Is the Christian faith a religion, or a relationship with God? Is this a distinction worth thinking about?
Many would insist that Christianity is a religion. Dictionary.com defines religion as, ‘a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs’. Christianity does revolve around a belief in the Creator God, and the Bible does set out a way of life, including a moral code, to which Christians seek to adhere. In the New Testament, the Christian faith is referred to as religion by both Paul and James (1 Timothy 5:3-4; James 1:25-27).
On the other hand, it can be said that there is nothing religious at all about the Christian faith. Jesus himself condemned adherence to ‘ritual observances’ by the religious leaders in his day, pointing out that God desires ‘mercy and not sacrifice’(Matthew 9:12-14; Matthew 12:6-8), and that God is not interested in those who honour him with their lips, but whose hearts are far from Him, who are concerned with teachings which are but rules taught by men (Matthew 15:8-9). The emphasis of the New Testament is on a relationship with God through Jesus, and not ‘ritual observances’. It is a relationship, where God speaks, and we respond by speaking to Him in prayer, rather than adhering to traditional rituals or ornate buildings.
That’s what I’ve been thinking about. What do you think?
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