Why do some christians claim that their religion is a relationship and not a religion when it cleary is one?

Question

i dont think any where in the bible does it say that you need a relationship with jesus or god to be a good person anyways.
i dont even think jesus would say its a relationship with the people that follow him around either your a christian or not. a relationship with god would fit more into being a spiritualist not a christian two different beliefs and ideas. so why claim it a relationship when you read a book or go to church then?

for a so called loving religion a lot of you christians have showed me nothing but hatred on here today and in the past now i know the truth christianity is evil and full of demons thank you so much christians.
hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

This is such a mixed bag it's difficult to answer. Religion, relationship, god, Jesus, spirituality, Christian. From my observations, it certainly seems god is getting lost in the shuffle with the focus on Jesus as the ONLY WAY. Spirituality has little if anything to do with religion. Have you seen anything in the bible that clarifies the concepts of "Christianity?" & these concepts, or, more appropriately--interpretations--are quite conflicting. I'm a spiritual person. I am not religious. So, I believe the part about "two different beliefs & ideas." I'm an Atheist. Let the thumbs fall where they will.

Answer 2

Even some Christian biblical scholars question the widely-held beliefs about the teachings of Jesus concerning Man's "relationship" with God - although not many, I'm afraid. From some translations of ancient texts, Jesus seems to be relating his divinity in the manner that all men are divine - in other words, that he was the "son" of God as we are all children of God...rather than the belief that he was the one and only son of God...thus divine.

Historically, what has been or has not been acceptable to the Church has varied and evolved even since the time of the original disciples. For example, the texts that were not acceptable to the Nicene Council were not added to the dogma of the early Christian Church. Therefore, the more liberally translated texts have not been widely taught and I suspect many versions of the life and teachings of Jesus were destroyed centuries ago...like so many of the non-Christian histories were destroyed by the Church in the name of God. Sad, but very true.

I am not Christian, but I am a theological researcher...information for the sake of information. The more I study, the more I believe that religion is purely political...power of the few over the many - with one organized religion being as guilty as another.

Answer 3

Alright, man. You keep asking all these silly Christian questions. Why don't you just learn a little about the religion (you could, I don't know, read the Bible, go to a service, talk to a preacher yourself), instead of taking the word of who-knows on the internet? And if you're thinking something like, "I don't want to poison my brain with that horse crap," just keep in mind that you have the right to disagree and disregard what you don't believe, but knowledge is true power. The more you know, even about the things you hate the most, the better off you will be. And trust me, you are never gonna get true, honest answers on here in the religion section.

PS By your last post, I am disappointed at your attitude. Quit spreading the hate, really.

Answer 4

They are afraid of the certain stereotypes that is associated with a religion. Even if you say you have a relationship with God, you are still professing that Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore you are still associated with the religion known as Christianity.

Its more of a play on stereotypical preconceptions that are associated with religion then an actual reality.

God does teach us he wants a relationship with us. The whole covenat thing, and the family of God thing, and the sending of his Son thing. Well the entire Bible is actually a record of Our Relationship with God. Or Lack of.

I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Answer 5

It's obvious you don't read the Holy Bible or this question wouldn't be posted. (Fact)

It is only though a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that you or anyone else will get into heaven.

You can be religious all day long, as the Pharisees were and still be thrown into the lake of fire.

Why would you go to church or read a bible if you didn't want to get know the living God better, to develop a relationship with him? Reading the Bible, prayer and attending Church is to draw us nearer to the heart of God and to His will.

Religion is man's way of trying to reach God.

Relationship is God's way of reaching us, through Jesus Christ.

Answer 6

You logic is flawed. As you state, Christians believe they must follow the teachings of Christ. One of Christ's teachings was to become like him. The best way behave according to another individuals behavior is to understand why they behave the way they do. Thus, if you have a relationship with Christ/God, you grow to understand them more and are more able to follow their teachings. Being a member of an organized religion is not the key to one's salvation, but religion is a vehicle to acquiring the knowledge and tools to understand God.

Answer 7

A religion is any set of belief in existence of one or more gods, plus any rituals and rites associated with that belief.

People who claim to have a "relationship with God" are a religion, but they don't like to associate themselves with other religions that like rituals and rites. Still, you'll find that those who claim a "relationship with God" also have their own rituals. (Including this ritual of denying that they are a religion)

BTW, their relationship with God is like someone's relationship with an invisible friend of some other kid. There's not much to it.

Answer 8

What you see on the outside, does not reflect what is on the inside.

We, as people, judge external behavior to determine what is within a man. God looks on the inside of us. In fact, He speaks to us in our spirits, and it is that communication, on the inside, that we call a relationship with Him.

When we fellowship with other believers, or read the holy scriptures, the Holy Spirit communes with our spirit. We do not resort to following external rules and regulations to find God.

Answer 9

...Well, I claim it is a relationship because the Bible does.
...John 5:24 says this: 24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."
...John 3:14 says, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
...3:15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
...1 John 5:13 says, "These things I have to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, in order that you may know you have eternal life."
...And what is "eternal life?"
...In John 17:3 we read this: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
...That means to know in an intimate way.

Answer 10

If you don't already know you cant understand. Ask this question of The Creator of All things and either you will understand or you won't. That is between you and The Spirit