The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality
This is one of those conversations that keeps coming up, and it’s important we understand it clearly—because while people often toss around the words religion and spirituality like they mean the same thing, they really don’t. They’re not enemies of each other, but they’re also not twins. They serve different roles in how we approach Adonai and walk with Yeshua haMashiach. And if we’re going to follow the narrow path, we’d better be clear on what path we’re even on.
Let’s start with religion. Religion is the structure. It’s the organized system. It gives shape to things like belief statements, traditions, feast days, ordinances, temple procedures, and moral laws. And let me be clear: there is nothing wrong with structure when it’s built on truth. The Torah itself was full of structure—just look at Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy. YHWH gave Israel a calendar, a priesthood, a pattern for the Tabernacle, specific commandments. That’s religion in its original, holy form—set apart, intentional, and pointing upward.
But over time, man gets involved. And when man builds religion on his own terms, without the Spirit breathing life into it, it turns cold. Hollow. It starts to worship itself. Yeshua warned about that kind of religion when He told the Pharisees in Matthew 15:8-9, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” That’s religion when it becomes rote and empty. People go through the motions—stand up, sit down, repeat the creed—but there’s no fire. No oil in the lamp.
Now here’s where spirituality comes in. Spirituality is not about rituals or group identity—it’s personal. It’s about your one-on-one relationship with Adonai, through the Spirit, because of Yeshua. It’s not always tidy. It doesn’t follow a bulletin. Sometimes it involves groaning prayers at midnight, dancing in your kitchen, or crying out with nothing but a whisper of faith left in your chest. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s alive. Romans 8:14 says, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Not led by man’s rules. Not led by tradition for tradition’s sake. Led by the Spirit.
But hear this clearly—spirituality without truth can become just as dangerous as religion without Spirit. If your “spiritual journey” has no anchor in Scripture, no submission to the Lordship of Yeshua, no fruit of repentance, then it’s not spirituality—it’s self-help with incense. The Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit) will never lead someone into error or away from the written Word of God. True spirituality is always rooted in the living Word—both the written Word and the Word made flesh, Yeshua haMashiach.
So here’s the difference in plain terms:
Religion often gives us the container. Spirituality fills it.
Religion gives us the lamp; spirituality pours in the elaion—the oil (Matthew 25:4).
Religion sets the stage; spirituality brings the fire.
Religion tells us when to kneel; spirituality helps us mean it when we do.
And we don’t have to pick one or the other—but we do need to get the order right. The Pharisees had religion but no Spirit. The Corinthians had Spirit but were losing their order and discipline. What God is calling us to is a holy union of both: structured truth, Spirit-filled life. That’s what it means to walk with Yeshua in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Not either-or. Both-and.
So whether someone finds God in the pew with others, in the quiet of their prayer closet, or on a hike in the middle of the woods with tears in their eyes—what matters is that their heart is aligned with the Word, the Spirit is leading, and Yeshua is at the center.
And let’s be honest… if we’re truly walking in the Spirit, the difference between “religion” and “spirituality” won’t matter as much as the fruit we’re bearing. Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? Do you walk humbly, love mercy, and do justice? That is what pleases Adonai.
So let’s not be people who just talk about religion or spirituality. Let’s be those who live the truth with fire in our bones and oil in our lamps. Amen?
image done by chatgpt at my direction