Is Christianity a Religion?

For all of my adult life and more, I’ve heard many Evangelicals, lots of them friends of mine, say, “Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.” This statement is a reaction to church denominations–especially Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox churches–that practice much ritual. I do believe that becoming a Christian is something that happens in the heart. That is, it is faith in Jesus that brings about a spiritual relationship with Jesus. Yet those who experience such faith will demonstrate it outwardly by confessing their faith in Jesus and usually being water baptized.

Nevertheless, Christianity is also a religion, that is, if you go by the dictionary. They always define religion primarily as faith in some deity, deities, or superhuman object and worship thereof. I don’t think Christians should try to remake the dictionary by saying such things as “Christianity is not a religion, it’s a relationship.” I have always liked what Dallas Theological Seminary Professor Howard Hendricks said about that, “Don’t put your own words in peoples’ mouths; that’s unsanitary.”