Biblically True Christianity Is Not a Religion!
What’s in a Name?
I once listened to a young so called Christian pastor belittle a young woman because she made the claim that Christianity was not a religion. It was an ugly conversation to observe. She was correct and He was not.
I know what you’re thinking. Let me explain.
Followers of Christ are no more Christian than God’s chosen people are Jews. It’s drastically important to understand this concept before we can determine the difference between Christianity and Christ.
The name Christian was coined for the first time in the Syrian province of Antioch. At the time, Antioch was controlled by the Romans. The gentiles of that time began calling anyone who was a follower of Christ a Christian. It was done to deride Jesus’ followers. The concept of Christian was no more clear in that day than it is today. Christian is just a name used to mock a group of people. The name stuck and the world perverted it’s meaning.
The name Jew was coined for the first time around 400 B.C. It was given to the Israeli’s of that time who had returned from Babylonian exile to reclaim there rightful home in Jerusalem. It was given to them by vagrants and outsiders who had occupied the city while the Israelites were in captivity in Babylon for 70 years. It’s believed it was a short nickname for Jerusalem and meant to deride the Israelites at that time. The name stuck and the world perverted its meaning.
Christ was not a Christian and He didn’t seek Christians to follow Him. He sought those in need of a Savior.
God was not a Jew and He didn’t seek Jews to be His chosen people. He chose Abraham.
Is Christianity the true Religion?
The question of, “Is Christianity the true religion?” is no more relevant than to ask is the rainbow the true color.
There are thousands of non-denominational Christian sects across the globe. The world has so blurred the lines between a true follower of Christ, that the lie has spread like wildfire while the truth is knocking on the church door.
God was clear through His prophet Isaiah that He despised the religion the Jews had created by distorting and adding to His Words. The week of His crucifixion, Christ eviscerated the Jewish religious leaders for their sanctimonious religiosity. Jesus also gives a final warning in His seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation to step away from their lukewarm faith and religions and return to Him.
So, “Is Christianity a true religion?” can only be answered by where you base the truth. The true answer is, yes, Christianity is a religion. There is no true religion. Christianity was a name created to deride a group of people and was not even an exact depiction of a true follower of Jesus.
The real question becomes, “Who are true followers of Christ?” In a world rampant with spiritual deception and adultery, we are not to be looking for the right religion. We need to be looking for the right relationship.
Who Are True Christians?
Is Christianity the true religion? Who are true Christians? Is Christianity True? These are all great questions. The unfortunate reality is that they’re not going to give you the true answer that you’re looking for.
During Christ’ short three year ministry, He often came to the synagogues on the Sabbath to teach. He would take a scroll and often read from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Isaiah was filled with the future promise of the Messiah.
Through Jesus’ teachings, He showed us the connections in God’s word between Him and the Old Testament. He also taught us that the best way to interpret scripture is to allow scripture to interpret itself.
Today, we know that the Words of God are woven together from Genesis to Revelation into a tight blanket of salvation. Every book points to Christ. Not to religion, but to Christ.
Sometimes, in the study of scripture, in order to get a clear understanding of the meaning behind a verse or passage, we need to go back to the original text to see what was said.
The same is true for followers of Christ. Understanding the past allows us to see what’s in front of us today.
So, who are true Christians? A true biblical Christian is not a seeker of a religion. But a follower of Christ. It’s one who gives His life to a full relationship with Jesus. One who believes that God’s Word (Bible) in its entirety to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God revealing the love of God to the world.
The true biblical Christian takes nothing from it and adds nothing to it.
How Does True Biblical Christianity Become a Religion?
As soon as God’s Words are insufficient to mankind, you have got yourself a religion.
Let’s face it, mankind has perfected sin. There is not an evil, depraved or despicable act of sin that mankind has not thought of or performed. Surely, distort God’s words by adding to them or taking away from them is something that mankind is capable of.
“See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:32)
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18-19)
Among the accolades of sin, mankind has perfected the adding to, taking away and distorting God’s Word. Give it a name and you have yourself a religion.
I spent 40+ years in the Catholic Church of Rome. There is no religion that has so perfected the changing, adding, and taking away from God’s Word.
Biblically True Christianity Is Not a Religion!
If we’re going to be really specific, true biblical Christianity in no more a religion than a five star Michelin restaurant is a fast food joint.
So, what is biblically true Christianity? Great question. The Bible, from cover to cover points to Christ. Let’s do the same in order to understand what a true Christian might look like.
Four hundred years before the birth of Christ. God’s presence through His prophets ended. The world was a dark place. More importantly, due to the rampant sins of the nation of Israel along with mankind, creation had lost its “way” back to its Creator. There was no “way” back to God. Humanity was lost in its sinful state in a sinful world.
We needed a Savior, desperately. We needed a “way” back to God. Someone who could fulfill God’s will upon this earth.
Christ came into the world to fulfill that need for us.
He didn’t come to establish a religion. He came to establish a relationship.
This is all He asks of us. He taught us that He would completely fulfill the will of the Father. Then He would become the “way” back to the Father.
Christ taught us that there is no other “way” but through Him. Not religion, but through Him alone. Christ didn’t teach us that He was the religion, the truth and the life.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Not a single Bible verse teaches us to become a part of a religion. This is all too important in today’s world of religions and spiritual deception. The Bible calls us into a relationship with Christ.
Biblically true Christianity is a “Way.”
What Is True Christianity?
True Christianity is knowing the “Way.”
“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2)
Notice, Luke uses the term “Way” capitalized referring to those who were believers and followers in Christ. Jesus’ disciples were never a part of any religion nor did Jesus ever instruct them to form or join a religion.
True Christianity is knowing the “Way.” Thus, you must be born again.
The “Way” is through a relationship with Christ not a membership with your religion.
There is a great falling away from the faith happening today. It was prophesied to happen in these last days. Many are stuck in their religions knowing they need to get out but not sure where to go or what to do.
Others are leaving their religions in large numbers. This makes many vulnerable to religious and spiritual deception. Because many don’t know where to turn. Some will abandon what faith they have all together.
How True Christians Seek a True Relationship With Christ
God gave us through His chosen people the one and only resource you need to establish a loving relationship with Jesus. It’s called the Bible. The best selling book of the year and of all time.
Repent and turn away from your sins. Ask Jesus to forgive you. He loves you and wants nothing more than to establish a relationship with you. Get into God’s Word with a good Bible and get to know who your heavenly Father is.
Find someone that can help you find a biblically sound Christian church. This is getting more difficult by the week. If you’re looking for a Bible recommendation, I highly suggest the Pastor David Jeremiah Study Bible. It has been my blessing for many years.
If you have questions, thoughts or suggestions, I encourage you to reach out to me. I would love to help you in your journey in whatever way the Lord puts in front of me.