I feel like I could write a book about this topic and I know there will be more to come on this as I delve into my walk in faith deeper. I certainly came into this as a skeptic and am standing in the middle of this faith and religion storm as a skeptic with hope. Notice how I didn't combine faith and religion as one? There's a vast difference and I continuously have encounters with religion while walking in faith. Let me give you a story to explain, on that occurred just yesterday (July 13th, 2026).
I went to Canadian Tire to buy some camping supplies and outdoor carpets. I have an outdoor event coming up for my art and knitting at a Country music festival and needed some last minute additions for my vendor tent. After completing my mission throughout the store (I try very hard to not buy more than I need and often roam as I "window shop"), I finally made it to the checkout line. On this particular afternoon, I think all of Guelph showed up to buy items from Canadian Tire because the line was massive, both for self-checkout and in person. I was third in line, an older gentleman of about 60 years of age was two cart ahead of me. In front of me, a dad buying kids pool items, behind me about 15 other shoppers of various ages. The older gentleman, two carts ahead is named Chris, (for ease of this story as he did end up introducing himself).
Chris noticed me in the line and kept sending over glances of distaste. How do I know this? A look of disgust on one's face as they look you up and down is generally a dead giveaway. I would always meet his looks with a smile. He ended up excusing himself from the dad in front of me and handed me a card, one that I included as a photo along with a key chain as he introduced himself. I smiled as I received the card, noticing a giant cross on it along with three scripture verses. Instantly, I knew where this was going. Chris asked my name, I gave it, and asked if he could pray for me and I said of course. I thanked him with sincere honesty, I knew deep in my soul that this man was judging me, and trying his hardest to "save me from hell".
If you saw me, I am covered neck to ankles in tattoos, I was wearing a black tank top and shorts, and had just come from a tattoo session so I had a bandage on my back and shoulder. Truly, quite the sight. I told Chris that I belong to a church in Fergus called Grace, he looked taken aback (here's where it gets fascinating and hilarious). Chris told me he's starting a house church on the Old Testament, I should come. The line goes hush, everyone is paying attention to what my response will be.
The Old Testament is important here because in it, it contains the teachings of the laws of Moses and is really the building blocks of which faith was built on BEFORE Jesus came into the picture. New Testament is where Jesus became who we know him to be today, the son of Man, our saviour, the way, the truth and the life. I will spare you the lessons here as my introduction to the Old Testament and New (Jesus times) is a lifelong teaching that I am attempting to condense into a paragraph (almost impossibly). For the sake of this story, you need to understand that this man Chris, was wanting to start a church based off of the Old Testament, where law ruled without grace, where religion takes a stronghold over peoples' decision making and where forgiveness is a harshly practiced concept with offerings. No grace, means no Jesus, no Jesus means no true salvation, no true salvation means in plain terms, a really bad way for a community to form--no hope, just rules, no grace, just terms and conditions. A salvation based off of ones works, not faith, but judgement. That might sound harsh but if you are already of the faith reading this, you might even add to this (or correct me if you will, please). The Old Testament is often what skeptics of faith point to in order to show how awful God must me in order to allow such behaviours.
As the line stayed quiet, I took in Chris and his wants of starting a house church. I plainly asked him "why Old Testament? We're in New Testament nowI Don't you think it's counter productive to preach only Old Testament?". A look of shock took over Chris, the line still silent as he fumbled for words. I continued, " Jesus came to build on those teachings during the Sermon on the Mount, that's all New Testament, why leave the most important teachings out?" He thanked me, went to check out. I continued to smile his way and inside was hearing so clearly, he judged you. The woman behind me burst out laughing and said to me "wow, was he sorely mistaken about you, thinking you wouldn't know what was happening". In fact, a few in the line had a good chuckle.
As I got into my car after checking out, I immediately texted my girls at church with this encounter and it was pointed out to me that this man was being very religious in his views. He took one look at me, saw that I had tattoos (which was abhorred in Old Testament laws) and immediately judged me. Old Testament is based on judgement of people and it makes perfect sense. A friend texted the verse "Man looks on the outward. God looks at the heart", 1 Samuel 16:7 . The irony of this entire situation is that this man Chris, handed me a card that has three quotes on it from Romans (also New Testament). The third statement says "Jesus bridged the gap to offer you new life" and the verse " God commandeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. Ready for this? This quote is in the New Testament, and says that through grace, Jesus, the perfect, sinless man, died for our sins. The OT (Old Testament) law does not, and cannot conquer sin, but the grace given to followers of Christ triumphs over sin and death.
A friend of mine asked if I was ok... I reflected on this question for a whole day now and have come to realize that I am more than ok. I am, with full certainty, empowered to know the truth. A stranger took time to lay a judgement call on who he thought I was, and what I represented in his views of religion. God showed up, smacked him upside the head to say "do not judge people". I got to be a vessel on this day to deliver a powerful message of faith and grace to this man. He learned that the New Testament is a living and breathing gospel, that maybe, by pointing him to the Sermon on the Mount, he can dive deeper into his understanding of faith. This man Chris showed me, and all others in the line that there is a difference between religion and faith. This man build his house of belief systems on a small fraction of Christian teachings, the Old Testament. This is the truest example of religion I could find--one takes a fraction of the teachings of God, and builds a belief system on a snippit of information, in hopes to also teach this to others?--that's religion. Faith, is a deeper knowing of the entirety of God, and what he has done on Earth and in our hearts. That deep knowing, that gnawing, stomach churning punch you get when something isn't right? That's the Holy Spirit kicking us from the inside out. At least for me, it's this deep knowing, no longer is it an anger, it's a calm, presence of grace that I feel when faced with people like Chris. I hurt for people like Chris and hope that by showing them kindness, they too can have an opportunity to reflect on their views and values.
I would love to hear if you have ever experienced judgement and what lessons it taught you or if you've ever experienced that deep knowing and what that looks and feels like! Comment below.
Love ya'll
Lucie
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