To put Jesus in the same sentence as the word 'religion' is not really accurate, in my opinion. Jesus spoke out so strongly against the religious hypocrisy of his age, because he knew that the 'religious' structures had strangled the life out of the best relationship of all - a relationship with the Father.
Religion should be a vehicle through-which one lives out our relationship with God. In other words, Religion needs to be the servant of 'Christianity', not the other way round. I humbly suggest that when Religion becomes our master, we lose all "vital signs" of LIFE in our faith.
"A religion of rules and regulations,
practised to achieve status and praise, is only an invitation to slavery and
misery. Of itself, religion does not bring joy.” – Warren Wiersbe
I believe that any committed follower of Christ will seek to honour Jesus, and not necessarily religion. There are times in history, where the two (Christianity and religion) have been closely affiliated, but sadly at other times this hasn't been true.
So, if 'religion' is stifling your faith, then perhaps we need to redefine what the limits of religion are.
James 1: 27 - Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion,
the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out
to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against
corruption from the godless world.
Living in Grace
D3LM3
