Religious About Jesus vs. Spiritual With Jesus: Understanding the Difference
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Breaking Out of the Religious Paradigm
I did not grow up in religion (Shout out to my Mom and Dad for protecting me from it!). I have never been a religious person. I am someone who has dabbled in various spiritual practices—the occult, esoteric teachings, new age doctrines, witchcraft, and other teachings of this world. I had a personal encounter with Jesus before I fully encountered religion. I attended one Christian camp when I was a kid, I didn't really understand who Jesus was or what the camp was really about and found it all to be kind of odd but not alarming. I just had fun as a kid at a camp and was too young to understand the gospel. So when I was an adult and deep in occult practices, I was shocked when Jesus revealed Himself as the one who brought me out of my proverbial Egypt. When people hear that I believe Jesus is the Savior of the world now, they often assume I’ve aligned myself with the greater system of Christianity.
Christianity, in its purest form, is not a Roman invention—the faith in Christ existed long before Rome institutionalized it. However, organized religion has often distorted Jesus' message by replacing relationship with religious control. Jesus did not come to start a new religious system, but to fulfill the law and open direct access to the Father. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4)
Jesus did not come to abolish faith or obedience to God—He came to end the need for religious law as a means of righteousness (Hebrews 8:6-13). True faith is not about religious rituals but about walking in Spirit and truth (John 4:24).
Scriptural Support:
"We are ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)
The early disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26)—likely as an insult. However, the term was later embraced by believers. The Bible does not condemn the label, and Peter even said, "If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." (1 Peter 4:16). While some identify proudly as Christians, others—like me—choose to identify as disciples of Christ and co-heirs because it more accurately describes our relationship with Him.
However, I do not primarily identify as a Christian—not because I reject Christ, but because I see myself as more than just a follower of a religious label. I am a disciple of Christ, a co-heir with Him (Romans 8:17), and a child of God. My faith is not about aligning with a system called Christianity; it is about living in the fullness of Christ’s finished work and walking in Spirit and truth.
This understanding shifts the paradigm entirely. Instead of "I am a sinner who needs saving," I now live in the truth of "Jesus has already fulfilled what was necessary for me to be free." This means my prayers are not hindered by my sins any more than they are hindered by my flesh. If I believe I am distant from God because of what I have done, then I am once again focusing on a works-based relationship.
Sin does not separate a believer from God because Christ already removed the barrier (Romans 8:1). However, sin can hinder our ability to walk in spiritual authority and effectiveness if we allow it to dominate our hearts. God always hears His children, but when we hold onto sin, it may be our own hearts that become distant from Him.
Scriptural Support:
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." (Psalm 66:18)
"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)
Yes, the flesh must be crucified—but not so that we can reach Christ. We do it because we need to.
When Jesus said, "This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:21), He was not saying fasting was needed in that moment to drive out the demon. He was showing that fasting and prayer develop faith and authority over spiritual strongholds. The disciples' failure was due to unbelief (Matthew 17:20), and fasting strengthens the Spirit while humbling the flesh, increasing faith. "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed... nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)
What Does It Mean to Be Religious About Jesus?
Being religious about Jesus means treating faith as a system of rules, rituals, and performance rather than a living relationship. It often looks like:
- Legalism – Believing that adherence to religious laws or traditions makes one righteous.
- Works-Based Thinking – Measuring faith by how well one performs religious duties.
- Judgment & Condemnation – Viewing others through a lens of religious superiority rather than grace.
- Fear-Based Obedience – Following Jesus not out of love, but out of fear of punishment or rejection.
- Separation from God – Believing that sin permanently distances us from God, rather than understanding His fulfillment of grace.
The Pharisees were religious about God, yet they rejected Jesus Himself. They knew the law, they followed rituals, but their hearts were far from God (Matthew 15:8). They weaponized religion to maintain power rather than recognizing that Jesus came to set people free.
Many who call themselves "Christian" today fall into the same pattern—focusing on outward acts while missing the living Christ. They confuse obedience with relationship and assume that checking religious boxes makes them closer to God.
What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual With Jesus?
To be spiritual with Jesus is to recognize that our connection to Him is not based on law but on relationship. It means walking in daily communion with Christ, not bound by rituals but led by His Spirit. It looks like:
- Faith Over Rules – Understanding that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, not through religious performance.
- Freedom in Christ – Knowing that we are no longer bound by the law of sin but are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
- Walking by the Spirit – Being led by the Holy Spirit rather than following a set of religious expectations.
- Love & Grace – Viewing others through the lens of God’s love, knowing that transformation comes from His presence, not condemnation.
- Oneness With the Father – Living as one with Christ, understanding that we are already seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).
Jesus said, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24). True faith is not about religious acts—it is about living in the Spirit, knowing that God is already within us.
