Why I'm not "Religious"

The original Latin word”religio” means obligation, bond and reverence. I can get behind this word because it describes my relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There is an obligation or commitment because I understand the great work Christ did on the cross to set me free. A bond is a joining together, which is how the church should function. Reverence is a no brainer since God, the Creator, breathed life into us and can withdraw that breath any time he chooses.

How and why then has religion been perverted into a man made and controlled entity that is almost unrecognizable when compared to the church of the New Testament?

James, the brother of Christ states that pure religion is caring for orphans and widows in need (James 1:27). Paul tells the Galatians that the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). These are the ideals toward which we should strive. Instead we often get caught up in theologies proclaimed as truth by men, as well as the denominations that have been birthed through these different interpretations of the Word of God. I confess that I neither understand nor desire to understand these arguments. My faith is simple; love God and love people, resist temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit and live according to the Word of God in its entirety. I have spent time in the past in fruitless arguments about predestination, eternal salvation, pre/post/a/millennial-ism etc. What it comes down to for me is this, if I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, He will reveal truth to me and teach me how to love my neighbor. Jesus paid for salvation for ALL and we have the gift of freewill to choose how to respond.

So, no, I'm not religious (i.e. Wesleyan, Calvinist, Lutheran) but I'm trying with my whole being to be godly.