angelaschmeling

Years ago, someone wanted to ask me a question about God because I was, quote, “religious and all.”
And immediately… I bristled.

That word—religious—just felt wrong. I didn’t want the label.

Now hang with me for a second while I explain.

I grew up in a denominational church, and let me be clear—that in itself is not a bad thing. But what I saw, and what I experienced, was how easy it is to get stuck in tradition and religious mentality rather than living in real relationship with God. Every Sunday, I’d look around and people would look bored. That they were just coming out of obligation. If Jesus came to save us, where was the joy? And if that’s what religion looks like, then I don’t want it.

When I hear the word religion, my mind immediately goes to the Pharisees. They were the religious leaders of their time. They knew the rules. They practiced the traditions. They checked all the boxes. And yet, they put religion above people—and tragically, above the very Savior who came to rescue them. So much so that they rejected Him and sent Him to the cross.

And interestingly enough, who did Jesus confront the most?

The religious people.

In one of those confrontations in Mark 15, Jesus calls them out for valuing tradition over God’s Word, saying they honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. They worshiped in vain because their teachings were nothing more than human rules.

The Pharisees were what I call Christian atheists. They believed in God, yet lived as if He didn’t truly matter. They prioritized religion over relationship. But God never called us to religion—He called us to relationship.

Maybe we need to do a heart check and see if we are doing the same.

Now don’t hear what I’m not saying. Religion itself isn’t inherently bad. There can be good in structure, tradition, and community. But if religion gets in the way of actually knowing God, then it becomes dangerous. All the good works in the world, done in the name of church or faith, mean nothing if our hearts are far from Him.

Jesus Himself says this in Matthew 7—that many will say, “Lord, Lord,” and point to all the religious things they did, only to hear, “I never knew you.”

That should stop us in our tracks.

You can serve. You can lead. You can speak the language. You can do all the “right” things—and still miss the relationship entirely.

I once heard a podcast about Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Strange comparison, I know—but stick with me. The creator’s grandson noticed the recipe had been altered over time. The outside still looked the same, but the ingredients were fake. It wasn’t the original anymore.

That hit me hard.

I can look the part.
I can sound the part.
I can do all the Christian things.

But if I don’t have a real, daily relationship with God—if the inside isn’t genuine—then it’s all fake.

God tells us plainly what He desires:

“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Walk with Him. That’s relationship. Not occasional. Not surface level. Daily. Side by side.

And again in Hosea 6:6, God says He desires mercy—not sacrifice. Acknowledgment of Him—not religious offerings.

So let’s not be like the Pharisees.
Let’s not be Christian atheists.
Let’s not rely on religion to save us while ignoring real relationship.

Instead, let’s clean up the inside.
Let’s pursue authenticity over appearance.
And let’s strive for a genuine, living relationship with our Heavenly Father—because that’s what He’s always wanted.