Christianity is a religion

[SpiritOfMan]

Christianity is 100 percent a religion. A true christian should not be ashamed of the word "Religion" and those who say it is not are really speaking out of ignorance.

A lot of people who identify as christians and yet say that christianity is not a religion do so because they are so used to the unrighteous crowd(anti-christians) speaking of religion in derogatory terms and lies. So these "christians" have become ashamed and wanting to please/appeal to the values of these unrighteous crowd. Why should any right thinking christian allow the unrighteous to define his values for him??? Something is definitely wrong with your mind when you deny the fundamentals of your relationship with God by claiming that "Christianity is not a religion..". You are either ignorant or outright lying.

If there are false religions(or abuse of religion), does it not mean that there is a right religion(or correct practice of religion) then?? Why you do choose to uphold the false definitons for religion instead of the right definitions?? It's because you are trying to please the unrighteous(the world), so you use and uphold their definitons and lies. I am a christian, I am religious, I am not ashamed of my religion.


James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

[p_rehbein]

My thoughts only..............

It's all well and good to use the denotative definition of "religion" to assert that Christianity is a religion. However, in day to day real world actuality, the connotative definition of "religion" differs greatly from Christianity. No way around that..........and that is why I profess that religion and Christianity have little, if anything in common.

In a perfect world.........James 1:27 is Truth. However, people seem to not fully understand what James said.......and I quote from previous comment;

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this

Key wording being............"pure" and "undefiled." As well, we should read the Epistle of James completely to understand why he made this statement.............will see what others think.........

Anyway, not criticizing the OP........just stating my thoughts...........Christianity IS a personal relationship wherein God the Father, through His loving Grace, provided all mankind the opportunity of eternal life and fellowship with Him IF they accept His calling........Christianity transcends the earthly religions in that it is a Spiritual Faith.

........ok......rambling now a bit........so.....

 

[p_rehbein]

One Article that may provide some food for thought.........

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LE...uotes.htm/RK=0/RS=4wrxRw1n4at8lfKT.61oOiDsc6k-

 

[Ukorin]

I agree with the OP.
As the Bible defines religion, our faith is beyond religion.
Undefiled religion occurs naturally, as a product of our faith.

The issue is that many claim to be Christians, and are religious, but only in a cultural sense.

Our grandparents generation is full of this. (In America at least).

Too many have the form of godliness, but deny its power.

 

[Brother_Don]

one definition is. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices. To me religion is a way of life, so being a Christian would be a religion. to some sports can be a religion.

 

[Sirk]

It sounds as tho the word "threskos" is what the word "religion" was translated from in James 1. It literally means a fear of God.

 

[kentappel]

Bro you don't get it and that swirly has got to stop. No religion has the cross nor anything like it. all they have is if you do this and go by that. There is nothing that compares to the cross.

I agree with you completely that Christianity is all about Jesus and the cross, and what He did to save us and, yes, nothing compares to the cross, that is what makes it the true religion, while others are false religions that don't have this. You are repeating a definition of religion that is historically inaccurate that some in the Christian community have been using only fairly recently so we are not even talking about the same thing. Again, I am not saying Christianity is following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, I am not saying Christianity is self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and I am not saying it is people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works. I am saying it is faith in Christ alone to save us and that it is the service and worship of the one true God. The word religion is not a bad word.

 

[kentappel]

one definition is. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices. To me religion is a way of life, so being a Christian would be a religion. to some sports can be a religion.

Yes, Christianity would be the true religion and sports, if carried to far, would be a false religion.

 

[kentappel]

My thoughts only..............

It's all well and good to use the denotative definition of "religion" to assert that Christianity is a religion. However, in day to day real world actuality, the connotative definition of "religion" differs greatly from Christianity. No way around that..........and that is why I profess that religion and Christianity have little, if anything in common.

