Is Christianity a Religion?

By Voddie Baucham


There is a common mantra that has been around for a while, but which seems to be picking up steam. It goes like this: “Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship.” We’ve all heard it before. However, how many of us have bothered to evaluate this ubiquitous saying? I believe we must do just that. We must evaluate this mantra, and the syllogism by which it is frequently accompanied:

Religion is man’s attempt to reach God
Christianity is God’s attempt to reach man
Therefore, Christianity is not a religion.

I believe this syllogism is not only invalid, but patently false. If for no other reason, this syllogism must be rejected on the grounds that it contains at least one false premise. Religion is much more than man’s attempt to reach God. And Christianity is indeed a religion. Moreover, I believe it is dangerous –even foolish— to argue otherwise. The argument that Christianity is not a religion has many inherent problems. Most importantly, this line of reasoning is at odds with the English language, the history of the church, and good old common sense.

At Odds With the English Language

The first problem with the argument that Christianity is not a religion is the fact that it is a linguistic/grammatical fallacy. This in turn exposes an unavoidable logical fallacy in what is ultimately a question-begging argument. In order for the statement –Christianity is not a religion— to be true, one has to assume a certain definition of the word religion that does not exist (i.e., “religion is man’s attempt to reach God”). The Encarta World English Dictionary defines religion as:

1. People’s beliefs and opinions concerning the existence, nature, and worship of a deity or deities, and divine involvement in the universe and human life
2. A particular institutionalized or personal system of beliefs and practices relating to the divine
3. A set of strongly-held beliefs, values, and attitudes that somebody lives by
4. An object, practice, cause, or activity that somebody is completely devoted to or obsessed by

How do we get from here to “Man’s attempt to reach God” as a definition of religion? Even Encarta knows better. In fact, the distance between the true definition and this contemporary mantra is even more evident when one examines earlier sources. For instance, the definition of religion in Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of the English Language is far more disparate with the contemporary assertion. Webster offers a definition we would be hard-pressed to improve upon.

Read more -->HERE.

Day 69-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

D. From Kadesh-Barnea to crossing of Jordan ~ cont.

5. Settling down in plains of Moab, east of Jordan ~ cont.

l. Review of Jewish law and history ~ cont

(7) Warnings, admonitions, exhortations - Deuteronomy 8:1-20; 9:1-29; 10:1-22

{pages 302-306}

And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.  (Deuteronomy 9:18)

Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.  (Deuteronomy 9:25)

These passages captured my attention first, because he (Moses) is falling down before the Lord; and secondly, for 40 days and 40 nights (40 = trials, probation, testings).  Prostrate before the Lord, interceding for the people.  Encouragement to diligently be in prayer for the family of faith.  Or (laugh) my tribe.

fell down - H5307 - A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitively or causatively, literally or figuratively).

Used 434 times in 403 verses.  The first usage is in Genesis 2:21:

And the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

Last one - Zechariah 11:2 - Howl fir tree, for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl , O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.

Obviously way too many verses for me to review them all.  Curiosity, had me scrolling through to see if all the books in the OT were represented.  All but 3.  Liked this one as well:

Then said she, sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day.  (Ruth 3:18)

Father always provides for HIS own.  Which seemed an appropriate verse coupled with the one above.

He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.  (Deuteronomy 10:18)

Sharing Gill's commentary:

He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow,.... Who have none to help them, and whose patron and defender he is, and will do them justice himself, and take care that it is done them by others, or avenge their injuries, for he is a Father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widow, in his holy habitation; Psa_68:5.

and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment; one that is in a foreign country, at a distance from his native land, and destitute of friends; such God in his providence takes care of, and expresses his love and kindness to, by giving them the necessaries of life, food, and raiment.

And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,  (Deuteronomy 10:12)

Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.  (Deuteronomy 10:20)

fear ~ fear

walk ~ serve

love ~ cleave

serve ~ swear

fear - H3372 - A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten.

walk - H1980 - Akin to H3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively).

• H3212 - A primitive root (compare H1980); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively to carry (in various senses).

love - A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise).

serve - H5647 - A primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.

cleave - H1692 - A primitive root; properly to impinge, that is, cling or adhere; figuratively to catch by pursuit.

swear - H7650 - A primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from H7651; to seven oneself, that is, swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times).

