Which one describes you?

In Sunday school this week, we were asked to write down the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear two things.


First was when someone says they are religious.


Second, when someone says they have a personal relationship with Christ.


I have to say that I was a little nervous and wasn't sure I wanted to share my answers with the class but I quickly found out I wasn't the only pessimist in the class.


I would like to say that most of the time, I really give people the benefit of the doubt.  I want to believe them, but I do work with the public and I have been lied to and led astray before.  


Having said that I will say that when someone says to me they are religious, I usually think they are telling me because their religion is better than mine or they are just better at being religious than I am.  But for some reason when someone says they have a relationship with Christ, it makes me think while they may not be perfect they are striving to better their relationship with Christ.  


I wonder why that is, I am sure it's just because of past experiences, but I was curious about what other people might think?  Am I being cynical?  


I will say I know that I am a sinner, probably more of a sinner than most.  I certainly don't think I am any better than anyone else, so please don't think that I think I am any better than anyone else because I KNOW I'm not.  I KNOW!!!!


I thought, or think that God wants us to have a relationship with him.  He wants us to talk to him daily, and I guess when you say "relationship", that makes it sound more personal to me.  Shouldn't we strive to have a personal relationship with God?


Thoughts?