When Principles Replace the Person: Rediscovering True Relationship with Christ

Are We Operating in Relationship with Christ, or Just Using His Tools?

Have you ever met someone who seemed “spiritually powerful” but whose fruit didn’t feel like Jesus? Maybe it was a dynamic speaker, a miracle worker, or a gifted leader—yet something didn’t feel right. There was charisma, but not Christlikeness. Power, but not presence. Principles, but not the Person. Results, but not relationship with Christ.

It’s unsettling. And it should be.

Because the reality is: the spiritual laws of the Kingdom work. They’re consistent, God-authored, and freely accessible. But they were never meant to replace the relationship they flow from.

Even Jesus warned us about this chilling possibility:

This wasn’t a warning for atheists. It was a warning for people who called Him Lord—people who prophesied, cast out demons, and worked miracles. They moved in spiritual principles. But they missed the Person.

That’s a sobering thought. They were operating out of a false identity that did not stem out of intimacy. And Love knows the true you and will relate to the authentic you. He does not recognize false identities that make up sinful ways of being and doing. These need to “depart from Him.” He never knew these false selves. He has always known and has always been smitten with the authentic you.

So today, let’s lean into the heart of it: Are we cultivating true relationship with Christ—or just working spiritual laws for our own gain? And gain can look like many things: propping up our egos, trying to impress others or God, monetary gain, fluffing up our reputations, manipulating people. And the list goes on…

Spiritual Laws Can Function Without Love—But Not Forever

Let’s be honest. There are people who seem to “succeed” in life and ministry using spiritual laws—whether or not they walk closely with Jesus.

We see it in:

• Unrighteous people who seem to prosper outside of loving God and others
• New Age seekers who tap into spiritual laws without Christ
• Believers who mix truth/ministry with manipulation, compromise, and personal agendas

Why? Because God’s design is faithful. His spiritual laws aren’t broken. But relationship is never about what you can get—it’s about who you become.

Paul makes this plain:

Love is not optional. It’s the measuring stick of maturity. And it is the measuring stick of success. Indeed Jesus said: 

You can operate in godly power—and still miss godly character. You can build a platform, but not a legacy. You can manipulate principles, but miss the Person. And honestly that is really scary and should be scary for those of us who are unwilling to compromise.

God Is After Intimacy—Not Just Obedience

Spiritual principles are often leveraged to get results. But relationship with Christ doesn’t start with results—it starts with union and intimacy that flows out of that union.

Obedience isn’t just about right behavior. It’s about right alignment. Obedience is not the surcharge to “get” God’s blessing and favor. It’s the fruit of a heart that knows it is vastly loved and loves God back. If God has our hearts, He will have our obedience and He will have our service.

Jesus said:

Notice the order: seek Him, not just the “things.”

Because when we start seeking the kingdom without the King, we begin to drift. We value blessing more than belonging. We begin to ask, “How can I get God to move?” instead of, “How can I move with Him?”

And over time, we begin to build entire systems—ministries, businesses, even spiritual habits—on something other than Love.

Operating from Intimacy for Its Own Sake, or for God’s Benefits?

This message isn’t about shame. It’s about heart alignment.

God loves us enough to expose our motives—not to condemn us, but to restore us. He’ll ask the hard questions, like:

• Are you using My gifts to build your kingdom or Mine?
• Are you more impressed by spiritual power or the fruit of love?
• Are you working for Me, but never sitting with Me?
  

And here’s the good news: when we come honestly, there is no rejection—only invitation.

This is not a message of legalism. It’s a message of liberation—from the pressure to perform and the illusion of control. God’s “returning to you” is an experience of His Presence that has always been there. It is not a transactional tit for tat.

We were never designed to master spiritual principles in isolation. We were designed for intimate experience of our union through relationship with Christ.

The Difference Between Power and Love

Let’s be real: some people are more enamored with spiritual power than spiritual love. But scripture makes the distinction clear:

If the Spirit’s power is present, but the Spirit’s fruit is absent—something’s off.

Power without love leads to control and possible abuse. Love without power leads to passivity. But love and power together reveal Christ in you.

It’s not enough to perform miracles. We’re called to embody love. That’s how the world will know we’re His:

That’s the legacy of those truly joined to Christ—not public fruitfulness alone, but private intimacy.

Let Jesus Be the Center Again

If you’ve drifted from relationship with Christ into principle—there’s no shame here. Only mercy. God isn’t mad. He’s drawing you close.

Because you were never meant to use Him. You were meant to know Him.

You were created for connection, not performance.

You were crafted for love, not results.

Because in the end, the question isn’t, “Did you use My name?”

It’s, “Were you joined to Me?”

Let’s trade striving for surrender. Let’s stop performing the principles and start cultivating Holy Spirit’s presence. Because when you are joined to Him, everything else flows.

Love, Catherine Toon

P.S. You can watch my full teaching on this on YouTube!