Christianity: A Religion Or A 'Way Of Life'?

Defining The Term Depending on who's defining what, the term 'religion' will continue to elude proper contexts of application in the many perspectives of discussions. In secular, social and scholastic discussions (like statistical or demographic applications), Christianity is as much a religion as other faiths - Islam, Bahá'í, Hinduism, etc. Some other faiths or worldviews (like Taoism) do not view themselves as a religion in much the same way that many Christians want to view the Christian faith as non-religious. There's a negative connotation as well as a postive one about the definition of 'religion'; but again, it depends on who's defining the term and for what purpose. Let me attempt a working definition for the purpose of this response, which is by no means its all-inclusive meaning (the reference is mine. "Religion is a response to a set of core beliefs and values expressed in the practices of its adherents." It is in that sense that I'd be discussing the topic and including such faiths as Christianity, Islam, Bahá'ísm, Hinduism, Taoism, etc. But again, although it's a limited attempted definition, it does not view skepticism, agnosticism, or atheism as 'religions' even though they are legitimate expressions of core beliefs and values on their own. The difficulty of defining religion could be read in (1) source one, and (2) source two. Is Christianity Ever Viewed as a Religion? Of the five Biblical references I've read, three of them are in reference to Judaism - the Jews' religion (see Acts 26:5, Gal. 1:13, and Gal. 1:14); one is used in general terms (James 1:26) and the last is in reference to the practical essence of Christianity (James 1:27). It is this last usage that is contested today by many Christians, and it reads simply: "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." (KJV). There are three elements we should observe in that verse: ¤ Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father - the essence of Christianity is purity and this was what James argued in favour of. Notice also that when he mentions 'God and the Father', he was making a clearly distinct appeal to Christianity because that is the quintessential confession of Christians - to address God as "Father" (Islam does not address Him as Father, even though it also preaches purity). ¤ To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction - this is just the same thing as showing practical love to people, and that is something which Christ Himself preached as a mark of true discipleship in Mark 10:21 - "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." (Paul made reference to the same point in I Tim. 6:17-18). ¤ to keep himself unspotted from the world - worldliness is a bane to true Christian spirituality, and there are countless verses scattered all over the NT warning against this trend; I'll reference just two here - "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." (I John 5:21) and "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Tit. 2:12). In other words, James used 'religion' in positive terms of the true essense of the Christian faith - purity, love and true spirituality. In this sense he would have been applying the term in positive light. In a somewhat negative reference which he discouraged (James 1:26), he counts an outward performance without the inward substance as really vain religion. So, Is Christianity a Religion or a Way of Life? Christianity is both; and again you would have to ask who's defining the term and for what purpose. Defining religion as "a response to a set of core beliefs and values expressed in the practices of its adherents" makes Christianity a religion. The reason is that, Christian believers hold 'a set of core beliefs and values' that they express 'in their way of life'. These set of core beliefs include (some of which you already are familiar) - ¤ God is the Creator and Father of those who believe in Jesus Christ ¤ Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Saviour who died, rose again and ascended ¤ The Holy Spirit is essential for the Christian life and witness ¤ Believers are to shun unrighteousness & immorality, and pursue godliness and holiness ¤ The Bible is the Word of God. How do these core beliefs constitute or affect the Christian "way of life" (or lifestyle)? As God is the Creator, Christians have great respect for the sanctity of life; Jesus Christ being the Son of God and the Saviour gives hope and great impetus for every aspect of living, transactions between people, and relationships that confess the virtues of Christ in practical terms. Of course, none of these make sense without the power of the Holy Spirit and respect for the Bible as the Word of God - it is there that the principles of righteousness, holiness, and fidelity are explained and understood. There are many other set of values that Christians hold, and you could make sense of them as long as they are not tangential to the core beliefs and values. However, the negative connotation of 'religion' is disavowed by Christians (myself included) - as exemplified in James 1:26. In effect, what that verse says to me is "shun hypocrisy and religious sanctimony." Oh well, I should quote it first: "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Conceitedness, duplicity and insincere piety are expressed in many shades than found in James 1:26. People can tend to be "religious" and be blind to reason, faith, and the true meaning of life - this is the definition of 'religion' in a bad context that gives rise for the disavowal of many Christians saying that Christianity is not a religion; and I agree with them. How Else Can We View Christianity As A Way Of Life? I'm one of several millions who view Christianity more as a relationship than as a mere set of rigid codes to be fastidious about. My faith is anchored in a living Person - although non-Christians may disparage this belief because Christ is unseen now, but will be one day. This relationship involves a family setting in which by faith we understand that God is our loving Father who cares in supernatural ways for believers, and indeed His love extends to everyone in the world. The first commandment captures this explication of Christianity as a relation: "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Mark 12:29-30) The second is predicated on the first: "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31). We live in a world where people thirst for reality; and what is love if it cannot be expressed with purpose and deep commitment to the same? That love finds its purpose in God who draws our hearts to Himself as our Father and we His children by faith in His Son Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is when anyone talks so much about God, love and faith without a corresponding reality of his preaching - that's where the idea of "empty, dead spirituality" stems, and that is the sense of religion that Christians reject. My faith is a lifestyle that finds purpose and fulfillment in the God who is real and winsome.