Jesus Ain’t your side hustle: Faith takes full-time effort

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You’ve probably heard it said:

“Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.”

It sounds nice. It makes faith feel more personal and less about rules. But if that’s all Christianity is — just a private relationship with no structure, no obedience, and no real practice — then how do you keep that relationship alive? How do you grow it, protect it, and live it out?

Truth is, you can’t.

You wouldn’t say you’re close to someone you never talk to, never listen to, and never spend time with. So how can we claim to have a relationship with Jesus if we never open our Bible, never pray, and never obey what He’s told us?

Real Christianity Involves Both Relationship

and Religion

The Bible never tells us to pick one or the other. It shows us that real faith involves both. The word religion isn’t a bad word in the Bible. In fact, God defines what true religion is:

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

— James 1:27

That’s not cold tradition. That’s love in action. That’s a relationship with God working itself out in real, daily life.

John Calvin once said:

“True religion consists in faith united with the fear of God, so that He is rightly worshiped.”

It’s not just about believing — it’s about honoring, following, and worshiping God. That’s what real relationship looks like: commitment, not convenience.

Prayer: More Than Just a Quick Word

Some folks think of prayer as something you do once a day — or maybe just at meals or in church. But prayer is so much more than that. It’s our lifeline to God. It’s how we stay connected.

Martin Luther said:

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”

There are two kinds of prayer every believer needs:

1. Praying On the Go

This is the kind of prayer that happens throughout your day. You might be driving to work, working with your hands, or dealing with a tough moment — and you quietly talk to God. You lift up a need, confess a sin, or just say “thank You.”

This kind of prayer keeps your heart tuned in to God as you go about your day.

Paul said:

“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

That doesn’t mean you’re on your knees 24/7. It means your heart is open to God all the time — like a conversation that never really ends.

2. Getting Alone with the Lord

But there’s another kind of prayer we can’t skip: the kind where you shut the door, put down your phone, and get alone with the Lord. Quiet time. Just you and Him.

Jesus Himself did this:

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” — Luke 5:16

If the Son of God needed quiet time with the Father, we surely do. These are the moments where your relationship with God grows deep roots — where you slow down and let Him speak through His Word, and where you pour out your heart in prayer.

Both kinds of prayer matter. One keeps you connected all day; the other strengthens your soul.

Reading the Bible: Hearing from God

Prayer is how we talk to God. Scripture is how He talks to us.

Paul said:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” — Colossians 3:16

If your relationship with Jesus doesn’t include the Bible, then how do you know what He’s said? How do you know what He wants? Faith that’s not grounded in God’s Word is just emotion — and emotions change. The Word doesn’t.

Obedience Is Part of the Relationship

Jesus said:

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15

That’s about as clear as it gets. Love for Christ shows up in obedience. Not perfection, but direction. A desire to walk His way, not our own.

Don’t Be Fooled by the “No Religion” Trend

This might be the first generation in history to talk about faith like it’s a private friendship with Jesus and nothing more. No structure. No worship. No accountability. Just a good feeling and a few Bible verses on Instagram.

But that’s not Christianity. That’s something else.

Faith without prayer, without Scripture, without obedience — isn’t a relationship. It’s a slogan.

The old catechism put it right:

“Why do Christians need to pray? Because prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us…”

Conclusion: Build Something Real

Don’t settle for a shallow, half-built faith. Christianity is a relationship — but it’s one with structure. It’s a religion that’s alive because it’s built on truth, not tradition alone.

Get into your Bible. Pray on the go and in the quiet. Obey what Jesus said. Walk with Him daily.

Because Christianity isn’t “just a relationship” — it’s a relationship on God’s terms. And that’s the kind worth having.