Read on Twitter
I hear the "Christianity is not a religion, it's a way of life" rebuttal a lot, in order to be disassociated from religious zealots. But per broad definition, Christianity is a religion.
There are "practices and rituals" involved that make it fit the dictionary definition of one
There are "practices and rituals" involved that make it fit the dictionary definition of one
If you're going to say it isn't, then you must put forth proper theology and leave semantics. But if your theology contains the loss of salvation, because of failure in all or even certain practices/rituals...that is kinda religion buddy
I typically do not busy myself with such debates on classification. I don't even care in fitting into tags: charismatic, pentecostal, certainly not calvinist (this one I'll openly denounce 
), Lutheran etc
I choose to preach Christ and his Gospel alone. I'm a Christian, period
), Lutheran etcI choose to preach Christ and his Gospel alone. I'm a Christian, period
What I'm trying to show you here, is the unnecessity of arguing on behalf of ALL Christians. You'll not only tire yourself out, you'll bite your own tongue eventually, because people are flawed. Rather, defend YOUR FAITH. Offer the gospel in it's fullness and nothing else
However, I can show you how I think you can properly "distinguish" your faith from religion if you still choose to, for whatever reason. Distinguish in quote because, again, per broad Definition, Christianity is a religion
So it's distinction from other religions, as far as I'm aware though, and as far as the gospel is concerned, is that:
Those "practices and rituals" e.g prayer, fasting, studying, preaching, good deeds, love etc, are detached from the "reward"
Those "practices and rituals" e.g prayer, fasting, studying, preaching, good deeds, love etc, are detached from the "reward"
Reward in quote because, typically, a form of Nirvana or paradise or heaven, is often the end result of equivalent religious practices/rituals in many other religions, as far as I can tell, again.
Be it meditation/seclusion to become one with everything hence bypassing reincarnation. Giving of alms, fighting holy wars, or visiting holy sites, x number of prayers/sacrifices etc. Even universalist zoroastrianism admits people into heaven based on good deeds at first
Universally, (which is a weird term for humans to use imo, since we always usually mean globally. Looking at you Miss universe 
), good deeds and religious practices/rituals seem to be the currency for buying a spot in the various forms of "heaven"
), good deeds and religious practices/rituals seem to be the currency for buying a spot in the various forms of "heaven"
The Gospel however, goes in the exact opposite direction: saying that in summary, religious practices and good deeds ≠ eligibility.
And that the prerequisite for eligibility is, quite literally, belief. No religious ritual disguised as maintenence fee either. Just, belief.
And that the prerequisite for eligibility is, quite literally, belief. No religious ritual disguised as maintenence fee either. Just, belief.
So now when we engage in those "rituals", it's to, like a friend of mine says, "bring heaven down on earth". To align ourselves with God's will: which is that all men be saved by faith in the gospel.
It's for ourselves, it's us anti unbelief. It's to walk in the supernatural
It's for ourselves, it's us anti unbelief. It's to walk in the supernatural
If this is you intention with the "way of life" rebuttal, then I can see how it might upset you if called religious
But if you just feel like being hippie and making Jesus sound fun, but still hold that salvation can be lost, then rest, and quit the pseudo-dogma
But if you just feel like being hippie and making Jesus sound fun, but still hold that salvation can be lost, then rest, and quit the pseudo-dogma
