₦airaland Forum

AngelahFlo:
To avoid conflict of interest. Let's just say I agree with you but permit me to add that True Christianity is more than just a religion even by that dictionary definition. It's a lifestyle. It's walking in the footsteps of Jesus and living His kind of life. The Life He gave us when He left this earth. The Eternal Life. This might be hard for you to accept but it's the truth. For if Christianity was just a mere religion as some Christian sects practice and observe. Then the purpose of Christ coming to earth to redeem. Man back to God would have been in vain. Christianity in its truest form always points man back to God through the written and the revealed Word of God

MaxInDHouse:
God is not speaking for any of us now but this is what Jesus said regarding what you are reading:

Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens. Matthew 5:16

These people are from different schools of thought: Churches, Muslim, Atheist, Freethinker and so on.
None of them has seen me in person but from what they have read so far they can testify.
So in response to your condemnation:

I quoted them!

Truthseeker10:
So you now agree that Christianity is a religion?

AngelahFlo:
OK I wasn't condemning you. Was just stating an honest fact and truth.
These guys who gave you Good recommendations ain't been 100% true to you. Otherwise I'll have made that list.

AngelahFlo:
Stop emphasizing on a part of something. What kinda truth seeker are you. One who honestly seeks the truth or one who seeks what to nail others with?
Read again my response to your previous post and then gimme an honest response not one that smirks of a confrontation. Christianity ain't just a religion

Truthseeker10:
Your stand in the screenshot below is that Christianity is not a religion. Are you now agreeing that Christianity is a religion?

AngelahFlo:
Stop being confrontational.
Stop it
Remember what I said in my opening reply to.your previous post? I said for lack of conflict of interest I accepted your dictionary definition and then went further to outline why Christianity ain't just a mere religion and what it really is. If you ain't satisfied with that view. Argue from that angle. Stop taking me back to what I've already cleared the air on. I repeat please stop

Truthseeker10:
So how is the dictionary meaning of religion my "interest" and "my dictionary definition"?

I simply showed you a dictionary definition and asked if you agreed with it and wanted to know if you have shifted your view to that of the dictionary.

So again I ask. Do you now agree that Christianity is a religion?

AngelahFlo:
The dictionary definition of Christianity is based on the generic view of what Christianity is presumed to be. On that premise I can say Christianity is a religion but before you logout and say I've said what you wanna hear or read. I also stated that it's more than a mere religion. That it's the Christ like lifestyle of living. The apostles were first called Christians by people who observed that they were living the Christlike life. With that in mind, don't you agree that Christianity is more than just a religion?

Truthseeker10:
are you implying that the lifestyle of Christ is not a religion? If yes, how come "Christianity" is a religion?

AngelahFlo:
To avoid conflict of interest. Let's just say I agree with you but permit me to add that True Christianity is more than just a religion even by that dictionary definition. It's a lifestyle. It's walking in the footsteps of Jesus and living His kind of life. The Life He gave us when He left this earth. The Eternal Life. This might be hard for you to accept but it's the truth. For if Christianity was just a mere religion as some Christian sects practice and observe. Then the purpose of Christ coming to earth to redeem. Man back to God would have been in vain. Christianity in its truest form always points man back to God through the written and the revealed Word of God

Truthseeker10:
are you implying that the lifestyle of Christ is not a religion? If yes, how come "Christianity" is a religion?

chimex38:
Totally Agree!

Christianity
Christ-like
Christ-as a Model
Christ-as a role Model
Christ-as a lifestyle
Christ- as ones lifestyle.

Christ-As a way of life!!!

