Is Christianity a Religion?

"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." - James 1:27

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THE ANSWER IS NO...

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION!

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“The difference between Christianity and every other faith in the world is that all other religions are about man reaching up to God.  Christianity is God reaching down to man.”

• Religion is a system of beliefs or a code of moral conduct that judges (qualifies or disqualifies) a person based on their adherence and obedience to certain codes, rules, laws, traditions, or the performance of required acts.

• Religion is the result when powers attempt to maintain, increase, or abuse their power over others. 

• Religion is the creation of man and is not the intention or design of God.

When Jesus was on the earth, religion was very rampant, as it is today.  Jesus hated this!  When you practice religion, your relationship with God is degraded to a mathematical formula.  It was never intended to be a list of rules that can be relegated to a checklist ( when selecting what religion you belong to on some form).  We are talking about love.

For example, the Pharisees took the commandment to remember the Sabbath and added religion to it by making that ridiculous rule about spitting on the ground.  Jesus showed his complete disregard for their rules when he repeatedly healed people on the Sabbath.  The Pharisees considered this “work”. 

 

On one particular occasion, He healed a blind man on the Sabbath by spitting on the ground, making some mud, and rubbing it on the man’s eyes.  Jesus was God.  He didn’t have to spit on the ground to heal the man.  He was making a point to the Pharisees and everyone watching him that religion was wrong and not to think of your faith as a religion, but a personal relationship.

• Religion is about what man has to DO to be right with God.  

• Christianity is about what God has already DONE to provide us the opportunity to be right with Him. 

• Religion says you must EARN your salvation by doing good deeds or certain acts and not doing evil. 

• Christianity says all we need to do is BELIEVE that Christ has already paid the price for the evil we have done. 

• Christianity says we are all evil (filled with sin) and there is nothing we can do to earn the right to be saved. 

• Christianity says that God (in the form of Jesus Christ) stepped into our place and paid the awful price that had to be paid for us.  He gave us the free gift of salvation if we choose to believe in Jesus. -  1 Pet 3:18

There is no rhetoric or rituals that have to be practiced.  Believe that Jesus Christ came to earth and died for your sins, accept his FREE GIFT, let God help you to love Him and love others.  That’s it! 

 

This is the difference between religion and true Christianity.  There is no checklist or list of rules that you must follow.  It is ALL about your relationships, vertical and horizontal. 

   

Ref: https://philippians1v21.wordpress.com/why-believe-in-jesus/why-christianity-is-not-a-religion/

USA = GOD

...Even the day and year of our Nations' official birth was predicted!

Give some thought to this: The Declaration of Independence wasn't signed on July 4, 1776. On July 1, 1776, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, and on the following day 12 of the 13 colonies voted in favor of Richard Henry Lee's motion for independence...and the rest is history!

However, I suggest that nothing is left to coincidence or chance with God. His involvement is in and through "everything and in every detail."

Numbers and timing is His autograph to HIStory and have critical and supernatural significance.

Consider "July 4,1776." Break the numbers down like this and God's hand writing can be seen again with just a few insightful observation.

On this day and year of our historic beginning as new Nation, God's hand can be seen in the significance of the numbers.."America was to be the absolute single nation, from all four corners of the earth to come and take refuge from tyranny in a perfectly completed land. A land that would withstand the diabolical devices of the usurper, provided her people keep the faith and honor the object of our worship...the Lord Jesus Christ (2 chron7:14)! 

Awesome, isn't it? Happy Independence Day! 

NUMBER One: is the number of unity or absolute singleness. Deut 6:4: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." God is one God in Three Person,but still "One" God.

NUMBER Four: is the number in the Bible there said to be four corners of the earth (Isaiah 11:2), there were four dominant kingdoms mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 7:3), there are four seasons on the earth, there are four major directions on the earth (north, south, east, and west), and there were even four types of soil in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13).  There were also four pillars in the Temple.

NUMBER Six: is the number seen as representative of mankind since humans were created on the sixth day (Genesis 1:31).  Mankind was commanded to work for six days that were given in the Fourth Commandment.  The number six is also seen as a number of imperfection since man was created on it, six days is an imperfect week, and the perfect evil can be seen in the number of man, 666 (Revelation 13:18), a sort of unholy trinity.  There were six cities of refuge given to the Levites for those who killed or caused great harm accidentally to others; these were places for them to take refuge (Numbers 35:6). God established these cities so that family members would not retaliate against them for the harm they inflicted upon them by accident or not intentionally.

NUMBER Seven: is the number of perfection since the earth was created in seven days, regardless of the fact that God rested on the seventh day.  Rest is still doing something and the seventh day is a day of rest and we are told to work six days and rest on a seventh day.  Seven is symbolic of a totality of perfection or completeness like the seven-day week. This pictures God’s complete and totally perfect judgment of the inhabitants of the earth, in particular those who are not under the atoning sacrifice of Jesus and have not had the wrath of God removed from them because of their rejecting Him as Savior.  Even the Tribulation is said to last seven years.

Words are only that. Actions are accountable. Today I begin my journey in accountability. My actions are now shared publicly and on displayed for better or worse, but nevertheless, I am accountable; first to my God, then my incredibly patient wife, children and amazing fellow brothers and sisters in Christ whom I serve, and slew of friends and colleagues...

I will use my voice and the empowering exposure afforded by technology to share from my humble viewpoint, all manners of life's lessons to put us in a position of being "Always Ready," which is the definition of the Greek phrase, Semper Paratus.

Blogging will result in having to learn new skills, be sensitive to my surroundings, but mostly will be my own therapy and release. If any can find common ground and receive a blessing, then you're free to come along for the ride. Participate in life. Find ways to contribute and make a difference in this great, big world of our. Time is short so here we go...