What's the difference between Christianity and Religion?
72Christianity is Christ Like
The saddest part of people’s beliefs today is the one where they believe Christianity is a Religion. Way out. Never!
Billy Graham once stated that if there ever was a country that would go to hell because of their religion it would be the United States of America. Why would a man who loves God before everything else make a statement like that?
There are many religions out there but only one Christianity.
To be a Christian is to be the splitting image or twin of Christ. You have to imitate Him to the maximum.
Not an easy task as He was perfect and we are striving to perfection. He was and is still perfect.
Who created Christianity? Paul or Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ, or God in the flesh, created Christianity, Paul perfected it.
Can a Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian or Brethren be a Christian? Yes they can. As all their religions follow the Triune Godhead and the teachings thereof.
The Catholics follow the Pope for their teachings and religion but Christ as their way of life. The Methodists would then follow John Wesley for their religious teachings, but still Christ as a way of life. So then how can religion and Christianity be the same, or Christianity be a religion?
Mt 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:(a) 19.(a). teach...: or, make
disciples, or, Christians of all nations
Ac 11:26
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass,
that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much
people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Ga 1:14
And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation,
being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. (a) 14. a.
equals: Gr. equals in years
Jas 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Religion is Tradition - Christianity is a way of life.
Religion was supposed to come to an end at the cross. However, due to mans' inherent disobedience to God and not wanting to follow in His ways, Christianity isn't easy, we still have religion today. Many Catholics still follow the heathen ways taught to them through the generations, but few speak Christ on their lips or even know He has saved them.
Many other religions mix their religious beliefs with politics. Daniels states we as Christians should stand up and be counted. We should constantly strive to seek God's will. We should continuously pray to Him, giving Him praises and honour and glory.
We should strive to be righteous. In doing this we are seen as perfect in God's eyes. The angels rejoice with Him when sinners receive the Holy Spirit in their lives. They weep when a soul is lost to the fires.
There is constant bickering in Religion where there is only love amongst Christians. Just as the Muslims state that to be truly Muslim you must obey every law given in the Koran. God originally gave us ten commandments, but He reduced them to two. Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love your neighbour as yourself. All the rest of the commandments are built into only those two.
However, just as He gives you only two, He also states that should you break one the commandments you break them all.
So how do we see Christianity and religion? Religion is a teaching and a tradition. Handed down through the generations. Christianity is a way of life given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It's a means to cleanse our thoughts and hearts. It’s a means to bring us to the feet of Christ. It’s a means to make requests that only our heavenly Father can answer.
It’s that warm fuzzy we experience when we know that our Lord and Saviour is near to us, loves us and keeps us eternally safe.
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Comments
All the Christian denominations pick and choose what they want to follow and what they don't want to follow. These choices were man made and there was no divine direction to make them.
Many of the churches are run like corporations rather than disciples of God. Following the way of Jesus would mean you shouldn't get married or have children and not work in the later years of life (over 30). Find twelve or thirteen people to hang around and listen to your every word.
BTW, why do you think that for two thousand years under the Old Testament that there was no mention of Jesus or the Holy Ghost. Where was the Holy Ghost during the Garden of Eden?
So many atrocities are done in the name of religion. The Catholic faith have caused many of these, the French Huguenots, The Aztec, Joan of Arc, anyone who doesn't agree with them etc etc! All done in the name of Christ.
Thank you. This is a very clear explanation. One that is so easily missed, by so many. I have even refrained from calling myself a "Christian", here on Hubpages, because I (and others) get tagged with the religion, and not the "way of living" as you put it. Blessings.:)
It is so refreshing to read something written by someone who is obviously not ashamed to be a Christian. You are so right that to be a true Christian - ie to really know in your heart that Christ died for you - is not about being religious. In this country (the UK) there have been very disturbing things happening recently and I think I will write a hub about it. In a nutshell, people have been getting into trouble at work and at school for talking about their Christian faith. Britain is supposed to be a free country, with freedom of speech, but that is no longer true if you're a Christian. It reminds me of Communist countries before the Iron Curtain came down. We can still go to church, though, thank God!
Religion works from the outside in, and attempt to perfect the flesh. whereas,
Christianity works from the inside out through the helper, of which is the Holy Spirit.
The body or flesh will be changed or perfected when Christ comes at the Rapture.
That's one thing that separates Christianity from Religion.
Godbless,
Billy Graham believed in hell? I don't think so.
christianity requires true faith that has guided my life. God is so great
Paraglider ~ yes, Billy Graham taught what Jesus taught. Anyone who is a Christian teaches what Jesus taught. If you wish to know more about the gospel, feel free to email me or anyone leaving comments on this hub thus far, for that matter. We'd be happy to share the truth with you. I personally wrote a hub on hell, if you'd like to see what the Word says.
The Spirit moved me to study on the word LOVE in these two commandments. Loving God is agape love (attachment as friendship) and loving our neighbor as ourselves is agapo love, which is the same way we love our enemies (morally, socially, principled). This is to feed, clothe and shelter them when needed and share the gospel with them. However, to love the world in the same way we love God makes us an enemy of Christ (John 4:4-5). The way we love our brothers and sisters in Christ is not only agape (in His love), but brotherly love (philadelphia). For all these types of love, the world will know, and other Christians, too, that we are Christians.
When the doctrines/traditions of men make works a part of faith, rather than faith performing the gospel of Christ, it gives Christianity the name "religion" and therefore minimizes the message of the gospel = grace of our Lord and His purpose for dying on the cross.
When the gospel is shared with the world and they choose to reject it, I am comforted to know what Paul instructed Timothy in Timothy 6:20-21 "O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called 'knowledge'--which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you."
I am somuch excited with your explanation
Bible Studies says:
8 months ago
I fully agree with you. Christianity is not a religion, just as the church is not a building. Christianity is a way of life following Jesus' teachings. The church is the people who practice those teachings. It is not sitting in church or following the laws set in the church that makes you a Christian. It is practicing Jesus' teachings that makes you a Christian.
God Bless you.