Why is Christianity even labelled as a religion?

frater_domus said:

It may be a bad word for it. I mean something one has to do, something that has become routine to many, something that is full of tradition and rituals, something that has been made formal and has human rules attached to it. You know, much like an office job. Instead, it should be a personal relationship with our father and be marked by actions of the heart as directed by the spirit, not because you are told to do it.

Sorry, I have said many times how bad I am at describing things that I feel, but it simply does not do it justice

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Whats wrong with office jobs? lol

Institutions serve as a secured and established a place to find resources (e.g. school, library, office, etc.).They also provide ways to build trust and accountability among like-minded people. We love to fellowship at the end of the day and anything to encourage that shouldn't be frown upon, but highlighted.

I think the problem is that we put all responsibility and faith in institutions. We don't bare the responsibility of actually deeply knowing our God because naturally when you're among a group, you can be a little lazier in faith. And when we sense corruption or flaws we get offended. That's the appeal of people saying to just having a relationship with God. Ironically, it still avoids the accountability and responsibility that Jesus ask us to bear in fellowship.

I guess what I'm saying is don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. There is value to institutions just as much as having a private communion with God.

frater_domus said:

Instead of repeatedly telling us that we are wrong, teach us what you consider to the the truth, so that we may learn.

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I did in post #19

When people ask me what religion I belong to , I
reply, “ none—-I’m a Jesus-Man “

People think Christianity is a “ religion” because that is the way it too often is displayed.It IS a religion if it is reduced to a system of rule keeping to make oneself “ worthy”.How does that differ from Islam or any other man made religion? In true Christianity one is “ made worthy” by the Blood Of The LAMB.OUR Savior offers Salvation as a free gift.All we do is accept it.Religians are always about works—- not free gifts.

frater_domus said:

As for the word ‘religion’. As I understand it, it is a legitimately good word, but in modern languages it has gained the meaning of any random spiritual practice and something that is opposed to atheism. I suppose that this modern (and apparently incorrect) interpretation is something that gives me this bad taste, as it equates something holy as Christianity with something unholy as man-made spiritual practices.

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Right. IMO evangelical Christianity has incorrectly vilified that word.

frater_domus said:

In what way?

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By equating it with mindless rote activity rather than a heart-felt belief in and response to God.

frater_domus said:

Isn’t that rather common in most of modern Christianity though? How can one select group be responsible for what appears to be a common issue?

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It is not common for the classic churches (EOC, RCC, and even some of the mainline Protestant denoms)

frater_domus said:

Also, as clarification, by evangelical christianity you are referring to the churches of the protestant persuasion (the ones based on the reformation)?

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Evangelicals are protestant, but are distinct from both mainline protestant and Fundamentalist.

I suspect the fundamentalists are even more negative on that word.

I believe the congregations in Christianity are seven...

Ephesus - Messianic - Beginning with the Apostle to the Circumcision, Peter
Smyrna - Martyr - Beginning with the Apostle to the Un-Circumcision, Paul
Pergamos - Orthodoxy formed in this time... Pergos is a tower... Needed in the dark ages
Thyatira - Catholicism formed in this time - The spirit of Jezebel is to control and to dominate.
Sardis - Protestantism formed in this time- A sardius is a gem - elegant yet hard and rigid
Philadelphia - Wesleyism formed in this time - To be sanctioned is to acquire it with love.
Laodicea - Charismatic movement formed in this time - Beginning with DL Moody, the first to make money off of ministry

I like the Philadelphian congregation, or John Wesley Methodism. I must say, though, that the revivals in this movement are only good for around a hundred years before they regress back to the old religious congregations before them.

rockytopva said:

I believe the congregations in Christianity are seven...

Ephesus - Messianic - Beginning with the Apostle to the Circumcision, Peter
Smyrna - Martyr - Beginning with the Apostle to the Un-Circumcision, Paul
Pergamos - Orthodoxy formed in this time... Pergos is a tower... Needed in the dark ages
Thyatira - Catholicism formed in this time - The spirit of Jezebel is to control and to dominate.
Sardis - Protestantism formed in this time- A sardius is a gem - elegant yet hard and rigid
Philadelphia - Wesleyism formed in this time - To be sanctioned is to acquire it with love.
Laodicea - Charismatic movement formed in this time - Beginning with DL Moody, the first to make money off of ministry

I like the Philadelphian congregation, or John Wesley Methodism. I must say, though, that the revivals in this movement are only good for around a hundred years before they regress back to the old religious congregations before them.

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I heard JV McGee preaching that he currently resided in Southern California, the birthplace of the Pentecostal revival. And he remarked that there were no more church there. The revival basically dissipated away.

I must say... He is right! And the message to the Philadelphian congregation...

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. - Revelation 3:12

Which is a big disadvantage to my Pentecostal denomination... We cannot keep the revival going!

In Christianities mid-ages the world was full of violence due to religion in so much as Martin Luther once said, "In the name of God begins all mischief."