AngelahFlo:
You asked an intelligent question so I'll do my best to give you an equally intelligent answer. First off the the lifestyle of Christ is not a religion. It's a living testimony of Christ's walk on earth and His example of how to live a life pleasing to the Father. Before Christ came to earth; mankind was living a life of Sin because of the events that took place in the Garden of Eden where the devil in the form of a serpent deceived Man causing Adam to lose His position of Glory and Authority to become a creature subject to the control of the world and flesh. Before now, man was made in the image of God and His likeness which made man a little God with his own area of influence which included the earth and everything that God had made which includes the plants, animals birds etc. Man was supposed to be an extension of God and the devil knew this which was why to deceive man, he had to first beguile the woman. When man fell, he lost the authority and God like nature he had and became like a mere man subject to every whim and caprice of the devil.
God had to send His Son Jesus to come.and reconcile man back to God and to achieve that He had to come through the womb of a Virgin and through a miraculous conception. Before Jesus came to the Earth in bodily form, Man lived by the Law which is a set of rules and rituals man must participate in order to live a life pleasing to Him. Now the law was riddled with so many consequences and rituals that Jesus had to come and show man a better and much easier way which is the
Way of Grace. Christianity is the way that Jesus exemplified before man and was also the way Jesus taught His desciples to walk in.

Every religion like the mosaic law are riddled with rituals and rules and regulations which must be adhered to but there's a flaw in all religions. You can keep all the precepts. Observe all the rules without being blessed by the spirit of the religion. It's like a driver who drives a car in a reflex mode. You change the gears unconsciously cos your brain through a period of training and use have mastered the rules of driving till you now do things behind the wheel without a conscious thought. That's what religion. Christianity on the other hand as exemplified by its Author Jesus Christ is an active participating adventure of man and His creator. We don't have to pray 5 times a day facing a particular direction, recite some hymns or words all the time and do the same things everyday like it was during the time of the law.

When you read the Sermon of the mount in it's entirety you'll have an understanding of what true Christianity is. To become a true Christian, you must first acknowledge your inadequacy of being able to connect to God and recognize the Lordship of Jesus by accepting Him as Lord and Savior of your life why? Because Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. He is the Way to the Father and it's by following His example can we be true Christians. Now other "Christians" who practice religion are not true Christians. For example the Catholics believe that the Word of God is sacred and must be read only by a Priest whereas God had made a new covenant with man where the written law isn't on tablets of stone but in the hearts of men.
Don't wanna get too ahead of myself. What I want you to know in simple terms is that Christianity as outlined by our Master and Lord - Jesus, is a lifestyle of Grace and not rules and law
Is a lifestyle of Peace
Is having a vibrant fellowship and communion with the Father on a daily basis.

Take the time to read the Sermon on the mount passages and you'll see what true Christianity is as compared to what is being practiced as Christianity in the world.
I have tried to answer your question in as simple a way as possible. If you're still confused lemme know. One more thing you can't be a true Christian without knowing Jesus and accepting him as your Lord and savior.

Before I wrap up, have you questioned why Christians are the most attacked of all the so called religions? It's because we Christians are the light of the world pointing the way to the Father which is why we are hated by those who walk in the dark.

chimex38:
When you imitate someone's lifestyle, he's your role model on how you live your life..
He said its more than a religion and I agree with him.
In this context of role model, it becomes a way of life..


A religion involves dogmatic rites and rituals that has to be systematically followed accordingly. Like ways of worship, does and don't at specific times of the month, year, etc.

A way of life is much more encompassing than a religion!

Truthseeker10:
Is Christianity a religion or not?
Don't you think that the issue you people have is the wrong view of the word "Religion"?

chimex38:
When I say more than a religion, it means Christianity is a religion + much more.

In the context of the modern world and for simplicity, it's simply a religion. But for believers, I believe it is much more than following rules and rites.

Truthseeker10:
Explain What part of Christianity makes it a religion.

chimex38:
I believe it's the rites and rituals alongside the commandments we practice at our various worship centres and life in general as a way we commune with God
of which any deviation comes with penalty and consequences that detaches us from God.
We have different Christian churches with different mode of worship.

Truthseeker10:
Define a religion.
Do you agree with the screenshot below?

chimex38:
"System of faith and worship"
"Great devotion.
Pretty much, I agree.

