Christianity: Religion or Relationship?

 There's a battle going on in the world over what distinguishes Christianity from all other belief systems and codes of behavior. It's been going on for ages now. As I was growing up, the basic line of reasoning was that Christianity is a relationship (with Jesus) and everything else, including atheism, is "just" religion. Jesus, being a real, historic human being (and God at the same time, see trinitarianism) is and was someone with whom humankind could enter into relationship. Since He both was and is living (He was raised from the dead three days after His execution), this was rationally possible. If Confucius were still living, the same possibility would then exist with him but he, the buddha, Joseph Smith and so many other philosophers and religious leaders of antiquity are dead. The last time I checked, it's impossible to have a relationship with anyone who is dead. So, there is a distinction after all.

But how does the PRACTICE of Christianity differ from the practice of (other) religions? Is it just the indication and application of a different set of values or a different code of conduct? Is it just the names with which these distinctions are associated? Is it the governing documents themselves (the Bible for Christianity, for instance) that really makes the difference? Is it just a matter of "getting it right?" Are heaven and hell just a risk v reward analysis motivating us to choose the right set of rules to follow and then following them sufficiently? Is that all there is?

That might be all there is separating one religion from another. Just a different set of values and a different code of conduct. These, having been established and promulgated by different people (prophets, philosophers, teachers, etc.), are certainly a way of knowing about and identifying any one of a variety of religions and religious activities. Buddhists may have some ideas in common with Hindus but there are identifiable differences that allow us to separate the two belief systems. Either of these can be contrasted with other religions of the world and the comparison will yield a rather lengthy list of religions or religious systems around the world. The crux of this discussion is not whether there are differences between religions but rather whether there is anything distinctive about Christianity that pulls it apart from and out of competition with the religions of the world. Is Christianity just one more religion to weighed in the balance and considered on an equal plane with all of the other religions of the world.

Christian churches of all denominations carry different lists of rules for acceptable behavior. Individual congregations within a single denomination may place a greater emphasis on the acceptance or restriction of certain very specific behaviors. However, those who are outside of Christianity are very unlikely to look at an individual or a family and conclude that they are Christians simply on the basis of whether or not they subscribe to a particular rule about the use of alcohol, the practice of dancing or the use of profanity or curse words. Since most of the world's religions base the faithfulness of their followers or adherents on how well they observe their particular list of dos and don'ts, such a list of prescribed and proscribed behaviors for Christians would merely render those Christians one more in a long list of religions. So what actually is there about Christianity that makes it different from all of the rest?

Going back to the first paragraph, it's Jesus. Just Him. Well mostly just Him. He stated publicly that He did nothing of His own accord but only with the prompting of Jehovah God, His Father. And, he promised when He left that He would send the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) to ensure the survival and eventual victory of His people. Trinitarian doctrine once again.

The Biblical message about Jesus is certainly a unique one. He was born of a virgin (that's not just unique). He lived a sinless life (even as a teenager). He ministered to the people around him in truly miraculous ways (defying all earthly explanation). He died a death of a criminal (in spite of the fact that He never even entertained thoughts of a crime much less committed one). After three days in the grave, He walked out under His own power and later was observed as He rose up into the clouds with an announcement from Heaven itself that He would return one day. Wow! What a story. And that's just the highlights. Just at a glance, Jesus was no "great teacher" like some other earthly leaders may have been.

But even the nature of who Jesus is doesn't change Christianity without something else. That something else is the distinction. It's the very essence of Christianity the relationship. In fact, without this one thing, even Christianity actually is just one more of many religions of the world. That one thing is this: How do we relate (the root of relationship) to anyone of whom the things above can be said? Answer: Faith. Not A faith. Faith. Not a system of belief or a code of conduct but a living, breathing relationship with Jesus as evidenced by the intimate, daily interactions one has with Him and the confidence that is built as a result of this type of intimate relationship.

Let's go back momentarily to our childhood.  Most of us were born into a family unit and were raised by at least one of our parents. There are exceptions to this rule but the vast majority of people worldwide are raised in this way. Because of the relationship that we develop (from birth) with our parents and throughout our lives with other family members and friends, we learn to have various degrees of trust in each of these family members and friends. Those that we are closest to get the greatest degree of our trust. We have all seen this dynamic in action but somehow we don't tend to translate that basic principle of relationship into our interactions with God. Or, maybe we do and that is exactly the reason that we don't particularly trust Him: We don't really KNOW Him.

Several years ago I met some men who challenged me to look at this relationship through the lens of John 15. Jesus makes a rather strange analogy (by today's standards) of His relationship with people as compared to the relationship that a fruit-bearing branch has to a grape vine. He uses the word "abide" to describe how this works. The clear implication of His teaching is that one who actually engages in this fruit-bearing relationship with Him will become completely dependent upon Him, moment by moment, day after day. Dependent for everything. But the result is the abundant production of fruit in and through our lives. (The type of fruit produced is for another discussion at a later time.)

So, if your Christianity is a description of the moral code or behavioral limitations you put on your life, when and where you attend church (or not), the type of music you listen to and the style of haircut you get, your Christianity is definitely a religion, regardless of whether you claim it. However, if your Christianity is a moment by moment complete and utter dependence on the grace and mercy of Jesus to guide and direct you, provide all your needs and produce spiritual fruit in and through you, your Christianity is definitely a relationship. Which do you have: Religion or relationship?