Religion is everywhere. From ancient temples to modern churches, rituals have always shaped the way people approach God. They bring rhythm, comfort, and a sense of order. Yet, if we are honest, rituals can also leave us empty. They may fill our calendars but not our hearts. They may occupy our time but not transform our lives.
This is not new. Scripture records moments when God’s people were caught up in sacrifices, ceremonies, and festivals while missing the very heart of what He wanted: relationship. The prophets cried out against empty rituals, reminding the people that God desired mercy, justice, and love above offerings. Even Jesus confronted religious leaders who performed rituals perfectly but neglected compassion and truth.
The problem is not that rituals exist. It is when rituals replace relationship. Faith becomes a matter of appearances rather than authenticity. We can go through the motions, recite prayers, or attend services, and still miss the living presence of God. What the human heart longs for is not routine, but reality.
That reality is relationship with a God who loves personally, who speaks into our lives, and who transforms us from the inside out. When faith is rooted in relationship, rituals can have meaning. But without relationship, rituals become hollow.
This is the powerful truth Richard Bolen reminds us of in his book, Christianity is Easy Compared to the Alternative. He calls readers to set aside the weight of lifeless religion and rediscover the Gospel in its simplest and most powerful form. Christianity was never meant to be about checking boxes. It was meant to be about walking daily with a God who calls us His children.
When we move from ritual to relationship, prayer becomes conversation, worship becomes joy, and obedience becomes love in action. Faith stops being a burden and becomes a source of freedom and peace. That is what makes Christianity “easy” compared to the alternative: it is not about what we do for God, but about what God has already done for us.
If your faith feels dry or routine, take this as an invitation to rediscover what you were made for. The Gospel is alive. It is personal. It transforms.
Read Richard Bolen’s book, Christianity is Easy Compared to the Alternative, and rediscover the joy of a Gospel that moves you from ritual into a life-giving relationship with God.