As believers, if we get involved in religion, it can easily dominate our prayer life and our daily walk with God.

Is that good?

Not at all!

Practically speaking, the worldly religions tell you that you can reach the Higher power or the Supreme being through your own efforts. Reaching that higher state of being is a reward that you’ll achieve once you strictly adhere to whatever the religion prescribes.

However, what separates Christianity from any other religion is the relationship with Jesus. He is the only spiritual leader EVER to rise from the dead. The rest are six feet underground still. You cannot have a relationship with dead people.

But if we keep running after meeting a certain standard of performance in deeds and get crippled with the feelings of condemnation that our God will be angry or will forsake us when we fall short of that standard, it’s religion.

And that’s how religion cripples your relationship with Jesus – one who paid a huge price for our sins.

You may ask, why is relationship with Jesus more important than anything else we should have as a Christian?

Here’s what the scripture says:

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7

Jesus is the door that connects us with the Father.

No other man, no set of standards or belief systems can help us establish that relationship with God. Why? Because Jesus is who we need and if we get to really know Him, we get to know the Father, our creator.

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 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.” James 1:26-27