Spiritual vs. Religious: The Key Difference
| Religious About Jesus | Spiritual With Jesus |
|---|---|
| Focuses on laws, rituals, and traditions | Focuses on relationship and transformation |
| Views sin as a barrier to God | Understands that Jesus already removed the barrier |
| Attempts to earn favor with God | Knows that favor is already given through Christ |
| Judges based on outward actions | Sees the heart and extends grace |
| Serves out of obligation | Serves out of love and freedom |
The Spirit of Religion: Why People Reject Jesus Before They Even Know Him
Many people have a strong negative reaction when they hear the name Jesus or Christ. They feel anger, disgust, or even a deep resistance they can’t quite explain. This is often the spirit of religion at work.
The spirit of religion is not from God—it is a demonic force that:
- Blinds people to the true Jesus by distorting who He is.
- Creates resentment toward faith by making people associate Jesus with control, oppression, and hypocrisy.
- Pushes legalism and judgment instead of relationship and grace.
- Keeps people in cycles of guilt and shame, convincing them they are never "good enough" for God.
- Turns faith into a burden instead of the freedom Christ offers.
This is why so many people reject Jesus without ever encountering Him. They think they are rejecting Christ, but what they are really rejecting is man-made religion, hypocrisy, and legalism.
Jesus confronted this spirit when He said to the Pharisees:
"You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition… You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” (Matthew 15:6-9)
The spirit of religion wants to keep people far from God—whether by making them hate religion or by trapping them in it.
But Jesus came to break this bondage. He offers a relationship, not a religion. He offers freedom, not burden.
If hearing "Jesus" makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself:
- Is this because of what people have done in His name?
- Is this because of false teachings or hypocrisy I’ve seen?
- Or is something deeper trying to keep me from knowing the real Jesus?
The true Christ is not found in the systems of man. He is not a doctrine or a rulebook. He is alive, moving, and waiting for you to experience Him beyond religion.
The Antichrist Spirit: The World’s Rebellion Against Jesus
The spirit of religion blinds people to who Jesus truly is, but the spirit of antichrist goes a step further—it actively works to turn people against Christ.
John warns us about this spirit:
"Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." (1 John 4:3)
This spirit is not just about a single future figure—it is already at work. It manifests in:
- Hatred and mockery of Jesus and His followers – The world has no issue with spirituality, but when Jesus is mentioned, there is immediate opposition.
- Distorting who Jesus is – People are comfortable with "a wise teacher" Jesus or a "love and light" Jesus, but the moment you speak of Him as the only way to God, there is resistance.
- Pushing counterfeit saviors – The world exalts humanism, technology, and self-worship as replacements for Jesus.
- Denying His authority – The antichrist spirit influences people to believe they don’t need a Savior, convincing them they can be their own god.
Jesus Himself warned that the world would reject Him:
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." (John 15:18)
This is why so many people automatically reject Jesus before they even know Him. The antichrist spirit works through media, education, and cultural norms to condition people against the truth—because the enemy knows that once people experience Jesus for who He truly is, they will be set free.
The battle is not just against religion—it’s against truth itself. The spirit of religion keeps people in bondage to man-made systems, while the spirit of antichrist works to completely erase the truth of Christ.
But Jesus cannot be erased. The truth remains.
Jesus Came to Set Us Free from Religion
Jesus did not come to establish another religious system. He came to tear down the veil that separated man from God.
The religious leaders of His time rejected Him because they couldn’t understand a faith that wasn’t about control. They wanted rules, status, and power—but Jesus called them blind guides leading others into darkness (Matthew 23:24).
So if Jesus came to free us from religion, why do so many still live in bondage to it?
Because religion is comfortable. Religion gives people something to measure. It allows them to feel superior based on their actions rather than surrendering fully to grace.
But grace is uncomfortable for those who want control.
Grace says:
- “You didn’t earn this.”
- “You are loved despite your past.”
- “You are forgiven.”
- “There is nothing more you need to do—Christ already did it.”
This is why many people reject true spirituality with Jesus. It forces them to let go of their own power and trust in Him completely.
Conclusion: Walk in Spirit, Not Religion
Being religious about Jesus is living under a system.
Being spiritual with Jesus is living in freedom.
Religion says, "You must do more to get closer to God."
Jesus says, "It is finished." (John 19:30)
Religion keeps people in chains.
Jesus broke the chains.
So the question is: Are you following Jesus, or are you following a system about Him?
If your faith has been weighed down by religious expectations, take this as an invitation: step into the fullness of Christ. Walk as a co-heir, a child of God, a free and redeemed soul. Not bound by sin, not bound by rules—but walking in love, truth, and Spirit.
This is the faith Jesus came to bring. Will you step into it?