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| Is Christianity a Religion or Not? |
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This is a reply that I made in another post, but include it here as a separate post for discussion.
Every time I hear that Christianity is not a religion, I automatically think of James 1:27
1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and 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 to describe Christianity. So, I don't know why we are redefining the word. Perhaps we ought to use some other word to describe legalistic, Pharisaic, authoritarian or counterfeit Christianity other than religion.
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| To add a comment to "Is Christianity a Religion or Not?" |
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| October 21, 2007 |
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| Grant, good point. And one I've made before too. Unfortunately the word "religion" has come to be associated with the ritualistic practices and outward manifestations of tradition, rather than simply the heart's devotion, something higher than "self". I don't have a problem with the word. |
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| October 21, 2007 |
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The word RELIGION, in my opinion, has been defiled by man. According to James it should be PURE and UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD????? to keep oneself UNSTAINED FROM THE WORLD.
Big houses of worship, large cars for the pastors, hugh amounts of money is not how GOD wants us to worship HIM... Give all of that to the ones who need it..if he is blessing your efforts you won't lose anything.... Bickering, postering in his house - that is not what he asked us to do... |
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| October 21, 2007 |
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Gee, I have to get into this one. As I have said many times that Christianaity is certainly not a religion. First you have to understand how it is word in James l:27 The word being Gr. "threskos", thrace'-kos Strong's #2357 "cermonious" in worship (as demonstrative) ie pious-religious
Religious, being Gr. theskos It means careful follower of the observances connected with ones belief See Strong's #4576 sebomal, seb-om-ahee;
In other words. Religion is the act of celibration. Christianity can not be called that. it is an act of faith. No, it is not a religion. It just don't fit!! It also fits with "vain" things. Gr "mataios"
See Acts 14:15 people renting their cloths in a cermoious vanity!! |
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| October 21, 2007 |
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Interesting my findings of the above scripture in James 1:27 is as follows:
English Equivalent New Testament (Greek) Hb/Grk Pronunciation English Equiv. G2356 thrēskeia thrā-skā'-ä religion, worshipping G2454 Ioudaïsmos ē-ü-dä-ē-smo's Jews' religion New Testament (Greek) G2357 thrēskos thrā-sko's religious G4576 sebō se'-bō worship, devout, religious
I found that G2356 is used in that scripture which is religion vs. religous and when used interchangeable with worshipping still applies. So I concer with you Grant.
Pastor Aminata |
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| October 21, 2007 |
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Grant,
For me I rather stick with what the bible says, "pure religion" or "pure worshipping".
Pastor Aminata |
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| October 21, 2007 |
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| I am of the same opinion Aminata, but I see that others would prefer a translation that uses a different word, and that's okay too. I am not a Bible translator, so I just stick to the ones I've got. I guess my point is that either way is okay and yet I would not want to be making a "religion" out of avoiding the word religion. LOL. |
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| October 23, 2007 |
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My translation uses the word "Christian" for the word "Religion" in the translation posted.
The verse makes more sense 2 me as translated "Christian"...I wonder what the original ?"greek"? word was.
Religion has so many definitions...it's like the ?...which came 1st..the chicken or the egg...all kinds of debate...but the True answer in my opinion...yes another opinion..is both...the egg was N the chicken...Duhhh (I'm not allow to use the word at home, if "Duhhhh" offense anyone, just let me know, and I will refrain,...best I can....
So back from the chicken/egg "rabbit trail".
I might of misunderstood the statement N the blog....but I say James defined what a "religion" should look like / act like thru these words...By the way...my exectutive summary on the book of James is: "Words whisper....Actions shout!" I'm so thankful the Book of James made the top 66 list!! |
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| October 23, 2007 |
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| To me, it's a Relationship with Jesus. I can't define it as a religion, becuase I still don't know what religion is supposed to mean. |
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| October 23, 2007 |
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Grant,
Great blog (as usual)! I think that the use of the term is dependent on its application. As Pastor Animata notes, the use of the term in James is an expression about what it means to worship God. When we worship we are expressing our religion. In context - Christianity.
It's a Western concept (and a very non-denominational one) to avoid the word religion because it bring up connotations of structure and rules. Christianity IS a religion and some people are religious about it!
I refer to what I do as "practice my faith." My faith is in Christ. If I practice "religion" as used in James, I am simply worshipping Him. |
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| October 23, 2007 |
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If I practice "religion" as used in James, I am simply worshipping Him. Gene that's it exactly. I understand what others may mean by "relationship" as I use that term myself, however, when the bible says what it is.... it is... regardless of what man has done to the word, be it twisted, distored it or whatever... Another thing, we are living in an age, where it's becoming more and more unpopular to say I'm a Christian. So does that mean I should start calling myself something else just because "society" see being a Christian as a negative? Heaven forbid!
Pastor Aminata |
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| April 14, 2008 |
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I generally do not see Religion as a bad thing. I clicked on your blog-post expecting someone bashing religion. I know many people who cringe at the very word religion. Religion (rĭ-lĭj'ən)
n. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.The ironic thing is that most people who say they are anti-religion actually do have a religion of sorts. I really like what you said about using the term legalistic, Pharisaic, or authoritarian rather than Religion -- And I'm Catholic. As a Catholic Christian I full-heartedly agree with James 1:27. Pure Religion is to visit orphans and widows and to keep oneself unstained from the world, but is not limited to this. We must also have faith (Rom 3:28, John 3:16, 1 John 4:15); forgive the sins of others (Matt 6:14-15); care for one’s family (1 Tim 5:8); feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned (Matt 25:31-46); keep the Commandments (Matt 19:17 and 1 John 2:3-4); love our brothers (1 John 2:10); deny ourselves and pick up our cross daily (Luke 9:23); do the will of the Father (Matt 7:21); eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man (John 6:51-58); give a return for the talents the Master has given us (Matt 25:14-30); be baptized (John 3:3-5, 1 Ptr 3:20-21); confess our sins (1 John 1:9)...all by the grace of God. |
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