Define Christianity

[Eric Frey]

In the thread on Judaism and Christianity, it was proposed by a Jewish Rabbi that, "Judaism comprised a set of beliefs and practices that defined what it meant to be Jewish."

This is a basic definition of religion I think. I think it could be safely said that Christianity is comprised of a set of beliefs and practices that define what it means to be Christian.

Now I know it is quite popular to argue that "Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship," but the plain fact of the matter is that Christianity is a religion. So my question, then, is without getting into the false dichotomy that is religion and relationship, what are the beliefs and practices that define what it means to be Christian?

[Hans Deventer]

So my question, then, is without getting into the false dichotomy that is religion and relationship, what are the beliefs and practices that define what it means to be Christian?

As it stands today, I would say that a Christian is one who believes in Jesus and tries to follow Him in his/her daily life, and aligns with the ecumenical creeds of the Early Church.

[Todd Erickson]

So my question, then, is without getting into the false dichotomy that is religion and relationship, what are the beliefs and practices that define what it means to be Christian?

Mu.

This is sort of like saying "my question, then, if we ignore the need to score or hit the ball, what is the meaning of baseball?"

Religion is an institutionalized system through which we are justified to a particular God.

Since those who are in Christ have already been justified, there is no need for a religion. Since believers are the temple, there is no need for a particular building or location. etc. The whole objective is to be like Christ. Unfortunately, most of Christianity is far better at religion than incarnation.

[Shea Zellweger]

Mu.

This is sort of like saying "my question, then, if we ignore the need to score or hit the ball, what is the meaning of baseball?"

Religion is an institutionalized system through which we are justified to a particular God.

Since those who are in Christ have already been justified, there is no need for a religion. Since believers are the temple, there is no need for a particular building or location. etc. The whole objective is to be like Christ. Unfortunately, most of Christianity is far better at religion than incarnation.

I sincerely disagree with your definitions. A wise man once said "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." These are very much religious things, as are many other aspects of Christianity. Religion should be a part of our Incarnational living. Reaching the objective of being like Christ requires a religious pursuit. I agree with Eric that the "relationship-Religion" dichotomy is in fact a false one, and true Christianity requires both.

[Jim Chabot]

I sincerely disagree with your definitions. A wise man once said "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." These are very much religious things, as are many other aspects of Christianity. Religion should be a part of our Incarnational living. Reaching the objective of being like Christ requires a religious pursuit. I agree with Eric that the "relationship-Religion" dichotomy is in fact a false one, and true Christianity requires both.

Wow, was that man wise or was he "inspired"? What he really said was this "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.":smilies0262: Plain and straight from the unicorn version itself! Okay, I'm joking a bit, I do agree with you, religion and relationship need to be inseparable, we do need both.

Another wise man came up with this:


As it stands today, I would say that a Christian is one who believes in Jesus and tries to follow Him in his/her daily life, and aligns with the ecumenical creeds of the Early Church.

Simple and on point.

[Todd Erickson]

I sincerely disagree with your definitions. A wise man once said "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." These are very much religious things, as are many other aspects of Christianity. Religion should be a part of our Incarnational living. Reaching the objective of being like Christ requires a religious pursuit. I agree with Eric that the "relationship-Religion" dichotomy is in fact a false one, and true Christianity requires both.

I think that there's a difference between religion which services a deity, and religion which uses a deity as justification for a lifestyle. Probably a semantic issue.

But to my mind, if I'm trying to be religious, I'm more likely to be trying to be like other people than I am trying to be like Jesus.

There's a story related by Tony Campolo.

A desperate wino named Joe in New York City gets saved, and his life experiences a miraculous turnaround. Not only does not not drink, and totally shapes up, but he'll do absolutely anything to help people, no matter how lowly or demeaning the job, and is completely graceful and charitable in how he does so. It's an incredible testimony to the other bums in his area.

One night at a local shelter, the preacher is talking about the saving power of Christ, when one of the local homeless comes down to the front and begins praying out loud, "Lord, please make me like Joe! Lord, please make me like Joe!" The preacher looked at him disapprovingly, and suggested that perhapse he should pray to be like Jesus. The man says "Is he like Joe?"

If I have to know your whole religion to know Jesus, there may be a disconnect. If your shape within the religion of Christianity is that relationship, then I will know Jesus by knowing you.

[Eric Frey]

Hans, thanks for answering the question. I would agree that the belief side of the coin is defined by the Creeds of the early church. I would also include the ecumenical councils in which both East and West participated and of which both East and West accept as ecumenical. As to the practices side of the coin, I think we need to give more thought. I think worship (proclamation and celebration), evangelism (bearing witness), and discipleship (growth in grace) understood both corporately and individually are probably practices that are definitive of Christianity...