Truthseeker10:
so now Explain the part of Christianity that does not involve what you have written up there.

chimex38:
For emphasis,
I didn't say CHRISTIANITY IS-NOT a religion.

I said alongside the other person Christianity IS A religion and MUCH MORE.
do you don't misunderstand me the same way you misunderstood the other person.

That said,
For me, Christianity as a religion is likened to the Pharisees way of upholding the jews ways. It was purely systemic and dogmatic.
There is the devotion and system of faith and worship to keep Sabbath Day Holy till this day..
But Jesus along with his followers were hungry and broke the dogmatic Sabbath law". (Matt12:1-.
Same accusations occurs when he heals the sick on Sabbath day.(Luke 13:14).
The Sabbath was made to benefit man.
Jesus practicing "Christianity"-as a way of life



Nevertheless, Jesus advocated for upholding the Laws and commands of God even keeping the Sabbath and God's holy places holy.
The same Jesus got angry
(Righteous Anger-Zeal for the Lord) and physically acted out Bible for the people's-sacrilege of not-edifying the temple of God as a place of worship but as a marketing square
(an act of contempt) ..
(Jn 2:13-17)
This was same Jesus practicing "Christianity" as a religion.

the nuances within religion and it's laws need to be understood and applied properly to prevent abuse.
That way you won't just be practicing religion but also encompass it as a way of life in our daily lives where necessary.

Truthseeker10:
You are funny. I never told you to uphold the mosaic law like the Pharisees.
The problem you have is that you are limiting the word religion to rituals.
If you say Christianity is a way of life, is there a way of life that we should live that is not part of our worship and devotion to God as you have defined to be what "Religion" is?
What exactly is this "much more" that you are referring to that is outside "worship and devotion to God"?

chimex38:
Exactly, we are on the same page here.
The problem is that English definition or probably my interpretation which I believe majority will fall under same interpretation as well.
It says it's a systemic way of worship and great devotion.
Which by my interpretation sounds rigid and dogmatic and limits the scope of actual practice of Christianity.

But if you include all the nuances of Christianity as your religion , then we are good. It's just a matter of definition.

But I try to separate the nuances as a way of life rather than including it as part of a religion when discussing with people.

Someone missed a Sunday service, helped a friend to hospital, another cooked for that hospitalized friend, etc..
All of a sudden, they are praying to God to confess and forgive them because they didn't keep the Sabbath holy by attending Sunday service and dwelling much of the day in activities directly related to religious worship as they usually do...(become used to the fixed and systemic way of worship).

When they had simply lived a good Christian life-->way of life approved by the Lord.

#peace

Truthseeker10:
So are you now agreeing that Christianity is fully a religion?

chimex38:
It's English, and semantics we are now arguing here..

It is a way of life to me..
Its how I have chosen to live it with my day to day decisions and interactions with majority of people I come across.


Dictionary definition of religion doesn't do a good job when it comes to christianity.
But it's good enough for religion definition in general but can be limited in practicing Christianity for a novice and naive folk.

If you are smart enough to include all nuances and term it religion, and it works for you, that's good enough for me.
It's not about me and you.

But for the greater majority of Christians which is of greater concern, that definition is literal and limited
(w.r.t Christianity).
They need much more context.

Truthseeker10:
Does your way of life and how you treat people not include great devotion and worship to God as you have defined "religion"?

chimex38:
Exactly, we are on the same page here.
...........
.......

chimex38:
context wise, which is more important.

Truthseeker10:
Define Christianity.

Truthseeker10:
So you agree with your definition of religion that Christianity is fully a religion?

chimex38:
.......
.....
It is a way of life to me..
Its how I have chosen to live it with my day to day decisions.
..............
........

chimex38:
When I say more than a religion, it means Christianity is a religion + much more.

In the context of the modern world and for simplicity, it's simply a religion. But for believers, I believe it is much more than following rules and rites.