Religion Can Become an Addiction
We usually think of addiction as drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, or anything else we run to for comfort, control, or escape.
But what if religion can become an addiction too?
Religion can become another way of trying to fill a place that only God can fill.
We can become addicted to doing for God without actually knowing God.
Going to church.
Serving.
Reading Scripture.
Checking the boxes.
Following the rules.
Looking spiritual.
Making sure everyone sees the “right” version of us.
None of those things are bad. In fact, they can be beautiful expressions of faith.
But they become dangerous when the practice replaces the Person.
Jesus confronted this very thing:
“These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
— Matthew 15:8 CSB
You can attend church every Sunday and still be far from God.
You can know Scripture and not surrender to the One Scripture points to.
You can serve until you’re exhausted and still avoid sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus.
You can even use religion to numb pain, hide brokenness, or convince yourself that because you’re doing all the right things, everything between you and God must be right.
Jesus didn’t die so we could become better at religion.
He died to reconcile us to God.
So today, ask yourself:
Am I pursuing Jesus—or am I pursuing the feeling of being religious?
Don’t let your relationship with God become another checklist.
Put down the performance.
Come to Him honestly.
Because Christianity isn’t ultimately about how much you do for Christ.
It’s about belonging to Christ.
Rev. Carlos Figueroa
TheFreeBible.org —
