Faith Over Religion: Why We Walk With God, Not a Label

As a child I was raised in the Church of Christ, courtesy of my mother - a God-fearing woman who worked tirelessly to plant the seeds of faith in me from an early age. And I’ll say this: the foundation was solid. I grew up with a deep sense that God mattered. That He was central to our existence. For that, I’ll always be grateful.

But as I grew older and actually started listening to the sermons instead of just zoning out or counting ceiling tiles, something began to unsettle me. The preachers - passionate as they were - would often declare, with absolute certainty, that only members of this church would be saved. It was “written in the Bible,” they said. Plain as day.

Naturally, a few questions started bubbling up.

So... what about the millions of good people out there who also believe in God? People who live kindly, love deeply, forgive generously - but didn’t happen to stumble into our exclusive club? Were they just out of luck? Left behind at the gates because they weren’t handed the right pamphlet?

Eventually, those questions became convictions. And years later, I learned what I had long suspected: the Church of Christ was, in fact, a cult.

Needless to say, I made a swift and unceremonious exit sometime in my late teens. It was of course, met with objection - but I was steadfast in my determination to carve my own relationship with God.

But what followed was a season - more like a decade - where God didn’t exactly feature prominently in my life, as shameful as that is to say in retrospect. As I wrapped up a rollercoaster ride at university in Switzerland, and embarked on a mission to “make something of myself,” chasing the means to self-subsist, and creating all kinds of mischief along the way, I lost touch with God - and failed to reach out to Him when I needed Him most.

But God in his infinite grace and wisdom, never abandoned me and unleashed His plan to course-correct the trajectory of my life, as I began to stray from the path of righteousness.

The Trials That Bring Us Home

As I began to navigate the trials and tribulations that would shake my foundation to its very core, I was compelled to look both up, and inward. It's tempting to blame God for our ills, for forsaking us in our moment of need. It's even easier to convince ourselves that we can resolve our dilemmas alone But I chose to rekindle my bond with God and over time, a quiet, irrevocable relationship began to form. Not out of habit or fear - but out of need. A soul-level ache for connection, purpose, and truth. What followed was a recurring pattern: when life ebbed, I reached for Him. And each time, I found He was already there all along.

I began to understand that many of my struggles - my so-called misfortunes - were actually divine recalibrations. Lessons. Wake-up calls. Gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) reminders that I was drifting. And somehow, despite the detours and defiance, He kept pulling me back in. That’s not religion. That’s unconditional love. That’s grace.

And Then Came My Wife

But if I’m being honest, my most unshakable bond with God today isn’t just the result of trials - it’s thanks, in large part, to my beloved and devoted wife, Kuntida. Her unwavering faith and consistent reminders to put our trust in Him, no matter how dire our circumstance may be, ensured my faith would never diminish nor could I be tempted to be led astray.

The irony? She was raised Buddhist. Born in Bangkok, raised in California, and always a little curious about Jesus—though her strict Thai family tried to squash that flame every time it flickered.

Eventually, she returned to Thailand and resumed her Buddhist life. Then… we met.

Now, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t quietly disappointed that she wasn’t Christian - but I also knew something deeply important: I couldn’t force it. Salvation isn’t a checkbox. It isn’t a favor you do for your spouse. It had to be real, and it had to be hers.

So I waited. Gently guided. Prayed. And God, in His perfect timing, did the rest.

Eventually, Kuntida fully embraced Christ as her Savior. And in 2012, on the banks of the Rhine River, we were baptized together - a sacred and unforgettable moment.

It's worth noting that I had been baptized before, as a member of the Church of Christ, but I no longer saw that experience as spiritually valid - especially after learning what that institution truly was.

Our intial meeting with Pastor Curtis and Pastor Art of Black Forest Christian Fellowship, orchestrated of course by my mother whose faith never wavers!

Thankfully, Pastor Curtis and Pastor Art of Black Forest Fellowship in Kandern - in my father's hometown in Germany, welcomed us with open hearts. They assured me that it was not only acceptable to be baptized again, but also deeply meaningful to do so with a renewed sense of faith and purpose. No judgment, no theological red tape - just grace. Pure and simple.

And as if heaven wanted to affirm it all, two swans appeared during the baptism, watching silently from the river’s edge. We believed they were God's messengers - witnesses to our testimony. The moment we emerged from the water, they were gone. That kind of divine punctuation? You don’t forget it.

Faith Over Religion

These days, people often ask us, “So… what kind of Christian are you?”Expecting the usual suspects: Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Born Again, etc.

Our answer is simple: we are non-denominational.

Because here’s the truth - we’ve seen what religion can become when it loses its way. My time in the Church of Christ, and seeing countless followers entranced by false spiritual leaders, especially the glittery showmanship of certain megachurches, made it painfully clear:

There is a monumental difference between faith and religion.

Religion, as has become abundantly clear in recent times, has been distorted by man - twisted into a tool for profit, power, or manipulation. And sadly, so many churches don’t practice what they preach. They turn faith into formulas. Grace into gatekeeping. Love into legalism.

We chose to veer away as far possible from that!

Instead, we’ve committed to a direct relationship with God. We talk to Him. Confess to Him. Seek healing, wisdom, and clarity - from Him. No intermediaries. No theatrics. Just raw, reverent faith.

Yes, we know fellowship matters. And yes, we do hope to find a congregation one day that truly embodies Christ's teachings - with no gimmicks, no agendas, and no self-righteousness masquerading as holiness. But until then, we’re okay. More than okay. We’re growing. Anchored. And closer to God than we’ve ever been.

Because faith is a relationship, not a religion.

And in this house, we walk by faith, not by sight - every imperfect step of the way.

My wife about to take the plunge and arise as a true believer, and disciple of Jesus our Lord and Savior!

My second, but certainly most meaningful plunge - a truly life altering moment for me!

The 2 swans that oversaw our transformation - who we believe without a shadow of a doubt, were emissaries from God himself!