"It is not religion, it is a relationship." How many times have you heard this? To some extant, it is very true. Christianity is not based on a set of rules and practices to become "good." Christianity is about having a loving relationship with the Father. But does that mean that the very idea of associating Christianity and religion is wrong?
I have been thinking about this topic for some time now. Ever since I heard WJTL's war-cry when I was fourteen ("Visit notreligion.com"), I was an avid believer in crucifying the religion label on Christianity.
Just over two years ago, I read something in James that really changed my perspective. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27)." God himself talks about religion, and not in a negative light either. He paints religion as a wholesome practice that comes out of the relationship.
So let us connect the dots. We as Christians have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship reveals itself through our lives by religion. The religion is an overflow, an uncontrollable act of obedience and duty that envelops our entire lives. It in no way implies the idea of "going through the motions." The religion is the obedience to God's law, and we cannot help but obey it religiously.
Psalm 119:34 says, "Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart." David was a man after God's own heart. He had a true relationship with Yahweh, and because he loved God, he religiously followed Him.
Let us be the same way. Yes, we know it is about a relationship, but let us not be afraid to say that Christianity is our religion. It is not a dirty word.
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