Religion or relationship?

1. Religion taught me to hate the sin and the sinner. Relationship teaches me to hate the sin but love the sinner.
2. Religion taught me that I am better than everyone else. Relationship teaches me that my struggles are not better than yours and yours are not better than mine.
3. Religion taught me to always wear my religious mask. Relationship teaches me to be real, raw, and flawed with other and especially with Jesus. He already knows I how I feel, so why not just tell Him?
4. Religion taught me to not let anyone at church know that I am going through a tough time because it makes me "less spiritual." Relationship teaches me that struggling with something doesn't make me "less spiritual" and overcoming a struggle doesn't make me "more spiritual." It strengthens my relationship with Jesus.
5. Religion taught me that I can do what I want and ask for forgiveness later. Relationship teaches me that when I love Jesus, I want to please Him. Sinning is not something I want to do or set out to do.
6. Religion taught me that being hypocritical is okay. Relationship teaches me that being hypocritical is serious business, like, fall flat on my face before the King of the universe serious.
7. Religion taught me that everyone else is wrong, not me. Relationship teaches me that criticism (with love) helps me grow closer to Him.
8. Religion says, "Does the Bible really say that?" Relationship says, "Where did you find that Scripture?"
9. Religion taught me that mission work is only for the missionaries. Relationship teaches me that mission work is all the time, everywhere, and 100% mandatory.
10. Religion taught me that porn is not okay but reading/watching 50 Shades of Grey is okay. Relationship teaches me to "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)
11. Religion taught me that singing hymns like the most unhappy person is the only appropriate form of worship. Relationship teaches me that worship isn't just singing on Sunday but worship is everyday and in everything you do. Worship isn't an activity, it's a lifestyle.
12. Religion taught me to keep my hand raising to myself. Relationship teaches me that there is no right or wrong way to wholeheartedly worship Jesus.
13. Religion taught me that dancing sends me straight to hell. Relationship teaches me that David danced before the Lord in his undies. I'm not "too good'" for that.
14. Religion taught me that  all youth members are loud, hypocritical, hormonal demons. Relationship teaches me that youth is the future of the church and we should love them and teach them the ways of the Lord and teach them to love the Lord.
15. Religion taught me that the budget of the church is more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that winning souls to Jesus is the number one priority of the church budget.
16. Religion taught me that hymns are more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that winning souls to Jesus is far more important than what style of music we sing.
17. Religion taught me that the carpet color or the paint color is more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that churches all around the world don't have the luxury of choosing carpet color and paint color. Are we too busy arguing about it to reach those all around the world and in our community?
18. Religion taught me that how long the sermon is more important than winning souls to Jesus. Relationship teaches me that if in the last five minutes of the sermon won someone' heart to Jesus, does it really matter that the sermon was ten minutes too long?
19. Religion taught me that, "pride comes before the fall," is false. Relationship teaches me that pride and spiritual pride leads to spiritual apathy.
20. Religion taught me to say it, sing it, even if you don't mean it. Relationship teaches me that singing, "You give and take away my my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your name," is hard. I need to sing it more that once to mean it.

Religion without relationship is…
Singing without glorifying
Speaking without honoring
Serving without loving
Gathering without worshipping
Teaching without learning
Leading without following
Planning without praying
The cross without the resurrection