For the first sermon in our “Spiritual & Religious” Teaching Series, we explored a question that many of us have asked: “Is it really separate?” The question refers to the perceived divide between being “spiritual” and being “religious.”

The sermon defined spirituality as a deep connection—to ourselves, to others, to nature, and to what we consider holy. It’s about how we care for and nourish these connections with love and compassion. This understanding of spirituality isn’t a solo journey; it’s inherently communal.

Religion, on the other hand, comes from the word “religare,” which means “to bind.” Historically, religion was a way to bring people together through shared beliefs, stories, and rituals, providing a sense of community and a framework for life’s biggest questions.

However, as we’ve seen, religion has often been associated with negative experiences. For many, it conjures up thoughts of rules, judgment, and divisiveness. We acknowledge that religion, when it becomes legalistic or hypocritical, can cause harm.

Our main takeaway from the sermon is that spirituality and religion are not meant to be separate. A spirituality that is disconnected from the well-being of others is not true spirituality. And a religion that harms people loses its purpose.

The work of our church is to be a safe space—a place where people who have been hurt by religion can find healing without giving up on their faith. Our goal is to foster a community rooted in love, relationships, and restoration. The core message of Christianity is simple: to love God, to love others, and to love ourselves. This is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

We are called to be known by the love we have for one another, and in doing so, we can bridge the gap between spirituality and religion, creating a community that truly reflects the love of God.

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