Did Jesus come to start a new religion?
Is the Kingdom of God a religion?
Did Jesus even think in that category?
People on the right and the left might claim (for different reasons) that Christianity isn’t a religion.
And last time I took the side that “Christianity ISN’T a Religion.” But there are flaws with that way of thinking.
Here are three reasons that Christianity is a religion.
1) Christianity has a clear set of BELIEFS = a religion.
Christianity has a core set of doctrines about the Trinity (who God is), creation (what God has made), and salvation (how God remakes). The early creeds summarize these beliefs and later movements and denominations develop these doctrines.
So Christianity is like other religions that have beliefs about the supernatural (God, the gods, spirits, powers, ancestors).
This post and the next 3 on “Christianity and Religion” is part of Grassroots Christianity: Growing Faith for Everyday People.
2) Christianity has a clear set of PRACTICES = a religion.
Christianity has a core set of practices.
Christians practice baptism at the beginning of their spiritual journey. We celebrate communion (Lord’s Table / Eucharist). We read the Bible as God’s word and pray to God (in community and separately).
These are practices, and many others, that Christians hold in common coming from the commands of Jesus himself.
3) Christianity has a clear TRADITION of beliefs and practices = a religion.
Many people who claim that Christianity is not a human-made religion will look to the criticisms Jesus made against the Pharisees and their traditions (Mark 7:9-13).
But this is only part of the story.
The New Testament makes clear use of “tradition” language. The apostle Paul (who wrote much of the New Testament) speaks of traditions being handed down, of passing on what one has received, and of guarding and entrusting the teachings of the faithful.
Here are some of the passages.
Speaking of Traditions:
“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thess. 2:15)
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the traditions you received from us.” (2 Thess. 3:6)
Tradition as a process of receiving and handing over:
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance…” (1 Cor. 15:3-5)
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread…” (1 Cor. 11:23)
“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.” (1 Thess. 4:1-2)
Tradition as Guarding and Entrusting:
“What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (2 Tim. 1: 13-14)
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Tim. 2:2 2)
“I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” Jude 3
So Christianity is clearly a Religion
If it walks and talks like a duck, then it is a duck.
It has beliefs, practices, and traditions like other religions.
As I said in the last post (3 Ways Christianity ISN’T a Religion), it is important to hold onto the human aspects of Christianity. And naming it a religion helps us do that.
But watch out…
Many want to claim that Christianity is just a religion.
This is usually said in an attempt to reduce Christianity as a phenomena of anthropology, sociology, or psychology.
I often hear people maximizing the claim that Christianity is just a religion as a dismissive and reductionistic technique.
What if we didn’t talk about religion at all?
If Christianity kind of is and kind of isn’t a religion, then maybe we shouldn’t talk about religion at all.
Well, that is what many people are starting to think.
So the next post will dive into the history “religion” as a concept and talk about how it has outlived its usefulness.
This post and the next 3 on “Christianity and Religion” is part of Grassroots Christianity: Growing Faith for Everyday People.