Is Christianity All About Relationship and Not Religion?

Is Christianity All About Relationship and Not Religion?

You’ve probably heard it: “Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship.” It’s catchy, and there’s a grain of truth. But like most slogans, it doesn’t hold up to Scripture. The Bible does not pit “relationship” against “religion”—it teaches that true religion is good, holy, and proven by the way you live. The problem is not religion itself, but empty religion. Let’s walk through the Scriptures.

Etymology and Meaning of “Religion”

The English word religion comes from the Latin religare, meaning “to bind.” The New Testament Greek uses θρησκεία (thrēskeia), meaning religious practice, worship, devotion. Far from rejecting this, James calls it “pure and genuine.”

James: Pure Religion Is Good

James 1:26–27 (NLT):“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

James doesn’t condemn religion. He condemns worthless religion—hypocrisy. But he praises pure and genuine religion, defined as godly speech, compassion, and holy living.

Jesus on Religious Behavior

Jesus condemned hypocrisy, not devotion. He denounced Pharisees for corrupt religion, but He praised acts of devotion when done sincerely:

• Prayer – “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites… But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door, and pray to your Father in private.” (Matthew 6:5–6, NLT)

• Fasting – “When you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do… But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father.” (Matthew 6:16–18, NLT)

• Giving – “When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do… But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:2–3, NLT)

Notice Jesus doesn’t say “don’t pray, don’t fast, don’t give”—He says do them rightly. That’s religion done in love, not for show.

Paul and the Apostles on Living Out the Faith

Paul often speaks of salvation by grace through faith—but never as license for lazy, irreligious living.

Ephesians 2:8–10 (NLT):“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

People often stop at verse 9. But verse 10 says salvation leads to religious behavior—the good things He planned for us.

Paul reinforces this:

• “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NLT)

• “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” (Philippians 2:12, NLT)

• “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8, NLT)

Christianity isn’t “just a relationship.” It’s a relationship proven by religious devotion.

Revelation: Judgment Based on What We’ve Done

Revelation consistently ties final judgment to deeds—not as the cause of salvation, but as its evidence:

• “And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened… And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.” (Revelation 20:12, NLT)

• “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2, NLT) – imagery of devotion and holiness lived out.

• The letters to the churches (Revelation 2–3, NLT) repeatedly say: “I know all the things you do.”

Religion—proven faith in action—is not optional. It’s the visible fruit of salvation.

Both Sides of the Equation

• Saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8–9, NLT)

• Proven by religious living. (Ephesians 2:10; James 1:27, NLT)

This is not works-based salvation—it’s grace-based transformation. True relationship with Christ always results in true religion.

Application

• Stop pitting “relationship” against “religion.” Scripture affirms both.

• Guard against hypocrisy—but don’t throw out devotion.

• Embrace prayer, fasting, giving, service, purity, and compassion as religious acts of love for God and neighbor.

• Remember: Grace saves. Religion proves it.

Conclusion

The Bible never says “Christianity isn’t a religion.” It says false religion is worthless and pure religion is essential. A living relationship with Jesus Christ naturally produces religious devotion—proven by a holy, compassionate life. To pit relationship against religion is to deny James, misquote Jesus, and miss the point. Christianity is both: a relationship with God that produces true religion before the world.