Christians Only: Is Christianity a Religion or Not?

[Windwalker]

I was having a discussion with a fellow member of my Church. She told me she didn't think of Christianity as a religion, but a relationship with Jesus/God. That got me to thinking: Is Christianity a religion to you or is it a relationship with God or both?

It's obviously a religion because it functions as a support structure. Christianity can't itself be a relationship with God because it is simply a system of beliefs and practices and symbols. The question is how one utilizes them. Are they purely social, or do they embrace spiritual pursuit of the individual? So the best way to answer that would not be to say Christianity is a relationship, but rather for some, they have a relationship with God supported by the religion.

 

[savagewind]

The Christianity adopted by Erath's population is a religion. But the Son of God did not come to create a new religion so true followers of The Christ are not a religion. I do not know them and they do not know me but Jesus knows them all.

 

[chlotilde]

This doesn't mean church attendance, but studying Christian literature.

Beware the illiterate!

 

[Desert Snake]

Beware the illiterate!

Huh?.......

 

[John Martin]

This. I agree. But 100% isn't real. It is a daily struggle.

Yes, it is a daily struggle. Daily struggles help us to learn to surrender to God each moment of our life: Thy will be done.
Father, if it is possible take way this cup from me but not my will let thy will be done.

 

[chlotilde]

Huh?.......

If someone can't read, how do they study scripture?
What I am saying here, is that if you give an answer like sharing with someone...well that is my definition of Church (sharing the faith, it just happens to be in a building with a cross on it).

 

[Desert Snake]

If someone can't read, how do they study scripture?

Talking to other Christians, learning more.
My point was that, I don't think it is ideal to just attend church, and go on with business as usual.

 

[chlotilde]

I don't think it is ideal to just attend church, and go on with business as usual.

Much better!

 

[Desert Snake]

Much better!

Difficult to tell if you're just being argumentative or not, but traditionally, in societies with large amounts of 'illiteracy', literacy was more of a communal effort. You would hire scribes, have things read in a group setting etc. Your initial comment was not relevant, basically.

 

[InChrist]

The term "religion' is used only five times in the entire Bible. Three times it is used in reference to non-Christians who practice religion and/or to those who call themselves Christians, but who are attempting to live by a set of regulations to make themselves good. Yet, the scriptures call these kind of religious practices a self-imposed religion, false humility, and of no value ( Col. 2:23).

Two times the word "religion' is used by the apostle James...If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:26-27) Again, religion is portrayed in a negative light as associated with outward religious practices. I believe a pure and undefiled religion means and is a relationship with God and this is what He desires, not religion. A living relationship which means a believer has died to self and risen to new life with Christ putting love for God and others first.

From my personal experience and the scriptures, I believe that real Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.

 

[chlotilde]

Difficult to tell if you're just being argumentative or not,

not in an against you sense, but in a leading sense (your original statement was ambiguous)

in societies with large amounts of 'illiteracy', literacy was more of a communal effort. You would hire scribes, have things read in a group setting etc. .

and I would add art to that too, a picture is worth a thousand words

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Edited to add "add"...dang mobile touchscreen

 

[ChristineES]

Yes, it is a daily struggle. Daily struggles help us to learn to surrender to God each moment of our life: Thy will be done.
Father, if it is possible take way this cup from me but not my will let thy will be done.

I agree it's a struggle, but, as Jesus said: What is impossible for men(humans) is possible for God. So if we have God, we will be able to accomplish it much better. No, we are not perfect, but God is perfect.

 

[John Martin]

I agree it's a struggle, but, as Jesus said: What is impossible for men(humans) is possible for God. So if we have God, we will be able to accomplish it much better. No, we are not perfect, but God is perfect.

I do not like the word perfect. It has the tone of achieving something,to become perfect. God did not become perfect. I prefer the word Fullness or wholeness or Holiness. God is Fullness or wholeness or holiness.
Since we are manifested in the image and likeness of God we have this image of Fullness, Wholeness and Holiness in us. We can never become perfect but we, with the grace of God, discover the image of the fullness that we already are.
Be Holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy. Be you perfect(Fullness) as your heavenly Father is perfect( Fullness).

 

[chongjasmine]

Christianity is really about having a relationship with God.
Whether it is seen as a religion or not is not important.

