I have this theory. My theory is that people who grow up in a particular church body without "meeting Jesus" and then "find Him" in another body insist the church or denomination they grew up never taught the gospel. They cry out that all the people there were cold, hollow, and that very few, if any, in the particular body are actually saved.

My brother recently posted a web site on his blog that linked to ReligionIsaLie.com. On the bottom of the page you have three different testimonies from people who did not find Christ in their particular denomination. It was only until later that they discovered grace in a non-denominational church. The thought presented is that if you are Lutheran or a Methodist then you are part of a body that teaches rules and not grace.

So is "religion" (read legalism ) only taught is denominational churches? I think not. I have been to several non-denominational churches that teach a more subtle legalism than denominational churches. I have seen the people in non-denominational churches who get sucked into the music because it is cool and leave without hearing the message. They walk out just as empty as when they walked in. At the same time I have met godly, grace filled believers in a more high church setting.

The religion/relationship dichotomy is not tied down to any one establishment. No matter where you go you will find those who are on fire for Jesus and those who go for some less noble reason. I imagine that if these same people went back to their old churches to look and listen to what is actually being taught they would be surprised. If they would take the time to look at the formation of the liturgy and the intelligent and deep symbolism there then their perspective would change. That is not to say they would go back to that style or accept every doctrine, but they may get off their high horse and see that faith comes from God in HIS time and meets people where they are.