Is Christianity a religion or a relationship?

From the heart of Dr. R. L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. In simple terms, religion is a belief system that guides people’s understanding of the world and their place in it. In that respect, Christianity can be classified as a religion. However, practically speaking, Christianity has a key difference that separates it from other belief systems that are considered religions. That difference is relationship. Most religions, theistic or otherwise, is man-centered. Any relationship with God is based on man’s works. A theistic religion, such as Judaism or Islam, holds to the belief in a supreme God or gods; while non-theistic religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, focus on metaphysical thought patterns and spiritual “energies.” Paradise, nirvana, or some higher state of being is man’s reward for his strict adherence to whatever tenets that religion prescribes. In that regard, Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship that God has established with His children. The grace-based relationship between God and man is the foundation of Christianity and the direct opposite of religion. Recall that established religion was one of the strongest opponents of Jesus during His earthly ministry. When God gave His Law to the Jewish people, His desire was that they “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). “Love” speaks of relationship! Obedience to all the other commands had to originate from a love for God. We are able to love Him “because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). However, by Jesus’ time, the Jewish leaders had made a religion out of God’s desire to live in a love relationship with them (1 Timothy 1:8; Romans 7:12). Over the years, they had perverted God’s Law into a works-based religion that alienated people from Him (Matthew 23:13–15; Luke 11:42). Then they added many of their own rules to make it even more cumbersome (Matthew 15:9). They prided themselves on their ability to keep the Law—at least outwardly—and lorded their authority over the common people who could never keep such strenuous rules. As adept as the Pharisees were at religion (rule-keeping), they failed to recognize God Himself when He was standing right in front of them (John 8:19)! They had chosen religion over relationship. Just as the Jewish leaders made a religion out of a relationship with God, many people do the same with Christianity. Entire denominations have followed the way of the Pharisees in creating rules not found in Scripture. Some who profess to follow Christ are actually following man-made religion in the name of Jesus. While claiming to believe Scripture, they are often plagued with fear and doubt that they may not be good enough to earn salvation or that God will not accept them if they don’t perform to a certain standard. This is religion masquerading as Christianity, and it is one of Satan’s favorite tricks. Jesus addressed this in Matthew 23:1–7 when He rebuked the Pharisees. Instead of pointing people to heaven, these religious leaders were keeping people out of the kingdom of God. Be encouraged to examine the Scriptures for yourselves!