Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Is Christianity a Religion?
How often I hear Christians put up the argument that religion is man made. Christianity is not a religion but it is a way of life. A relationship with God. .... I don't mean to be disrespectful, but every time I hear someone say that, I roll my eyes upwards. Especially when they say it to an unbeliever.
First let's look at the actual definition of the word "Religion".
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re·li·gion
/r?'lij?n/
noun
noun: religion
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
"ideas about the relationship between science and religion"
* a particular system of faith and worship.
plural noun: religions
"the world's great religions"
* a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
"consumerism is the new religion"
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I don't care which direction you slice it, by the definition of the word, Christianity is in fact a religion. I don't care how you define religion, this is what the English language says it is. When you discuss it with others, especially unbelievers, the English language is important to follow. You cannot just make up your own definition of words and expect them to accept it.
I have been studying scripture a whole lot over the last few years. I have defended Christianity in many debates on-line. I have written articles putting forth solid logical arguments for why I know God is real and why Christianity is the right religion. I have never had a problem calling it a religion.
The entire argument for saying Christianity is not a religion and is a relationship with God, comes from a lack of knowledge of how to defend Christianity against other religions. People who did not have sound logic in their defense of Christianity would turn to that wild card to separate themselves from other religions. You don't need that wild card!
There is all kinds of evidence that God is real. There is very strong evidence why Christianity is the only true religion. And that is how I make my stance on defending Christianity. I plainly state that it is in fact, by the definition of the word, a religion. The difference is that Christianity is the one true and right religion and all other religions are false religions based on man's need to be in control of his own destination. That is why all man-made religions expect mankind to earn his own way to paradise. In Christianity, God knows man is not good enough. Not all people are created equal. Some have greater abilities than others. Earning our way into heaven would be unfair to many even if anyone was good enough to do it. God knew we could never earn our way into heaven so He sacrificed Himself to save us! Christianity is the only religion that shows God to be a God of love and forgiveness. A truly caring and loving God.
There is nothing wrong with calling Christianity a religion. It is only wrong if you cannot defend it enough to separate it from other religions. But you don't need to separate Christianity from religion in order to prove it is the one true religion of the one true God.
If you do not have the knowledge to defend Christianity without falling back on a silly wild card cliche, you need to stop defending it and start studying it. If you do have the knowledge, then you should never need to depend on a silly cliche. Just prove it is real with your knowledge.
The only thing that cliche says to me, is that you don't truly know enough to defend God's Word against those who dont agree with it. It tells me you need to study more.
Finally I will leave you with a verse...
James 1:27 (NASB)
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.
It seems that even God agrees it is a religion.
First let's look at the actual definition of the word "Religion".
----------------------
re·li·gion
/r?'lij?n/
noun
noun: religion
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
"ideas about the relationship between science and religion"
* a particular system of faith and worship.
plural noun: religions
"the world's great religions"
* a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
"consumerism is the new religion"
------------------
I don't care which direction you slice it, by the definition of the word, Christianity is in fact a religion. I don't care how you define religion, this is what the English language says it is. When you discuss it with others, especially unbelievers, the English language is important to follow. You cannot just make up your own definition of words and expect them to accept it.
I have been studying scripture a whole lot over the last few years. I have defended Christianity in many debates on-line. I have written articles putting forth solid logical arguments for why I know God is real and why Christianity is the right religion. I have never had a problem calling it a religion.
The entire argument for saying Christianity is not a religion and is a relationship with God, comes from a lack of knowledge of how to defend Christianity against other religions. People who did not have sound logic in their defense of Christianity would turn to that wild card to separate themselves from other religions. You don't need that wild card!
There is all kinds of evidence that God is real. There is very strong evidence why Christianity is the only true religion. And that is how I make my stance on defending Christianity. I plainly state that it is in fact, by the definition of the word, a religion. The difference is that Christianity is the one true and right religion and all other religions are false religions based on man's need to be in control of his own destination. That is why all man-made religions expect mankind to earn his own way to paradise. In Christianity, God knows man is not good enough. Not all people are created equal. Some have greater abilities than others. Earning our way into heaven would be unfair to many even if anyone was good enough to do it. God knew we could never earn our way into heaven so He sacrificed Himself to save us! Christianity is the only religion that shows God to be a God of love and forgiveness. A truly caring and loving God.
There is nothing wrong with calling Christianity a religion. It is only wrong if you cannot defend it enough to separate it from other religions. But you don't need to separate Christianity from religion in order to prove it is the one true religion of the one true God.
If you do not have the knowledge to defend Christianity without falling back on a silly wild card cliche, you need to stop defending it and start studying it. If you do have the knowledge, then you should never need to depend on a silly cliche. Just prove it is real with your knowledge.
The only thing that cliche says to me, is that you don't truly know enough to defend God's Word against those who dont agree with it. It tells me you need to study more.
Finally I will leave you with a verse...
James 1:27 (NASB)
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.
It seems that even God agrees it is a religion.