“Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.” True? or not true?
I read something recently by someone who considers this statement one of his “pet peeves.” He said it is a “false dichotomy.” He went on to say, “Religion simply means adherence to a set of teachings. In John 14:15 Jesus said ‘If you love Me you will keep My commands.'” He called it “bumper sticker theology” and said, “If you are following Christ’s teaching … then you are a religious adherent. Relationship and Religion are not contradictory. In fact, the clearest sign that you have a right relationship with your Lord is that you are religious (following His teachings).”
Logically speaking, this is an example of a fallacy of relevance, sometimes referred to as a straw man fallacy. It takes several forms. One form is to oversimplify someone’s position, and then to attack that oversimplified version in a way that seems to win the whole argument.
Here, the writer did two oversimplifications. First, he defined religion as simply “adherence to a set of teachings.” That definition would make following the rules of grammar a religion. Or how about, following a how-to YouTube video?
No, let’s see what light Websters can shine on the subject.
Religion: broadly, it’s “a system of religious belief; reverence for the gods, holiness.” More specifically, the dictionary gives several definitions:
- a) belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator(s) and ruler(s) of the universe;
b) expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual. - a) any specific system of belief, worship, conduct, etc., often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy [examples being the Christian religion or Buddhist religion];
b) any system of beliefs, practices, ethical values, etc. resembling, suggestive of, or likened to such a system [humanism, and even atheism, would qualify under this definition - the state or way of life of a person in a monastic order or community
- any object of conscientious regard or pursuit [one can be “religious” about pretty much anything]
Clearly, religion is not “simply” adhering to a set of teachings. And, do any of those definitions adequately describe your view of Christianity? Sure, Christianity does fit within some broad definition of religion, if for no other reason than it is the belief in a divine being Who is Creator and Ruler of the universe. And, yes, worship, practices, and ethical values are involved. But is that all Christianity is to you? Is it simply following the rules Jesus laid out? Does any other religion has one God as Supreme Being, Creator and Sustainer of all that is, personally taking on the form of man for the sole purpose of providing forgiveness of sin and reconciling man to Himself?
Secondly, the writer’s other oversimplification is to define “adhering” as “following Christ’s teachings.”
Adherent: as a noun, means “a supporter or follower (of a person, cause, etc.)”; syn.—see follower
syn—follower is the general term for one who follows or believes in the teachings or theories of someone; adherent refers to a close, active follower of some theory, cause, etc.; disciple implies a personal, devoted relationship to the teacher of some doctrine or leader of some movement.
Sure, Christianity is a religion, but in no other religion does a Holy God avail Himself to man as Father, Provider, Shepherd, Friend, Counselor, Always Present, never-forsaking, Redeemer.
Finally, what about the “commands” Jesus said we are to keep? He mentions keeping His commandments several times in John 13-15. Nowhere in the passage does He delineate a set of rules or say anything that sounds like “adhering to religion.” The only specific example He gives is found in John 13:34-35 and John 15:12 & 17. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My adherents disciples, if you have love for one another.” “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” “This I command you, that you love one another.”
Jesus wrapped up all the things we are “supposed to do”—all the rules to live by, all His “teachings”—in three commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; Love your neighbor as yourself; and Love one another [your fellow believers]. A former pastor of ours said the most important word in the English language is relationship, because without relationship, there is no track on which love can flow between us and God, or from one person to another.
So, yes, Christianity is to be numbered among the “religions” of the world, but it is far, far more than that. It is a relationship!
For more on this see this earlier post Religion or Relationship