And the violence that followed was horrific. Most of which was done in a name of a doctrine or a church. If I had to choose a Chrsitian religion back in the 1500's I believe I would go with the Anabaptist or Bretheren, whose leader once said....

"True Christian believers are sheep among wolves, sheep for the slaughter..." - Conrad Grebel

I wish you a very Happy Easter in our Lord Jesus Christ, God our Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit and Most Holy Mother Mary.

Acts 11

The Church at Antioch

19Meanwhile, those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews. 20But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts. 24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

27In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the entire Roman world. (This happened under Claudius.) 29So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

Then Holy Saint Peter went off to Rome and formed our Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit and Holy Mother Mary's Holy Catholic Church - Jesus had told Holy Saint Peter:

Peter's Confession of Christ
(Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20; John 6:66-71)

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

Sins bound non forgiven on earth through our Lords Priests and sins forgiven through our Lord Jesus Christs Priests - Holy Confession

Jesus the Bread of Life

22The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone. 23However, some boats from Tiberias arrived near the place they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him. 25When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

26Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

28Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”

29Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

30So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’c”

32Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34“Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”

35Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. 36But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.

37Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

39And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

41At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’”

43“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. 44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’d Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— 46not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.

47Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”

52At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

53So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.

56Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Our Lord Jesus Himself in His Holy Communion

frater_domus said:

This one really irks me. When people, ask me whether I am religious, I am always inclinded to say no and I feel really uncomfortable saying things like “I converted the Christianity”.

You see, I feel it is strange to describe the following of Christ as a religion. Religion is something man-made. Us glorifying God, accepting freely given salvation and worshiping the one who created all, that isn’t man-made, it is the very purpose of all existence. It is the purpose humans, nay, the world was created. It ought to be the central purpose of all creation.
Calling it a religion implies a worldliness about it and puts it on the same level as false teachings created by humans. It also feels like it puts humans above God, in that the bible would only be true for those who choose to believe it is, whereas in fact all of it is true and God is there whether we believe it or not. Calling the act of worshiping the Lord, glorifying Him and following Christ a religion devalues it, in my eyes. I mean, how can you call something a religion when it transcends the very universe and is the essence of all being?

I’ll gladly testify that my life belongs to Christ, but calling something as holy and essential a mere religion makes me feel uncomfortable. It feels like spitting in the face of someone who is most precious to me or devaluing the most precious gift of all by putting it with mundane gifts.

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The Bible says:

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
(James 1:27).

The Dictionary says:

"Any system of faith and worship."

"Religion in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man's obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion."

Strong's Says:

θρησκεία

Strong's G2356 - thrēskeia

"Religious worship"

"esp. external, that which consists of ceremonies.
Religious discipline, religion."

frater_domus said:

This one really irks me. When people, ask me whether I am religious, I am always inclinded to say no and I feel really uncomfortable saying things like “I converted the Christianity”.

You see, I feel it is strange to describe the following of Christ as a religion. Religion is something man-made. Us glorifying God, accepting freely given salvation and worshiping the one who created all, that isn’t man-made, it is the very purpose of all existence. It is the purpose humans, nay, the world was created. It ought to be the central purpose of all creation.
Calling it a religion implies a worldliness about it and puts it on the same level as false teachings created by humans. It also feels like it puts humans above God, in that the bible would only be true for those who choose to believe it is, whereas in fact all of it is true and God is there whether we believe it or not. Calling the act of worshiping the Lord, glorifying Him and following Christ a religion devalues it, in my eyes. I mean, how can you call something a religion when it transcends the very universe and is the essence of all being?

I’ll gladly testify that my life belongs to Christ, but calling something as holy and essential a mere religion makes me feel uncomfortable. It feels like spitting in the face of someone who is most precious to me or devaluing the most precious gift of all by putting it with mundane gifts.

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Truly it is a relationship with God the father, and the holy spirit, though christ alone. I find it mindblowing that God still loves us yet we were still opposing him as sinners, enemies of God. In that he sent his son to the cross to die as a propituation (exchange in our place) for our sins ( missing the mark, wrong doing, sin.) Amen! ( so be it)

heartless mindless repetition IS.

Yes.

Our Lord Jesus Christ when appearing to thousands of His Holy Saints/Nuns said to focus on Him, on The Cross, on His Life, on His Bitter Passion, His Sorrows, Sufferings, Agonies and tortures during all prayers and ask for the melting of our hearts, ask to receive Him into hearts deeply and ask to receive His Bitter Passion, ask to receive His Holy Gift of Love, Compassion, Mercy. From hearts open to Him in trust, our Lord Jesus has requested all in accordance with Gods Holy Word.

The problem is sinful hearts or hearts of stone, be a person a beliver or not, the awnser is jesus, getting back to the basics of life. Loveing the Lord our God with all our heart mind and soul, and the second like up the first loving our neighbors as ourself. Who is our neighbor, simply every human being we come in contact with. Amen.