Although I have great respect for most Christian leaders, there is a statement they make that have bothered me. This statement is "Christianity is not a religion, its a relationship." I have reflected on why this bothered me and I have pinpointed the reasons.

1. The statement is simply inaccurate about its view of religion. Although "religion" is somewhat a nebulous term, it can be said that religion is man's way of connecting to a power/s that somehow influences his destiny. It is a natural response to the mystery of this power/s. Just as people fall in love, they formulate a religion. To judge it as bad would be tantamount to saying falling in love is bad. Some may avoid falling in love, but its part of a person's makeup to fall in love.

2. When some Christian leaders separate Christianity from the term religion, they are basically saying that Christianity is not about becoming good enough to become acceptable to God, but about having a relationship with Jesus. That may be true but there are several things wrong with that thought. It is true that religion could be works-centered, but religion does not have to be. As an example, the Hare Krishnas are an example of a religion focused on devotion to Krishna. Christianity is about devotion to Jesus. Christians are devotees of Jesus. Some Buddhists believe that only through the grace of Amida Buddha can a person find enlightenment (their goal is not being acceptable to "God" which points to the error of the thought that religion is about being acceptable to God). This belief is similar to the Christian belief that only through the grace of God in Jesus can a person be made acceptable to God. Some may argue that Christianity influenced this group of buddhists but that is debatable. A word about works-centeredness. For valid reasons, people are uneasy with the thought that a profession of faith is enough for "salvation" however that is conceived. That is why elaborate works systems (rituals and/or ethics) are added to the original confession of faith as a standard for "salvation". For example, Muslim scholars debate whether the confession "Allah is the only God and Muhammad is his prophet" is enough to make a person a Muslim, or are there works that accompany a good Muslim. 

3. There is a third reason that this well-meaning Christian leaders are probably not completely aware of. In their zeal to assure people that being a Christian is not about being religious, these Christian leaders have accommodated themselves to a bad attitude among many people in this culture. When some people hear religion, they hear "Priests" telling them what is right and wrong. Many people today are anti-authoritarian, whether that authority are church leaders or a set of convictions. This is shown by people avoiding the organized church or telling themselves that it is okay to believe whatever they want to believe. Some may have bad experiences with church, but I believe that some people just want to be able to do what they want to do, without the input of any authority or community. Their God is their desires. Therefore, I appeal to Christian leaders not to feed into the anti-authoritarian individualism that has pervaded society and respect the organized Church and the Church fathers who have contended for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.