I Am Losing My Religion

I am losing my religion.

Religion. Big word. Not necessarily a big vocabulary word or even very hard to pronounce. However, it is a big word full of emotion, baggage, experiences, preferences, hatred, love, confusion, anger and so much more. The emotions that arise vary greatly depending on who you talk to.

You may have grown up in a religious household where religion was full of uplifting, spiritual experiences. Religion can be a peaceful and joyful word for you.

You may have grown up in a household where you went to church with extended family on the holidays but that was your extent. No harsh feelings, just no passion involved in your emotions towards religion.

You may have grown up in a household where religion was forced upon you. Year after year of hymn, service, recited prayers, kneeling, etc. have left you numb to religion and ready for a break.

You may have grown up in a household where religion was only exposed to you at funerals. Religion brings up sad and angry memories of asking God why he could let such terrible things happen.

You may have grown up in a household unaware of religion. It wasn’t in your family, community, or anything else, so you just don’t care for it and don’t see a need.

You may have grown up in a household where your family felt outcast and looked down on by religion. Being religious means hatred and you aren’t sure why anyone would be a part of it.

You may not think about religion at all.

There are many different variations of thoughts and emotions of religion for each individual. But let me promise you this – the forms of religion and the emotions you experienced in the past do not always reflect God, do not always reflect Jesus, and do not always reflect the word of God. Any of the examples above that include hate, judgement, lies, anger, or similar emotions are not what faith in Jesus Christ brings, not what the bible says and not part of my faith.

Religion to me seems to often get in the way of the point. The point of the gospel. The point of Jesus. The point of faith.

Let me tell you this. The gospel proclaims that God so loved the world and His creation that He gave His one and only Son. His one and only Son died on the cross for everyone. The wages of all of our sins is death. He sent His Son to die on the cross and pay the price that we could never pay to save us from our sin and give eternal life to whoever believes in him. Through love and relationship with us He wants to know each one of his sons and daughters personally. His greatest commandment to His people is to love Him and love others. Above all else. Above judgement, the law, worldly things or justice. By loving others in truth, we become more and more like Christ. He uses the love of others to draw you closer to Him. He is always seeking every single one of his children every second of every day. Right after you do something good and right after you do something bad. He just wants you.

If this doesn’t sound like the religion you have experienced, I am personally sorry. I also want to change that. My hope is that through faith and love, you get to know Jesus Christ. Instead of getting people to understand religion, we need people to understand Jesus.

One of my favorite artists Lauren Daigle released an album with the song “Losing My Religion.” The bridge goes like this:

“I’m losing my religion and finding something new. I need something different and different looks like You. I’m losing my religion and finding something new. ‘Cause I need something different, and different looks like You.”

I don’t want you to just know my church, our worship band, our bible study, our rules or our ideas. Above all else, I want you to know Jesus.

I am losing my religion. And finding Jesus.