In a perfect world.........James 1:27 is Truth. However, people seem to not fully understand what James said.......and I quote from previous comment;

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this

Key wording being............"pure" and "undefiled." As well, we should read the Epistle of James completely to understand why he made this statement.............will see what others think.........

Anyway, not criticizing the OP........just stating my thoughts...........Christianity IS a personal relationship wherein God the Father, through His loving Grace, provided all mankind the opportunity of eternal life and fellowship with Him IF they accept His calling........Christianity transcends the earthly religions in that it is a Spiritual Faith.

........ok......rambling now a bit........so.....

But, again, I am not saying it is works based, etc. I think you would agree that is the service and worship of God and I agree with what you say here, "...........Christianity IS a personal relationship wherein God the Father, through His loving Grace, provided all mankind the opportunity of eternal life and fellowship with Him IF they accept His calling........Christianity transcends the earthly religions in that it is a Spiritual Faith." That is what makes it the true religion

 

[kentappel]

I find it ironic that I agree completely with what everyone in this thread says Christianity is, that it is a personal relationship with the one true God of the universe, and I agree with them that in certain circles, in practice, that it has gotten away from this, but we are using completely different definitions of defining religion. I am using how it has been defined historically and they are using a new changed definition. Again, religion, in itself, is not a bad or negative word.

 

[kentappel]

Does anyone else notice that some people are debating with me as if I am saying that Christianity is following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, that Christianity is self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and as if I am saying it is people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works? When I am actually saying the exact opposite, Again, I am saying Christianity is NOT following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, I am saying Christianity is NOT self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and I am saying it is NOT people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works and I am also saying Christianity is a personal relationship with the true God of the universe, that it is all about the cross and Jesus dying to save us, sinners who cannot ever save us, and His rising again on the third day. But at the same time I am also saying that Christianity is also a religion at least in how religion has been defined until fairly recently when some in the evangelical community changed the definition.

 

[Sirk]

Does anyone else notice that some people are debating with me as if I am saying that Christianity is following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, that Christianity is self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and as if I am saying it is people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works? When I am actually saying the exact opposite, Again, I am saying Christianity is NOT following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, I am saying Christianity is NOT self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and I am saying it is NOT people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works and I am also saying Christianity is a personal relationship with the true God of the universe, that it is all about the cross and Jesus dying to save us, sinners who cannot ever save us, and His rising again on the third day. But at the same time I am also saying that Christianity is also a religion at least in how religion has been defined until fairly recently when some in the evangelical community changed the definition.

The word religion in my estimation denotes devotion to something......so if you are devoted to smoking weed and collecting bongs then I would say that is your religion. If your devoted to Christ and living your life as though He is living through you, then that is your religion. Being "religious" however indicates to me that the practitioner desires the focus to be on the themselves and that frankly, is in direct opposition to scripture. Aside from that....this is really a pointless thread...no offense.

 

[Ella85]

The word religion in my estimation denotes devotion to something......so if you are devoted to smoking weed and collecting bongs then I would say that is your religion. If your devoted to Christ and living your life as though He is living through you, then that is your religion. Being "religious" however indicates to me that the practitioner desires the focus to be on the themselves and that frankly, is in direct opposition to scripture. Aside from that....this is really a pointless thread...no offense.

By the way that was a really good comparison....Lol ...

 

[Sirk]

By the way that was a really good comparison....Lol ...

I try to keep it at least SOMEWHAT entertaining....haha

 

[Ella85]

I try to keep it at least SOMEWHAT entertaining....haha

Haha!!!! Well it made me laugh lol

 

[crossnote]

I meant, I want smash it like a cockroach that swirly thing.

Baptise it, but not Tintin style.

 

[kentappel]

In recent years there has been a lot of talk in certain circles that Christianity is not a religion, that it is instead a relationship but I believe that it is a religion and it is a relationship at the same time.

I surrendered my life to the Lord in 1993. I've been hearing this "Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship" saying since that time. For some time, too, I went with it.



