mgpcpastor's blog

This is a fair cop.
I’ve used variations on the statement ‘Christianity is not a religion’ in various situations.
I’ll probably use it again.
But it is helpful to do so mindful of this perspective from the Bible, pointed out by Matt Viney.

The New Testament speaks about religion. James mentions it twice

“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 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.” (James 1:26)

From Viney’s post:

My concern about saying “I’m not religious, I’m a Christian” is that it smacks of an ignorance that James identifies Christianity as a religion. To those outside Christianity our churches look very much like a religion, therefore sweeping statements that we’re not like those “religious people” reek of arrogance. I simply propose that as we seek to avoid slavish legalism, we qualify our statements so our fellow believers and the watching world appreciate the glory of Gospel grace.

Read the whole post here.