Awesome post, Carmen...
I'm a woman. People always think I am a man and I cannot figure out why.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed your post. You nailed it. Many people confuse church and religion with being a Christian, but often, nothing could be further from the truth.
I know lots of people who don't go to organized religious institutions and they have more love in their hearts than many who do.
It is important not to take hold of a title and then think you know what it entails. You can't, only God knows the heart and its motivations.
There are many self-serving people in all denominations; that's to be expected, because people, as a rule want to be esteemed by men which gets them in trouble every time.
Being a Christian doesn't mean that we're supposed to be perfect. It means we have recognized our frailties and are depending on a higher power to lead and guide us.
It's a simple premise, but it escapes many people.