Growing up in an evangelical tradition, I’ve often heard it said, “Being a Christian is not about religion; it is about a relationship.” Though I can empathize with the sentiment, I believe it is an oversimplification and a ruggedly individualistic American mindset of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Consider two people – a young man infatuated with a young lady but making no effort to engage with her. It could be said he is living in a fantasy at best or a stalker at worst. Conversely, two people who regularly commute to work on the same train but never speak to one another have a unified ritual but no tangible relationship. Relationships and rituals are inseparable in every area of life – it should be no different as a disciple of Christ.
Therefore, A relationship with no religion is a fantasy – and a religion with no relationship is vanity. The gospel confronts humanity with the inseparable interplay of both. A relationship that informs religious liturgy and a religion that brings continuous remembrance of a transformative relationship.
A delicate balance between religion and relationship lies at the heart of Christian worship. On one side is the rich tapestry of religious tradition – the rituals, the Word, and the Table that have been carefully woven throughout centuries of church history. On the other side is a transformative identity in Christ, the intimate communion of the soul with its Savior. As Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). To truly understand worship, we must embrace both of these strands, for they are inextricably intertwined.
The religious aspects of worship give shape and structure to our spiritual lives. The ancient prayers and creeds we recite are not mere relics of the past but living expressions of our communal faith. When we gather for church services and celebrate the great feasts of the Christian calendar, we are participating in a tradition that spans millennia and unites us with “the cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) who have gone before us. These practices remind us that our faith is not a solitary pursuit but part of a vast, global community of Christ-followers.
Yet religion without relationship is hollow and lifeless. It becomes a mere shell, devoid of the transformative power that lies at the core of true worship. The gospel does not call us to adhere to a set of rules and rituals but to enter into a weighty, life-altering relationship with the living God. Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). When we worship, we are not just ticking boxes or fulfilling obligations but engaging in a sacred dialogue with the Creator and Redeemer.
It is in this relationship that we find the beating heart of worship. As we pour out our praise, gratitude, struggles, and desires before the throne of grace, we are met with our Heavenly Father’s unconditional love and mercy. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). In these moments of vulnerability and surrender, we experience the transformative power of the Spirit of God, shaping and molding us into Christ’s likeness. Our worship becomes a holy exchange, a giving and receiving, a pouring out, and a being filled up.
Moreover, this relationship with Christ should infuse and inform our religious practices. Our liturgies, the Word, and the Table are not merely rote exercises but opportunities to encounter the living God in tangible ways. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, as an example, we are not simply going through the motions but actively participating in remembering Christ’s sacrificial love. “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread…” (1 Corinthians 11:23). The bread and cup become symbols of His broken body and shed blood, inviting the partaker to remember the transcendence and imminence of God in Christ.
Likewise, our relationship with Christ should inspire us to embrace the traditions and practices of our faith with renewed zeal and reverence. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). Rather than treating them as meager obligations, we can approach them with a sense of awe and gratitude, recognizing that they are vehicles through which we can “participate in the life of the Triune God” (You Are What You Love, James K.A. Smith).
In the end, Christian worship is a beautiful dance between religion and relationship, tradition and transformation. It is a call to honor the rich heritage of our faith while simultaneously opening our kardia to the intimate presence of the living Christ. When we can hold these two aspects in harmonious tension, our worship becomes a powerful force, shaping us into the image of our Savior and igniting within us a passion for His kingdom. As Paul exhorts, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
So let us approach our times of worship with reverence for the ritual practices of Word and Table that have sustained the church for centuries and a yearning for a deeper, more personal relationship with the One who gave His life for us. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). For it is in the interplay of religion and relationship that true worship finds its fullest expression, and our lives are transformed by the power of the gospel.
Josh Cehulik 