Defining Religion

This morning I have been mulling over in my head how to approach the topic of religion. Controversial as it is...here goes my input on the subject..Lord, help me to get a point across without being offensive!
To me, religion is an ambiguous term...it entails a wide range of definition..and so many times is confused with other terms...To me, the word is merely a label that has been more or less of a plague on true followers of Christ....religious, religion, denominations...all these words seem to encompass what most people relate to a form of worshiping God. When the subject of religion is brought up....most people automatically form an opinion that is either extremely negative or they feel the same about the topic of religion as they do politics!
The term "religion" is a term that man has come to associate with generalizing all denominations....Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Pentecostal and any number of other religions. I do not like the word at all...I hate it when someone calls me "religious"...the term is usually used in a negative way when referring to Christians or Christianity...religious fanatic is a term that comes to my mind....Just what do people mean when they call you a "religious fanatic"? Most likely, they think that you live and breathe your "religion" and that you are trying to turn them onto your ideas and that is your main focus....and automatically they are on the defensive and don't want anything to do with you or your so-called "religion"! I think that satan knows that and he loves the word "religion"....you could be religious and be following satan or anything or anyone else you could perceive as a deity! So, as far as I am concerned...it is a bad term and should be avoided...Don't try to sell a religion if you want to win people to Christ! Christ was not religious...He was a servant.........He walked among the poor and the downtrodden of this earth and He was not promoting a religion...he was promoting faith in His Father....He demanded trust, He was a truth bearer, He healed, He taught....He made the ultimate sacrifice for all man when He went to the cross to redeem all of us from our sins....It had nothing to do with religion,it was about His faith to His Father..His mission to carry out His purpose.
I hope that what I have said here is not offensive to anyone in any way or misconstrued...I want to have a relationship with Christ...not a religion. I don't want to be labeled by the name of the building where I attend church at on Sunday. I love that church, but it does not define me! If you really want to develop a relationship with the Lord....go to church, but don't let it be all you do to honor your Creator....He wants more than just your church attendance...He wants you to know Him on a personal level!