You’ve heard the argument, “Do all religions lead to God?” But what if the real question is—what if no religion leads to Him at all?
The idea that religion is the way to reach God is, in many ways, an oxymoron—a contradiction in terms. Religion, at its core, consists of doctrine, religious dogma, rules, rituals, traditions, and structured belief systems one must mentally adhere to. Yet, throughout both the Old and New Testaments, God and Jesus consistently spoke against the rigidity of religious systems that overshadowed true faith and relationship with Him.
God’s Rejection of Religion in Scripture
The Bible is filled with instances where God expresses frustration with religious systems when they become barriers to genuine faith:
- Isaiah 1:11-13 – God rebukes the Israelites’ religious sacrifices, saying, “I have had enough of burnt offerings… I do not delight in the blood of bulls.” He condemns their rituals because their hearts are far from Him.
- Hosea 6:6 – “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” This verse highlights that God values relationship over religious performance.
- Matthew 23:27-28 – Jesus rebukes the Pharisees: “You are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones.” He condemns their obsession with religious appearance while lacking true righteousness.
- Mark 7:6-7 – Jesus says, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” This highlights the emptiness of religion when it replaces heartfelt devotion.
The Paradox of Religion as a Path to God
- If God is infinite, how can finite human systems fully capture Him?
Religion, being a man-made system, attempts to define and box God within doctrines and rituals. Yet, an infinite God cannot be confined by a human mind and into man-made “systematic” theological categories. - If God is personal, why would He be confined to institutional frameworks?
There are over 40,000 groups and denominations in Christianity alone. Which one best represents God? Probably none. In fact, true relationships are built on love and connection, not rigid adherence to doctrine and tradition. If God seeks intimacy with humanity, it cannot be reduced to mere institutional membership or theological correctness. - If God desires intimacy, does He truly require legalistic adherence to doctrine and ritual?
Jesus emphasized that faith is about the transformation of the heart, not about following empty doctrine and traditions (Matthew 15:8-9), as if figuring out the correct theological formula in your mind will lead you to heaven. Love, humility, and faith are what draw people to God and what He seeks from them—not religious legalism.
The Danger of Making Religion the Object of Worship
Many religious people fall into the trap of making the system itself—usually doctrine—their primary focus rather than God Himself. Jesus exposed this hypocrisy when He said:
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me. Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40)
Here, Jesus challenges the idea that merely knowing the Scriptures equates to knowing God. The moment religion (e.g., seminary degrees, church attendance, Bible study) becomes the goal rather than the means, it ceases to serve its purpose. Instead of bringing people closer to God, it often becomes a barrier—a form of idolatry where adherence to doctrine replaces a living relationship with the Divine.
True Spirituality: Beyond Religion
Jesus did not come to establish another religious system; rather, He revealed a deeper reality—one where union with God is not reserved for the religious elite but is available to the humble and the seeking.
- The Kingdom of God is not found in dogma but in love (1 John 4:8). God is love, and anyone who does not love does not truly know Him.
- Faith in God is about transformation, not ritual (Romans 12:2). True spirituality renews the heart and mind, leading to a transformed society.
- Jesus invited the broken, not the proud (Luke 18:9-14). The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector illustrates that God values humility over religious self-righteousness.
Thus, the oxymoron of religion is that the very thing meant to bring us closer to God often separates us from Him when it becomes an end in itself. God is not a doctrine to be mastered, but a love to be embraced and shared. If you have all the religious knowledge in the world but lack love, then, as Paul said, “you are nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
