 years walking with Christ. And I have been involved in so many different Christian denominations- and I got gained something valuable out of all of them. I love liturgical services the intimacy and sacredness of holy communion… I also love evangelical services with people loving God so passionately and openly. I also found Christ with moments praying with the homeless - I have found Christ in surprising every day moments. And in my Bible devotional time how He helps me take thoughts into poetry, prayer and prose. Thank you for sharing !
My privilege and I’m so glad it was helpful! I too have found Christ in so many different places. I leave for Africa next week and hope to experience him deeply in Kenya. Thankful to be on this journey with likeminded souls. 😊
Great post. “Jesus didn’t come to create a bunch of religious robots who know how to look good on the outside and be completely jacked up on the inside.” Aligns well with Jesus telling the religious leaders how they appear clean on the outside but on the inside, they’re full of dirt.
There’s a big difference in man-made religion for man driven power and control and abuse of authority… and Jesus’ Church of humility and compassion and authenticity !
Such a big difference, Megan!
Yes. Stay away from the world's systems. Known as Babylon.
So true, Chris. I love how you said that this world is not kind to our souls. I completely agree.
I almost hate how true it is
"Religious observances are to soul healing what bandaids are to cancer." - this was my favourite quote but obvs the who thing was very insightful and relatable.
I often use the term Christian straight out or say I'm a "person of faith" because I also don't like the connotations of religion. I also can't say I'm spiritual because that's a thing in itself nowadays as well. Thank you for sharing :)
I truly hope it was helpful!
When my son Adam was about to make his first holy communion, he had to go through penance, as part of the ritual. Afterward he walked up to the Monsignor of our church and asked innocently "aren't the statues in the church idols?" Monsignor very roughly said to him "NO, they are artist depictions of the saints." My son looked at me and said in class his teacher said they should pray to the saints, he knew at 8 years of age that these were false idols. Religion is harmful to what is truly taught in the word. That these things are a means of diversion from the actual truth. Thank you JESUS, for calling me out of the grave.
Thank you for sharing, Martha. ❤️
I like this a lot
Thanks!
Thanks! I have always cringed at that word "religious". I don't like to hear others say it about me because I try to live more than that. . . much more. I'm trying to live a spiritual life, and to me that represents a whole other paradigm, living "the way" as Christians were referred to before the word Christian became the norm. A spiritual life, and by rote a person who is spiritual, is one who is living "the way", and thus is, as you so appropriatly said.....following Jesus.
Love your use of “the way.” This has also become a primary goal of mine. To examine in depth, the way Jesus lived and replicate it in my own life!