True biblical religion prays not to earn God’s approval or check off a box, but in response to God’s gracious approval in Christ. True biblical religion knows faith without works is dead (James 2:14-17) and that anything done without love is a waste of time (1 Corinthians 13). True biblical religion sees the church as a rehab center for recovering sinners whose faith in Jesus encourages them to use their gifts to build up the whole. True biblical religion knows that the purpose of biblical information is life transformation. True, biblical religion genuinely loves God and others. 

This statement has good intentions.

I have a personal relationship with Christ and don’t just go through the motions in religious rituals.

But to say that Christianity isn’t a religion?

There are two simple ways to prove that it is a religion:

1. The Bible.

James 1:26-27 is the only proof you need:¹

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

The Bible uses the word ‘religion’ here to talk about pleasing God with your life.

Christianity = religion. Case. Closed.

2. The Dictionary.

If you want more proof, this time from the school of common sense, here are two definitions Merriam-Webster² gives to ‘religion’:

• “the service and worship of God or the supernatural”
• “commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance”

Don’t both sound like true Christianity? Yes, they do.

Bad Religion

Even though saying “Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship” isn’t totally true, there is some truth in it. Many hate the rote ritualism and empty ceremonies a lot of churches and faiths offer—and that’s good. Jesus hated it too!

Jesus frequently called out the empty religion, man-made laws, and the blatant hypocrisy of the Pharisees. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus told the Pharisees they did a lot of external small things right, but totally missed the point of more important things like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

So much religion today misses the point as well.

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