Oxford Languages define religion in these three ways:
a. The belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.
b. A particular system of faith and worship.
plural noun: religions
c. A pursuit or interest followed with great devotion.
Christianity is, therefore, a religion and not merely one among many, but the only true religion.
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
It is the only true way to believe in and worship the true God. It is the only true system of faith and worship, revealed by God Himself, and it therefore calls for deep conviction and wholehearted devotion.
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23–24)
“For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11–12)
“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)
For this reason, the term religion should not be demonised.
The negative connotation often attached to the word, where religion is reduced to empty rituals, external performances, and moral pretence, is a later development. This meaning emerged largely from anti-religious sentiment that sought to portray religious people as hypocritical or inauthentic. Even a brief look at standard dictionaries shows that this definition typically appears after the more foundational meanings of religion as an organized system of belief and worship.
Wiktionary puts this as the fourth definition for religion after calling it a belief in the metaphysial and a system of faith: “Rituals and actions associated with religious beliefs, but considered apart from them.”
Now, even this fourth definition refers to rituals related to RELIGIOUS beliefs. The only difference is that, in this case, the rituals are the focus and not the beliefs. Christian examples would include baptism, communion, and fellowship. Considering them separately from the beliefs they’re associated with does not amount to an evil thing per se. However, this use of “religion” is often to highlight a disconnect between true religion and mere appearance or pretense.
An example Wiktionary gives is,
“I think some Christians would love Jesus more if they weren’t so stuck in religion.”
Remember, I said this meaning evolved from an anti-religious sentiment on how religious people can be hypocritical?
The Bible verse below reflects that definition or use of the term “religion”:
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me.” (Matthew 15:8–9)
But we are also taught by the Bible about pure and undefiled religion.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this…” (James 1:27)
Thus, even if religion is defined as faith-based rituals or actions, the Bible commands us to engage in pure and undefiled religion. We are not completely free from biblical rituals and actions. We cannot claim to be Christians and hate “pure and undefiled” religion, which constitutes biblically sanctioned rituals and actions. Thus, we are expected to be religious and practice religion. You cannot be a Christian and not be religious. Pure and undefiled religion is practiced “before [in the sight of] God the Father”. How is it that people claim they can have a relationship with the Father and not have religion or be religious? Let’s not deceive ourselves! Call them to repentance and full commitment. Don’t give fake assurances.
The distinction is that Christians are not “fake people” or not supposed to be. We should not engage in religious activities or good works hypocritically, but be transformed inside-out.0 Indeed, Christianity is not a man-made attempt to reach God through rituals and actions. True Christianity is not merely about church practices and good works, but it includes or commands specific actions.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Also, Christianity is a relationship with God grounded in a divinely revealed system of faith. People say, “it is not a religion but a relationship”, as though the two were mutually exclusive. Every relationship with the supernatural or metaphysical must be based on some beliefs about their existence, nature, and how to relate with them. Thus, our relationship with the Father, in Christianity, is a religion. It is based on definite revealed knowledge about God’s nature and how He wants to be worshipped. Those system of beliefs make the faith a religion. And because they are true and effective, we enter into a real relationship with the real God.
“Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3)
This union of relationship and revealed structure makes Christianity a religion in the major and more popularly applied sense of the word.
The unique truthfulness of Christianity can be communicated clearly without denying its religious character. In ordinary language (eg. when we fill forms), Christianity is rightly classified as a religion, and believers are not called to engage in unnecessary redefinitions of common terms. Faithful communication requires using generally accepted language to communicate true ideas in a way that people can understand, not abandoning it altogether.
“If with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said?” (1 Corinthians 14:9)
What must always be clarified is that Christianity is NOT an empty religion, especially if religion is defined as mere human effort and external observance attempts rather than actuals.
“These have indeed an appearance of wisdom… but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20–23)
However, Christianity is a religion in the major sense of the word: an organized, coherent system of faith. Unless this distinction is made clear, debates over the term become whining and often devolve into semantic games, an exercise that ultimately weakens, rather than strengthens, Christian communication.
“Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.” (2 Timothy 2:14)
“Remind them of these things and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.”
(2 Timothy 2:14)
“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ… he has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words.”
(1 Timothy 6:3–4)
This issue ties into what was discussed few days ago about how preachers sometimes use grammar to complicate simple ideas, solve the complication, and assume they have preached a revelation. We must stop engaging in such games because they are encumberances that prevent preachers from preaching the truth and doing it with good clarity. We must not have “unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrel over words.” Scripture warns us clearly.
“And I, when I came to you, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.” (1 Corinthians 2:1)
“We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways… by the open statement of the truth.” (2 Corinthians 4:2)
Shalom!
By Yaa Ayeh