2006-10-23 23:41:14 · 18 answers · asked by patrick w 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In essence Religion is spelled "D.O.", i.e. religion is all about doing doing doing... working working working... trying to earn God's approval... which is IMPOSSIBLE... He is perfect and His standard is perfection... that leaves you and me out! CHRISTIANITY, on the other hand, in essence, is spelled, "D.O.N.E."... since Jesus paid it all on the cross... it's finished... God's holiness demanded the sin be punished by death/shedding of blood... Jesus paid that...and the reason HIS BLOOD was acceptable was because he was perfect... sinless... the perfect atoning sacrifice. I could have died for you... but that wouldn't do you any good because I'm a sinner just like you.
So... if you've trusted Jesus... the work of being made right with GOD is."DONE"... so now you can rest in that... Sure we work hard for God as Christians... but our work isn't an effort to "get saved" or "earn God's love/approval"... it's because we LOVE God... and are motivated and compelled by His Holy Spirt (who takes up residence within your heart when you trust Christ as Savior) to live a life the brings glory to God and blesses the people around us!
Christians ARE NOT perfect... we blow it just like everybody... but we are perfectly forgiven and we are motivated from within by the Spirit of God to repent when we blow it.... and to grow and mature in our areas of weakness... all by his power and for his glory...
So... quit WORKING so hard and just trust Jesus!
The unique aspects of Christianity are:
God loves his creation, especially people.
He has made a way for people to escape the human problem we are all born with - self-centeredness and sin.
He sent his Son Jesus to be born as a person, so that:
- we can see and understand what God is like.
- He could pay the punishment we deserve. If Jesus had been only a perfect human person, his death could only pay for the sins of one other human. If Jesus was God but not also a true man, he could not really die. But because he was completely God and completely man, his life was of sufficient value to pay for all the sins of everyone, ever. (That's why his mother Mary was a virgin - because he had human and divine parentage.)
Because there is nothing we can do to deserve God's goodness, or in any way pay for the things we do wrong, everything we receive from him is free. That's what 'grace' means. All that we can do is ask, trust, and receive. He promises us a place with Him for ever, which we do not deserve and can never earn!
Everything we can do for God flows out of the fact that we are already accepted by Him. We cannot earn any more acceptance or love from him, because we already have it, 100%. Wow!
Jesus actually understands the pains, problems and temptations we have, because he suffered them too.
2006-10-23 23:44:13 · answer #1 · answered by ☺♥? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Many religious people does not go along with the bible, There is over 1000 religions, But ONE TRUE CHRISTIANITY, You have many make-believers, that claims to be a Christian, but when you take them to the sciptures, they back away & say my church don't believe that, How can God deny his own word. He can't, So the difference in religion & Christians, Now I am talking about TRUE CHRISTIANS, Is that religions follow anything, True Christians follow the word of God From the Prophets of Old to the Apostles of new Testament
2006-10-24 06:48:53 · answer #2 · answered by birdsflies 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Religion denotes a set of rules as to how one should go about worshipping and following a certain.
True Christianity is based on faith knowing that no amount of observing the rules can make one sinless. However, most Christianity nowadays seems to favour the approach mentioned first and discard the example set by Christ. Christian Culture has supplanted Christ in many churches and the conscience of many "Christians" as well.
2006-10-24 07:18:57 · answer #3 · answered by Ni Ten Ichi Ryu 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
On one hand, you could say that Christianity is one of many religions. If you want to know why Christians think it is different than "religion" it is because it is the only "religion" that is about selflessness, unconditional love, and is a gift for any and everyone.
2006-10-24 06:55:30 · answer #4 · answered by MamaL 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's like asking what's the difference between fruit and apples.
An apple is a fruit. Christianity is a religion.
2006-10-24 06:43:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Religion is the instutionalized set of standards for one's beliefs. Christianity as a religion is the instutionalized set of standards based on Jesus Christ and His followers. The Christian religion is a subset of all religions.
Christianity as a faith refers to the personal relationship a person has with Jesus Christ. The Christian faith differs from person to person. Unlike within the Christian religion, in which you can tell who is "doing it right," You can't judge the level of anyone's faith. Only God can discern this.
2006-10-24 09:49:41 · answer #6 · answered by LadyPom 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Religion-
a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs
A Christian is one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
Christianity is a type of Religion.
2006-10-24 06:50:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Christianity is a one branch of many religions.
2006-10-24 06:44:23 · answer #8 · answered by windwillow2004 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christianity is Not a religion
Its the way to God
2006-10-24 06:44:30 · answer #9 · answered by vachool 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
religion is a general term for all faiths
christianity is one religion under that umbrella
was this a serious question?..... well i answered it anyway
2006-10-24 06:43:09 · answer #10 · answered by Submission 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