If you believe that than you have never met Him. Jesus is my best friend,mate if you should put it that way. and He would have it no other way.
Aspen, what has religion got to do with having a relationship with God. religion told me there is a God, God Himself taught me about Himself without the religion.Do you really thing God needs.
Religion to save anyone,
a clergy, hierarchy to save anyone,
even the bible to reach out to and save anyone,
If your answer is yes, than you missed the whole thing. Religion puts chains around His feet,it puts shackles upon His hands, it puts a gag across His mouth,and says only we can talk to God, you want Him you go though us. I have learned more about my Father and Jesus than I was ever taught whilst a religious person, I received the Holy Spirit before I even knew there was such a thing.Religion will always keep you a slave to it, Jesus came so we could have Life in Him, to set us free, but we must choose whom we serve, Him or religion, which will it be.
And thanks Blackmaninc, you are right on, they confuse His works withe their works.
In all His love.