As we say goodbye to another season of March Madness, I’m struck by how many lives revolve around the games. Some have the luxury of recording them to watch later, but for others, the event—and often the gambling that comes with it—takes center stage.

My brother and his wife have turned it into something beautiful: a family bonding tradition. With adult kids scattered across several states, they all make their bracket picks and track who’s best at predicting the winners. This year, one of my brother’s middle daughters is leading the pack, giving him a little heartburn. (With four daughters and one son, the odds were probably stacked in the ladies’ favor anyway.) It’s all in good fun and creates another opportunity for laughter, connection, and camaraderie.

When Entertainment Becomes a Distraction

But not everyone keeps it in perspective.

I’ve watched grown men leave dinner parties early just to catch a game. I’ve seen dads streaming March Madness on their phones while sitting in the bleachers at their child’s little league basketball game—completely missing the moment their daughter looks up from the court, searching for her father’s eyes, only to find his head buried in his phone. Please don’t be that guy!

That’s when it stops being harmless entertainment.

When I was a teenager growing up in the Maryland suburbs—just nine miles from the Nation’s Capital—I was a diehard Redskins fan. Sonny Jurgensen was my hero. Football season made fall my favorite time of year. The problem? My mood rose and fell with the team’s performance. And since they lost more often than they won back then, I let a game determine the quality of my days.

How does that happen?

How does it still happen today—among so many Christians of all ages?

Knowing About God vs Truly Knowing Him

The answer comes down to one thing: the depth of our personal relationship with God.

Before my spiritual awakening, I considered myself a Christian. I believed in God. I went to church every Sunday (and sometimes during the week). But the truth is, God remained a distant deity to me. I knew about Him the same way I know about Abraham Lincoln from history books. I respected Him. I honored Him in ritual. But there was no real relationship.

It’s like Ronald Reagan. I’ve always admired President Reagan. My brother-in-law served in the Secret Service and was assigned to him, so I’ve heard wonderful behind-the-scenes stories—stories from the White House, Camp David, and Air Force One. One in particular touched me deeply: Every Christmas, Reagan would delay his trip to the ranch in California by a few days so the hundred-plus staff members traveling with him could spend Christmas at home with their families in the D.C. area. Those stories deepened my respect for him as a leader and a man.

Yet even with all those personal anecdotes, I never knew Ronald Reagan. I only knew about him.

That’s exactly how my relationship with God used to be.

I was raised in a Christian family where church was central. I was taught about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. But no one really showed me how to have a living, personal relationship with Him. Religion introduced me to God through its own narrative—but it stopped short of leading me into intimacy with Him.

I believe this is one of the dangers of religious institutions. Though many are inspired by genuine faith, they are still man-made. Their primary purpose should be to introduce people to God, much like a mother’s breast milk nourishes an infant in the earliest stage of life.

The Danger of Staying Spiritually Immature

Church can be a beautiful, nurturing first step. It’s often where we first learn about God, especially when parents don’t fill that role. But for too many, this is where the spiritual journey ends. They become dependent on the institution for their spirituality instead of pressing in to know God personally.

“For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness, for he is a mere infant.” – Hebrews 5:13

They remain stuck in “knowing about” God instead of truly knowing Him. They follow traditions and teachings faithfully, yet never wean themselves from the “milk” to pursue a deeper walk.

Too many churchgoers attend services weekly and consider that enough. Others enjoy the fellowship and community but never develop a real relationship with God. I’ve known “religious” people who have a closer bond with their pets than with their Creator. (I’m embarrassed to admit there was a season when that described me.)

Is Your Church Drawing You Closer to God?

So how do you know if you’re in the right church?

Ask yourself this simple question: Do the rules, traditions, and practices of this institution draw me closer to God—or do they create interference between me and Him? Does it act as an intermediary, or does it constantly point me toward a personal, living relationship with my Father?

Going to church is good. Gathering with like-minded believers for worship and encouragement is valuable. But showing up once or twice a week is not a relationship.

God doesn’t want to be a distant Sunday obligation. He wants to be part of your everyday life—your thoughts, your decisions, your joys, and your struggles. He desires your love and trust, not just your attendance.

When God feels distant, the enemy has room to fill that space with clutter: distractions, entertainments, and things that ultimately don’t matter. The greater the distance between you and God, the more the devil crowds in with the frivolous and the meaningless.

Some will say, “But I believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and I’m a good person!”

I’m not talking about the worst of society here. I’m talking about genuinely good people—kind, moral, decent individuals—who believe in God and may even claim salvation through Christ… but never pursue a real relationship with Him in this life.

It’s unfortunate, not because they won’t make it to heaven (John 3:16 gives us that blessed assurance), but because they miss the abundant life Jesus promised here and now. They miss living out the very purpose for which they were created.

We were all created with a divine purpose. God is loving enough to give us free will, even if we choose to design a life that doesn’t align with His best for us. Getting to heaven is incredible. But how much richer would it be to one day look back and know we lived the life He dreamed for us while we were on earth?

Religion vs Relationship: What’s the Difference?

Being “religious” means knowing about God and attending church. Being “spiritual” means pursuing a living, breathing relationship with Him. Spiritual maturity is the daily, persistent choice to close the gap—to seek Him in everything, to receive His light, and to walk according to His will, guided by the Holy Spirit in every thought, word, and action.

Close the Distance: A Call to Real Relationship

Make your relationship with God the priority it was always meant to be. Don’t settle for knowing about Him when you can truly know Him.

“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” – Jeremiah 29:13

Don’t let God remain someone you know about when He invites you to truly know Him.

The world will always compete for your attention.

But only one relationship will define your eternity—and transform your life right now.

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