RELIGION OR RELATIONSHIP?
             EVALUATING OUR WALK WITH GOD
             While taking a spiritual inventory of my walk in Christ, this one question seems to be a recurring theme "Is my walk forming a more intimate relationship with Jesus or have I allowed myself to become entrapped in the ritual of religion?" In order for me to answer that question, I must truthfully examine myself, and the Word, and allow the Spirit of God to speak to my inner man.
             First, let's look at these two words and get a better understanding of exactly what we mean. Religion is another word for tradition or legalism. It is man's definitive answer for a God made ordinance. It is our fruitless acts of religion; going through the motions of religious ceremony. On the other hand, relationship is defined as intimacy or knowledge of in reference to Christ. It is a trust that comes from knowing that person and their character and or history in reference to your life. You can not get relationship with Christ from another person's experience. You can only receive it, based upon personal interaction.
             Now, let's look at these two factions and ascertain their similarities. First of all, both of these concepts are being used in this paper, to describe a type of interaction with God. Both those who go to church out of religious duty and those who go to church looking to be in the presence of Him are targeting the same spiritual Head. Secondly, both religion and relationship both require some type of action from the individual. If I am just a church member, one who comes just for the sake of coming, I still am doing something that requires effort on my part. On the other hand, in order to develop relationship with Christ, I must diligently seek to know Him and to worship Him. Again, this requires a concerted effort on my part. Lastly, the individuals that are practicing both of these acts, can both fall under the same overall categ
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