Religion is right if...

You know, the thin line between being a religious Christian and a relational Christian is so fine… you don’t even notice it until you’ve crossed it. And sometimes, you only realize it when the Lord taps your shoulder and says, “We haven’t really talked in a while.”

1. Religion Isn’t the Enemy.

We’ve painted “religion” like the bad guy in some of our preaching. But James, the elder in Jerusalem, didn’t think so. He actually said there’s such a thing as pure and undefiled religion (James 1:26-27).

"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein(bridle) 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."

Religion, by definition, is your belief in the unseen. And in that sense, everyone is religious — Muslims, Hindus, atheists (yes, atheism is a belief system), and yes, Christians too.

But here’s where Christianity changes the script: we don’t just believe in the unseen. The Unseen showed up on our scene.

That’s why John could say:

“That which we have heard, which we have SEEN with our eyes, which we have LOOKED AT and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have SEEN it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has APPEARED TO US. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:1–3)

That’s a relationship statement. That’s not theory. That’s testimony. But there are two relationships mentioned there; relationship with the fellowship and relationship of the fellowship to the Father/Son. The former in my opinion is religion(fellowship with other believers), the latter is relationship(fellowship with God).

Tuko pamoja?

Religion is however only good if it achieves three things.

2. The Three Targets of Good Religion.

James says, “Okay, you want to be religious? Fine. But make sure it’s this kind of religion.”

And then he gives three markers:

1. Self-control — “bridle your tongue” (James 1:26)

   If your words aren’t under control, your religion is all noise.

2. Sacrifice — “visit orphans and widows in their trouble” (James 1:27)

   If your faith doesn’t move your shillings or your schedule, it’s empty. Relational Christians are not just tithers. We are big on giving.

3. Sanctification — “keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27)

   If you look, sound, and smell like the world, your faith is cosmetic. Hii kitu ni personal, internal and relational. Not aesthetics tu.

Notice James isn’t handing out gold stars here. He’s saying: “If you insist on calling yourself religious, here’s the bare minimum.” In simple terms, he was angry at them. They had left Jerusalem because of their hustles, and slowly by slowly they lost relationship.

Basically, James is calling the Jews in dispersion to be rightly relational with each other and with God. Please read the whole letter from James slowly. It's rich in wisdom.

3. The Shift From Religion to Relationship.

Religion is doing the things (following laws- of Moses or your denomination). Relationship is being with the One. Kama hujui sauti ya God, wewe ni outsider and as Jews would say, same wozzap na madoggy.

The law was necessary — it set the boundaries. But grace in Jesus is the invitation into His presence.

Here’s the problem:

* Religion without relationship → empty soul and empty wallets. From makings sents to making dents.😁

* Relationship without any religion → isolation, pride and cults can be birthed.

Healthy faith lives in both worlds: your discipline (religion) becomes the structure that protects your intimacy (relationship).

4. The Reality.

I’m still processing this. I’m still learning when I’ve slipped into auto-pilot religious mode and when I’m truly walking with Him. But here’s where I’ve landed for now:

If my faith isn’t producing self-control, sacrifice, and sanctification… then I’m in the wrong religion and doing something wrong.

If my walk with Jesus isn’t producing ongoing fellowship with Him… then I’m in the wrong relationship.

Pure religion should be the floor, not the ceiling. Relationship with Jesus is the ceiling that keeps rising the longer you walk with Him.

Selah.