In this episode of “Why Do Christians…?”, Mark, Pastor Burt, and Pastor Josh dig into the popular phrase, “It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.” Where did it come from, what did it originally mean, and has it actually hurt how we think about faith?

They trace the idea through revival movements, Campus Crusade For Christ, and the push against “dead formalism.” They ask: did we swing too far in reacting against “organized religion”? The guys talk Pharisees, church hurt, deconstruction, and why the New Testament actually assumes we’ll be part of an organized, structured church community—with pastors, teaching, communion, and accountability.

If you’ve ever said “I’m spiritual, not religious,” or felt burned by church culture, this conversation will challenge how you see religion, relationship, and the local church—and why the answer to bad religion isn’t no religion, but good religion.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

Feedback, or Show Ideas? Send an email to podcast@wearethebridge.org

Download The Bridge Mobile App to get the latest podcast episodes as soon as they are published!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

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Pastor Burt Miller is the Lead Pastor of Solid Ground Church in Lewes, DE

https://solidground.church/

Pastor Josh Dupiche is the Lead Pastor of Hope Church in Milford, DE

https://www.hopebfc.church/

Mark Dickey hosts the Afternoon Show on The Bridge weekdays from 3-7pm EST

https://www.wearethebridge.org/station/staff/mark-dickey/

Intro Music thanks to Luca Francini

https://www.youtube.com/@lucafrancinimusic

In this episode of the Why Do Christians? podcast, Mark sits down with Pastors Burt and Josh to tackle a big question: are all sins really the same? You’ve probably heard that line before—but is it actually biblical?

Together they walk through Scripture to show how all sin separates us from a Holy God, yet the Bible clearly speaks of different degrees and consequences of sin. They unpack verses from James, Romans, John, and more, talk about why genocide is not the same as stealing a lollipop, and why our tendency to compare ourselves to “worse sinners” totally misses the point.

You’ll also hear how God’s grace is greater than our repeated failures, why forgiveness isn’t a “sin tally,” and how the same grace that saves us also teaches us to turn from sin and follow Jesus.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

Feedback, or Show Ideas? Send an email to podcast@wearethebridge.org

Download The Bridge Mobile App to get the latest podcast episodes as soon as they are published!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZQUeRbVEw1C8-1lRK9BYw

Pastor Burt Miller is the Lead Pastor of Solid Ground Church in Lewes, DE

https://solidground.church/

Pastor Josh Dupiche is the Lead Pastor of Hope Church in Milford, DE

https://www.hopebfc.church/

Mark Dickey hosts the Afternoon Show on The Bridge weekdays from 3-7pm EST

https://www.wearethebridge.org/station/staff/mark-dickey/

Intro Music thanks to Luca Francini

https://www.youtube.com/@lucafrancinimusic

Why do Christians believe babies go to heaven—especially when the Bible doesn’t give a direct, clear answer? In this episode, Mark, Pastor Burt, and Pastor Josh tackle one of the heaviest and most tender questions people ask after loss.

They walk through what Scripture does and doesn’t say, looking at passages like David’s grief over his child and Jesus’ heart for little children. The guys trace how ideas like the “age of accountability” developed in church history, push back on unbiblical notions of limbo and “mild condemnation,” and point instead to God’s character—His justice, goodness, and deep love for children.

They also speak directly to parents who’ve walked through miscarriage, infant loss, or abortion, reminding them that God hates death more than we do, that He has acted decisively in Jesus to defeat it, and that we can entrust our children to His kindness, not our performance.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

Feedback, or Show Ideas? Send an email to podcast@wearethebridge.org

Download The Bridge Mobile App to get the latest podcast episodes as soon as they are published!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZQUeRbVEw1C8-1lRK9BYw

Pastor Burt Miller is the Lead Pastor of Solid Ground Church in Lewes, DE

https://solidground.church/

Pastor Josh Dupiche is the Lead Pastor of Hope Church in Milford, DE

https://www.hopebfc.church/

Mark Dickey hosts the Afternoon Show on The Bridge weekdays from 3-7pm EST

https://www.wearethebridge.org/station/staff/mark-dickey/

Intro Music thanks to Luca Francini

https://www.youtube.com/@lucafrancinimusic