RELIGION VS JESUS

[ToLiveIsToChrist]

So many people claim that Christianity is a religion.
It's not.
It may come as a shock but pure and simple faith and belief in Jesus is not religion. You see, religion is about what you can do to work your way to Christ while being a Christian is about how Christ worked his way to you. That's why I hate using the term "Christian" although I love the original meaning ( little Christ) I don't want to be associated with religion because that completely throws away the magnitude of what Christ did For us on the cross. And that is why being a Christian is so revolutionary. Because in every other "belief system" on the planet you have to work your way to God or prove that your good enough. Take Mormonism, they believe that maybe if your good enough you'll get into heaven or Catholicism where you still have to confess to a priest and basically pay God back for what you've done and work your way back to him. Gods GIFT of eternal life was free. Following him is not.

 

[kingerik]

Christianity is a religion.

Religion- the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

Christianity does have rituals(lord's supper) and rules to observe, not to gain our salvation but as the result of having a relationship with God and wanting to please him.

 

[Nautilus]

So many people claim that Christianity is a religion.
It's not.
It may come as a shock but pure and simple faith and belief in Jesus is not religion. You see, religion is about what you can do to work your way to Christ while being a Christian is about how Christ worked his way to you. That's why I hate using the term "Christian" although I love the original meaning ( little Christ) I don't want to be associated with religion because that completely throws away the magnitude of what Christ did For us on the cross. And that is why being a Christian is so revolutionary. Because in every other "belief system" on the planet you have to work your way to God or prove that your good enough. Take Mormonism, they believe that maybe if your good enough you'll get into heaven or Catholicism where you still have to confess to a priest and basically pay God back for what you've done and work your way back to him. Gods GIFT of eternal life was free. Following him is not.

I don't know what feel good gobbledy-gook pastor tried to pass this off on you, but he is wrong. Crhistianity is definitely a religion. The whole 'its not a religion its a relationship' is some weak nineties evangelical junk. while youre right the main part is a relationship with Christ trying to justify it as not a religion is a fool's errand.

 

[Ugly]

Actually the majority of Christians i meet love to use the 'relationship not religion' bumper sticker mind set. To the point that the second a person says the word 'religion' most Christians focus on the use of that word and ignore the needs the person is seeking to be met. This is not a new concept but has been around for quite a while.
I'm actually surprised to see others have already posted that Christianity is a religion. Few Christians think this way. But i do as well. Part of the religion we follow is the relationship with Christ.
People become so focused on being 'anti-religious' that they become religious in their belief to be against religion. We are not called to preach 'Christianity is relationship not religion', we are called to preach Christ. So many Christians get so caught up in bumper sticker theology and trendy psuedo-spiritual memes they end up pushing that, rather than preaching the real meaning of the Cross.