Religion vs. Relationship

It’s an age-old, and some would say a “false” dichotomy, but what is the connection between the Christian religion and a Christian’s personal relationship with Jesus? Well, Jesus gives us two parables which contrast two different sets of brothers and their relationship with their father. He does this to show both the religious, but deeply personal aspect of our faith in our heavenly Father. Both parables are about pointing to something about us and about God as we are forced to consider what is the connection, difference, and commonality between religion and relationship.