A Religion or a Relationship?

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

(James 1:26-27 ESV)

“Religion” has become a dirty word to many Christians today. It’s associated with a mere profession of faith and a hypocritical life. Christianity, they say, is not a religion, it’s a relationship.

It’s believed that this also sets Christianity apart from other world religions. Other belief systems are “religions,” we are told, while Christianity is something different. They are dependent upon a system of works, while we experience this “relationship” with the Lord.

There is certainly a relational aspect to Christianity that is not known by other faiths. Jesus tells us that those who believe in him are empowered to become children of God (John 1: 12). He tells us that we are not mere servants, but friends (John 15:13-15).

However, that being said, “religion” is not the dirty word we often make it out to be. Our faith can be properly described as a religion. A religion, after all, is defined as a conviction, a creed, a faith, or a belief.

James also ties our faith together with religion in the above passage. If our religion isn’t put into practice, he tells us, it’s worthless. If we fail to bridle our tongue, it’s worthless.

He goes on to describe what a pure and undefiled religion looks like. It’s to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. And it’s to keep oneself unstained from the world.

It seems that James’ definition of religion is synonymous with faith. Religion is not an empty profession of belief. It’s a belief that results in action. According to James, a religion that does not result in action is no religion at all.

This also ties together with his discussion of faith in chapter 2 of this book. Faith without works, he says, is dead. Faith is not a mere profession of belief. It’s a belief that both empowers and motivates action.

Just as a sincere faith will result in works, just as a sincere faith will be expressed in our works, so too will a sincere religion. If it is not being expressed, then our religion is not sincere. In that case, according to James, we are not truly religious.

So, is Christianity a religion? The answer to this question has to be “yes.” If we have faith in the Lord, it will lead us to serve both God and our neighbor.