"It's Not a Religion"

Last night, at The Stirring, the pastor made a point many protestants, especially in American evangelical circles like to make: Christianity is not a religion. Maybe it's just a pet peeve of mine, but I get really frustrated when my fellow believers say Christianity is not a religion. The reason for this: by every definition Christianity is a religion. Christianity believes in a deity and believes its adherents should worship this deity. Christianity believes in the special revelation of God through Jesus and scripture that guides our lives. From any outsider observing us, they would deduce we are a religion. Even the Biblical authors refer to Christianity as a religion (at least in English translations). For example, James 1:26-27 use the word religion to refer to the daily practice of Christians. Most theologians and Christian writers over the centuries refer to Christianity as the "Christian religion." This whole, "It's not a religion" thing seems to be very recent.

Now I know what others mean when they say Christianity is not a religion. They are trying to say that the essence of Christianity is not strict observance to a divinely inspired code of laws and ethics, but a personal and living relationship with God Himself revealed through Jesus Christ. I agree with that totally. However, I ask the question, "How do we get that personal, deep relationship with Christ?" Certainly by not just praying a prayer and doing our own thing. We are saved from Hell the moment we decide to trust Christ's finished work on the cross for our forgiveness, but I would argue that it all doesn't stop there. While we may be "saved," Christ demands us to "take up our crosses and follow Him" (Matt. 10:38. paraphrased). By denying ourselves the pleasures of sin and practicing prayer, study, good deeds, and gathering at church with other believers does our relationship with Christ grow and become deeper.

My point is, these are all religious practices that serve to make the relationship more real and personal. To say Christianity is just a relationship and not a religion is just to play a word game with non-believers that leaves them feeling flustered (almost as bad as calling atheism a religion). I feel that this hostility to religion as a definition stems from some of the baggage that comes with it (extremists, legalists, I'm better than you attitudes). However, I fear that saying Christianity is simply a relationship can leave the new convert in a state where he believes he is free to do whatever he wants because him and God are just "friends." Why go to church? That's being religious, so it's not that important. Why do any serious study of the Bible? Since Jesus is my "home-boy" we keep our relationship at the same level it started at. Like I said before, it also irritates the people we try to dialogue with. So what do we call Christianity? I suggest that we don't shy away from the term "religion" but embrace it just as we would embrace the term American, even though we are really citizens of Heaven from a theological perspective. For all practical purposes, I am a religious person. What I do try to do is to show that my "religion" is a coherent worldview that involves a very deep and personal relationship with the God of the universe through His son Christ and the Holy Spirit. When those whom I share with understand this, they find it more helpful and understand it better than if I sit and argue about definitions. Those are just semantics, and in our day to day lives it is sometimes helpful to be anti-semantic!