Those two verses made me think of the passage in Mark that I posted the other day.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  (Mark 12:30)

love - G25 - Perhaps from ἄγαν agan (much; or compare [H5689]); to love (in a social or moral sense).

heart - G2588 - Prolonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle.

soul - G5590 - From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416].

mind - G1271 - From G1223 and G3563; deep thought, properly the faculty (mind or its disposition), by implication its exercise.

strength - G2479 - From a derivative of ἱς his (force; compare ἔσχον eschon; a form of G2192); forcefulness (literally or figuratively).

The totality of my being is to be focused upon the Lord, loving and serving Him, confident of HIS provision for every season, situation and/or circumstance of my life.

Day 342

(A) Book of 1 Timothy ~ cont.
3. Guidance for the young ministers ~ cont.
b. Work of a minister - 1 Timothy 5:1-25; 6:1-21
(B) Book of Titus
1. Selection of bishops and elders - Titus 1:1-16
2. Pattern for Christian living - Titus 2:1-15; 3:1-15


Widows - not to be taken into the church's provision unless they did not have children or nephews (thought that interesting, no nieces), over the age of 60 ~  had a reputation of good works ~ raised up children ~ lodged strangers ~  washed the feet of the saints (that would be any regenerate person - not someone 'specified' by the Roman Catholic Church) ~  relieved the afflicted ~  followed every good work.


Washed the saints feet - the other items are pretty self explanatory, but washing someones feet.  Some would contend that this was a practice done during that season of civilization which had dusty roads, people walked, wore sandals, etc.  Jesus did wash the apostles' feet (an act usually reserved for the lowest of slaves).


Hmmm....consulting better minds than I...Gill, Henry, Poole and a couple of others reference how washing the feet of guests in those hot countries to cleanse and/or cool them down would fulfill this requirement.  In addition, their commentaries expanded that concept to include that she was willing to do the most menial of tasks to bring comfort or relief to the saints.


Quite an outstanding list, I do not think I measure up very well, an excellent opportunity to evaluate whether I am availing myself of opportunities Father gives to bless the saints.  Not in order to 'check' something off a list.  For anything done without a spirit of love avails nothing.  No rewards, nothing, zero, zip, nada.  Whatever we do, it must be as unto the Lord.  I have failed miserably at this in so many areas of my life...**sigh**...Lord, forgive me.


But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  (1 Timothy 6:6-8)


The rich ~ fall into temptation ~ snare ~ foolish and hurtful lusts ~ love of money (root of evil, not the money).


Man of God to follow:  Righteousness ~ godliness ~ faith ~ love ~ patience ~ meekness.


I chuckled when I read this passage:  O Timothy (that O caught my attention for it implies, to me, a heart felt deep attachment), keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:  Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be thee. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:20-21)


I wonder if Timothy and Paul were having to contend with evolutionist type people?  'Science falsely so called' was the phrase which riveted my attention.  I had to chuckle over the commentaries as I compared my 'evolutionist' statement to what was written.  Those who think they have knowledge.  Those who claim that man, the world, everything that is known, came about from nothing, are like those who claim they have knowledge.


2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.


Qualifications for a bishop ~ husband of one wife ~ faithful children ~ not riotous or unruly (or accused thereof) ~ blameless ~ self willed ~ not soon angry ~ not given to wine ~ no striker ~ not given to filthy lucre ~ hospitable ~ lover of good men ~ sober ~ just ~ holy ~ temperate ~ holds the Word fast to exhort and convince gainsayers.


Aged men - sober ~ grave ~ temperate ~ sound in faith ~ charity ~ patient.


Aged women - not false accusers ~ not given to much wine (or other pain numbing substances) ~ teachers of good things ~ teaching young women to be: sober ~ love their husbands ~ love their children ~ discreet ~ chaste ~ keepers at home ~ good ~ obedient to husbands (why? that the Word of God be not blasphemed).


Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  (Titus 2:13-14)


Lord, help us Your Bride to be zealous of good works, to not be a by-word amongst the heathen.  Help Your people Lord to be set apart and holy unto You.  Not conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is Your good and acceptable and perfect will.