Religion vs. Relationship: My Story, My Faith Journey

I was raised in the Seventh-day Adventist tradition for many years, and during that time I learned a great deal about Scripture, discipline, and reverence for God. Those experiences shaped me and gave me a foundation that I’m grateful for.

But over time, I began to wrestle with something deeper.

I found myself asking:
Was I practicing religion… or building a relationship?

I noticed that many conversations within church culture, across denominations, not just one, can become centered on external practices, traditions, and interpretations, while people sitting in the pews are quietly fighting spiritual battles, searching for hope, healing, and connection with Christ.

That tension led me to pause and reflect on my own walk with God.

Jesus often challenged religious communities in His day, not because they loved Scripture, but because they sometimes focused so much on rules that they missed Him standing right in front of them.

The Pharisees knew the law.
They studied it.
They defended it.

But many failed to recognize the living Word.

That realization made me ask myself:
Am I growing in knowledge alone, or am I growing in intimacy with Christ?

Because a true relationship with God goes beyond study.
It’s a prayer.
It’s surrender.
It’s listening.
It’s allowing Him to transform your heart, not just inform your mind.

Doctrine has its place. Order matters. But without a relationship, faith can become mechanical instead of life-giving.

My Personal Shift

For a season, I stepped back, not from God, but from labels, to focus on deepening my personal walk with Him. I wanted to be sure that what I believed was something I had sought, prayed over, and wrestled with in Scripture myself.

During that time, I began describing myself simply as a Christian who honors the Sabbath and seeks to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

This wasn’t about rejecting my roots. It was about making sure my faith was anchored in conviction, not just inheritance.

My Prayer for the Next Generation

I believe we must teach our young people not just what to believe, but how to seek God for themselves.

This is not an era for “follow the leader.”
It’s a time to follow the Master.

That means:

• Encouraging questions.
• Teaching prayer as a conversation, not a ritual.
• Showing how to study the Word with humility and openness.
• Helping people build a faith that is lived, not just learned.

God is a God of order, yes, but He is also a God who desires relationship above performance.

A Question for You

What is your story?

Have you searched the Word for yourself?
Have you allowed God to shape your faith personally?

Because faith becomes real, not when we inherit it, but when we encounter Him for ourselves.