 

[John Martin]

Christianity is really about having a relationship with God.
Whether it is seen as a religion or not is not important.

It is true in one level but in another level Christianity is also growing in relationship with God. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is smallest of all seeds but when it grows it becomes so big that the birds of the air will come and make their nests in it. We need to grow from our personal individual consciousness to the all embracing divine consciousness.
We need to distinguish between a religion and Religion. We need to grow from religion which nourishes our individual consciousness in the collective consciousness to Religion where our individual consciousness is at the service of the divine consciousness, the kingdom of God.

 

[Windwalker]

This. I agree. But 100% isn't real. It is a daily struggle.

I'm going to throw a variable into this which John Martin didn't mention, and that I just thought of myself for the first time based on this "100% isn't real" response to him. Think of it in terms like this. It's the Trinity, of 100%, 100%, and 100%. It's not just 100% God and 100% love of neighbor, but we must include ourselves at 100%. That last part is us being our Authentic Self. We are unique individuals. And when God and others are merged with our own being, in an indissoluble union, it is 100% God, 100% our Self, and 100% love of others. Or to put a familiar face on this Unity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We only die to our separate self, but then find our Authentic Self, the Son of God.

 

[savagewind]

I'm going to throw a variable into this which John Martin didn't mention, and that I just thought of myself for the first time based on this "100% isn't real" response to him. Think of it in terms like this. It's the Trinity, of 100%, 100%, and 100%. It's not just 100% God and 100% love of neighbor, but we must include ourselves at 100%. That last part is us being our Authentic Self. We are unique individuals. And when God and others are merged with our own being, in an indissoluble union, it is 100% God, 100% our Self, and 100% love of others. Or to put a familiar face on this Unity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We only die to our separate self, but then find our Authentic Self, the Son of God.

God The Father 100%
God the Son, our self 100%
The Holy Spirit our neighbor 100%

I can't disagree with it.

But our authentic self, the Son of God, is wrong. One Lord to obey, Jesus Christ. One Leader to lead, Jesus Christ. One baptism. To ourselves? No. To Jesus Christ. We are not Jesus Christ.

100% is the target to aim for. It is good to aim for it. How many times do you think we actually hit it?

 

[John Martin]

I'm going to throw a variable into this which John Martin didn't mention, and that I just thought of myself for the first time based on this "100% isn't real" response to him. Think of it in terms like this. It's the Trinity, of 100%, 100%, and 100%. It's not just 100% God and 100% love of neighbor, but we must include ourselves at 100%. That last part is us being our Authentic Self. We are unique individuals. And when God and others are merged with our own being, in an indissoluble union, it is 100% God, 100% our Self, and 100% love of others. Or to put a familiar face on this Unity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We only die to our separate self, but then find our Authentic Self, the Son of God.

Thank you Windwalker.Yes, to love God and to love neighbour is to love our self, our authentic self. We are one with God and one with everyone.

 

[ChristineES]

I do not like the word perfect. It has the tone of achieving something,to become perfect. God did not become perfect. I prefer the word Fullness or wholeness or Holiness. God is Fullness or wholeness or holiness.
Since we are manifested in the image and likeness of God we have this image of Fullness, Wholeness and Holiness in us. We can never become perfect but we, with the grace of God, discover the image of the fullness that we already are.
Be Holy as your Heavenly Father is Holy. Be you perfect(Fullness) as your heavenly Father is perfect( Fullness).

Other words other than perfect can certainly be used, the word "perfect" has come to mean something that is done correctly in our usage of (humankind's usage) and I can see how that wouldn't fit. Jesus used the word "Holy". It means, they way I used it, what you have said in your reply: Fullness, Wholeness, Holiness.

I used that the word "perfect" because it was from the verse in the translation I used.

 

[ChristineES]

We can't deny that the various denominations of Christianity do involve some kinds of rituals. I could name a few, but I think we know what they are. But what about Jesus' message itself? Do you think that would be a religion in itself? I mean, loving God, loving our neighbors, loving and praying for our enemies, not condemning others, showing mercy, etc. Can we do all of those things without really any of the rituals we have done?

I'd like to clarify that I've always seen my belief as a faith which is can be religious: A religion.