Fewer and fewer of today’s people practice organized religion.

So permit the Bible a few minutes to make its claim why religion is important. All of this comes from a religious man named James.

First, the main culprit that gets in between people and God is pride. We think we know more than God. Not true. “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (James 1:18). 

God made people. People don’t make God. God made you. God planned you, created you, and chose you to be his child by faith. Not just any child, but his favorite child. You are the firstfruits of all he created.

God saves you by sowing the seed of his Word, his message of forgiving grace, in your heart. “Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you” (James 1:21). We’re all just a bunch of dirt until God makes us his beautiful garden. 

Finally, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). God doesn’t stand forgetfully at the fridge wondering why he opened it, and he doesn’t forget about you. 

God forgives you, and he doesn’t change his mind.

You won’t find a religion better than that. Including no religion at all.