I personally dont. To me Religion is goin to other people about your problems. a church, a pastor, a minister. yah christians can go to their minister or whatever, but not for the answer to anything?!
to me christianity is a way of life, havin your OWN personal relationship with God, where, YES you believe, and still be allowed to do things that the church wouldnt accept, like listen to certain music, smoke, drink etc.etc..
anyone else have thoughts?
2007-07-25 09:46:00 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To me religion is man working his way to God. Considering that is my definition of religion, I don't consider myself religious. I am a Christian. In being a Christian, I understand that there is nothing I can do to make myself worthy of God taking note of me or convincing Him I should be allowed to go to heaven. Jesus is the one who has made it possible for me to be saved and be reconciled to God. There is no work I can do to merit salvation.
I do agree with you to a point about not going to a minister with your problems. It depends on the minister. There are ministers out there who do not have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It's just a job to some of them. You have to choose wisely from whom to get advice.
But I do think it is important that you fellowship with other Christians. The church helps keep Christians accountable and spurs them to persevere in the faith. By church, I mean a body of believers in Christ. I am not talking about a brick building here. In Hebrews 10:24-25, scripture states: " And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
We, as Christians, are responsible to other Christians. As Paul says, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." ( 1 Corinthians 10: 23-24 ) In Romans 15:1-3, scripture says: " We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." We are to self-sacrifice for the welfare of others. So if I am prone to yell when I am really frustrated, sure that's lawful for me, but the yelling certainly doesn't encourage moral improvement in an onlooker. So the yelling isn't expedient. So yes, you can drink, smoke, etc. ( which doesn't bother me, by the way), but in doing so, you may not be edifying your neighbor. And, yes, that will affect your relationship to God. Left to yourself, you may not realize that. In Proverbs 27:19, it says, "As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man."
At any rate, those are my thoughts on this topic.
2007-07-25 10:30:26 · answer #1 · answered by P 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
From American Heritage:
1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.
It seems to me that Christianity meets all these definitions. And you personal relationship issue was never even talked about as a concept in Christianity until midway through the 18th century, so there was no discussion or theological notion of such a spiritualist concept (similar to pagan religions) for the first 1700 years of the faith.
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2007-07-25 10:00:12 · answer #2 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why Christians attempting to change the definition of religion? It is a narcissistic idea and another attempt to show your faith as deeper and more profound than any other. All faiths believe they live in the faith and not the church. Christianity is no different on that point. All this is is another way to make yourself look better than any other.
Christianity IS a religion. YOU are NOTHING special. YOUR faith is not better and no worse than most. It is your ignorance of your RELIGION which makes you think this way. Grow up, get an education, and get a real life.
2007-07-25 09:58:30 · answer #3 · answered by honshu01 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is both a religion and a relationship. Things like going to church, prayer, communion, baptism, sermons, etc are religious devotions. Religion is merely man's attempt to get close to God. No Christians would say that they do not want to get close to God, do they?
2007-07-25 10:00:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, being a Christian (i.e., a follower and believer in Jesus Christ) is not a legalistic religion, such as Catholicism, Judaism, Mormonism, Islamic, etc. etc.
Jesus death on Calvary did away with the need for human religious mediators and go-betweens for man to reach and pray to Almighty God. Jesus Christ is man's mediator. Through Jesus Christ, any and every human being can reach Almighty God.
2007-07-25 09:58:39 · answer #5 · answered by faith 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The proper definition of religion is: a methodology for attaining, holiness, right thinking and acting, etc.
Jesus Christ did that for us. By paying for sin, and removing the law. He made us right with God.
All we do is. Hear the message, and receive it, or reject it.
Then (because you are born of the spirit) it is a spiritual battle with the devil and all his followers. As they try and get you to doubt God's acts.
2007-07-25 09:58:19 · answer #6 · answered by THEHATEDTRUTH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It fits the definition of a religion, so yes I do.
The religion may be about a personal relationship, or a life style, but it continues to be a religion.
2007-07-25 09:52:13 · answer #7 · answered by Eleventy 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it is a lifestyle it can be trying at times because of the punches but we have to keep going and not get stuck in those problems. That is why I'm thankful for my church!
2007-07-25 09:59:32 · answer #8 · answered by Bobbie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Always remember that Religion is man's attempt to reach God - In Christianity God reaches down to man... we were never able to reach God, so He reach down to us... Now that is pure relationship with God and not Religion..
2007-07-25 09:56:39 · answer #9 · answered by Pastor David 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Christianity is viewed as a religion, but I also see it as your own personal relationship with your Savior.
2007-07-25 09:50:13 · answer #10 · answered by *♥*Dreamer*♥* 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