I remember the moment someone asked me, “Do you practice religion?” Without hesitation, I laughed and said, “Heck no!” But that response, though quick and instinctive, held layers of truth that deserved unfolding. Christianity is not a religion—at least, not in the way the world defines it. Religion is often fanaticism, a cycle of rituals without reasoning, obligations fulfilled without understanding. But faith? Faith is alive. It breathes. It transforms. It is the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him.

The Chains of Religion vs. The Freedom of Faith

Growing up, I experienced the weight religion placed on people—the pressure to conform, the silent fears of not being “holy enough,” the guilt of failing to check every box. I saw people worship out of obligation rather than passion, recite prayers with their lips while their hearts remained unchanged. The focus was on the law, the rules, the do’s and don’s, not on the loving relationship God designed for us.

Then I encountered grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 shattered the mindset I had absorbed: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Suddenly, I understood. Christianity was never about meeting a checklist of duties. It was about being redeemed, chosen, loved, pursued—not because of anything I do, but because of everything Jesus had already done.

Jesus: The Great Disrupter of Religiosity and System

Throughout history, religious structures have set rigid expectations—placing barriers between people and God. But when Jesus walked the earth, He shattered religious norms, turning empty traditions on their heads. The Pharisees—experts in law and ritual—were the ones Jesus confronted most.

In Matthew 23:27, He declared: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”

Jesus wasn’t impressed by outward displays of holiness. He longed for heart transformation, not robotic obedience.

That’s why Christianity isn’t religion—it’s relationship. It’s knowing God, walking with Him, listening to Him, being led by the Spirit rather than traditions. Romans 8:14 says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Not by systems. Not by rituals. By His Spirit.

A Faith That Breathes and Lives

Christianity isn’t about rules—it’s about rebirth. It’s waking up every day and knowing you are new, forgiven, held, and empowered.

2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

God never called us to religion. He called us to transformation. To intimacy. To knowing Him beyond traditions, beyond expectations, beyond the superficial of religiosity

Why I Say ‘Heck No’ to Religion

So, when asked, “Do you practice religion?” my answer remains—heck no! Because I do not practice religion. I live in faith. I walk with Christ. I am led by the Spirit.

Religion hands down laws without explanation. Christianity hands you a Savior who fulfilled the law so you live in freedom.

Religion binds people to rules. Faith binds people to grace.

Religion tells you what to do. Jesus tells you who you are.

That, to me, is the difference. And that is why I say, heck no to religion—but yes to faith.