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.
Edit: To avoid any further confusion: I have been living under the assumption that religion is correctly described in a modern dictionary, which is how I used the word ‘religion’ in the title and original post. Having been told otherwise by some folks here, I now know better. What I meant is the mindless and senseless repition as well as the equation of Christianity with false teachings. Please forgive my ignorance.