Besides if Christianity is not a religion, then how can we in the United States claim our right of freedom of religion if someone tries to take away our right to worship as we see fit? Are we going to tell them we have freedom of relationship? That just doesn't fit now does it.

It seems pretty clear that the founders believed Christianity is a religion. Yet, somewhere between the late 1700's and the early part of the 2000's, many have changed their view and now reject the idea that Christianity is a religion. Interesting!

I'll conclude with what I wrote in my profile details about my view of religion...which most of the posts in this thread seem to concur with:

"My view is that Christianity is a religion based on an intimate relationship with God that results in charity to others(good works or "fruits") and continued refining(sanctification) of self."

Yes, my point entirely.

 

[p_rehbein]

QUOTED:
Does anyone else notice that some people are debating with me as if I am saying that Christianity is following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, that Christianity is self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and as if I am saying it is people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works? When I am actually saying the exact opposite, Again, I am saying Christianity is NOT following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, I am saying Christianity is NOT self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and I am saying it is NOT people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works and I am also saying Christianity is a personal relationship with the true God of the universe, that it is all about the cross and Jesus dying to save us, sinners who cannot ever save us, and His rising again on the third day. But at the same time I am also saying that Christianity is also a religion at least in how religion has been defined until fairly recently when some in the evangelical community changed the definition.
END QUOTATION.......

I, for one, am not debating you whatsoever..........I simply stated my thoughts/opinion. May I ask......are you sure it was ONLY THE evangelical community that changed the definition of religion? I read and understood the OP............but that does not mean that I can not express my opinion as to Christianity vs. religion as I see it does it?

 

[p_rehbein]

I would also like to point out that all you or I or any others have said here is moot. After all, those who will receive eternal life were predestined to do so from the beginning, and they have no choice in the matter...........just as those who will be doomed to eternal damnation were predestined from the beginning to eternal damnation have no choice either.......just the way it is.

 

[4enlightment]

In recent years there has been a lot of talk in certain circles that Christianity is not a religion, that it is instead a relationship but I believe that it is a religion and it is a relationship at the same time.

First of all, I will point out what I believe Christianity is not. It is not following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, it is not self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and it is not people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works. So Christianity is a relationship with God right? Yes, but it is also a religion at the same time.

So how it is a religion? If we go by the definitions of religion from the dictionary and how the Christian religion has been historically defined that say nothing about following non Biblical rituals and non Biblical traditions, that say nothing about self righteousness such as the Pharisees, and say nothing about people trying to work their way to heaven by their own works.

Below is the definition from Webster's Dictionary so before people assume I am defining Christianity in those negative terms, because I am not, read the definitions below. So Christianity is, under definition 1b(1), "the service and worship of God." While a false religion would be the service and worship of the supernatural or the service and worship of a false God or Gods. Christianity is also, under definition 4, "a system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." But I am not saying that it is not a relationship with Christ because it is a relationship. But I fully expect some to not even read why I believe it is also a religion and to not read the actual definitions of religion and also to assume that I am defining it in the negative terms in use by some use today, which I am not doing.


Besides if Christianity is not a religion, then how can we in the United States claim our right of freedom of religion if someone tries to take away our right to worship as we see fit? Are we going to tell them we have freedom of relationship? That just doesn't fit now does it.

Full Definition of RELIGION

1a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion>

b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance

3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness

4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

re·li·gious (r

-l

j

s)adj.1. Having or showing belief in and reverence for God or a deity.
2. Of, concerned with, or teaching religion: a religious text.
3. Extremely scrupulous or conscientious: religious devotion to duty.

n. pl. religious

Religion is not in scriptures but it means to put in a category in which a person is devoted to, like a belief system. But it shouldn't be broken down into sections and keeping the same old patterns that a person that are in each sections should follow. The should mingle with one another and learn new things that they have learn in their corner. But if everyone stay in their own corner, no one will gain any information but become set in their own pattern.

Exodus 33:5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’”

Nehemiah 9:29 “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.

Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”