10. The word "religious"

The author begins the article by using an example of her own experiences with being called “religious.” This is a good introduction, since the reader becomes aware of the author’s position.  Becker then proceeds to explain that being a Christian is not about the name or going to church; it’s about having a relationship with Christ. She also states how religion can help this relationship. Becker did a good job in using her own experiences and tying them together with the importance of continuing the walk with God by going to church. The danger of being too religious is that Christians can become proud and think of themselves as better than others. The author clearly states why she likes and dislikes the term “religious” throughout the article, and uses back up information for each reason. 

 Becker’s use of informal language creates a comfortable atmosphere for the reader. She also uses evidence from her own personal experiences and the Bible. Becker closes with the idea that we can proclaim religiosity as long as we proclaim Jesus' love above all else. The article was written for an adult audience, more specifically Christian. There is no persuasive language in her writing, however Becker encourages fellow Christians to reflect Jesus by living our religious lives. In the closing sentence, the author states how she longs to be a light to the people around her. This conclusion is meant to be an encouragement for the reader to reflect on; that we should live our lives like Jesus did, thus bring people to him. The authors main emphasis is that the example that Jesus set is what we should live by, more than having the status of "religious." Overall it was a short, but effective essay about being like Jesus was; being religious the right way.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/amyjuliabecker/2014/september/why-i-dont-like-being-called-religious.html