Never tell someone that Christianity is about a relationship rather than rules. Scripture is replete with rules on every page. David said "My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times" (Psalm 119:20) and "my hope is in your rules" (Psalm 119:43) and "when I think of your rules, I take comfort" (Psalm 119:52). In fact, when God commands us to be in relationship with Him, that's a rule. God's rules are wonderful because "your rules help me" (Psalm 119:75). Rules keep us from harming ourselves, and without the rules of God, we wouldn't even know how to have a relationship with God. I know the phrase is intended to keep people away from a legalistic approach to God, but there are better ways of explaining that to people than simplistic, cliche phrases. Instead, perhaps it would be more helpful to say, "You can't have a relationship with God by following all the rules. But the good news is that Jesus did that for us. When we believe this, God gives us His Spirit who then enables us to follow his rules."
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