6 Reasons Christianity Really IS a Relationship, Not a Religion (3 of 6)
You’ve likely encountered the expression: “Christianity is a relationship not a religion”. Perhaps you’ve also heard opinions to the contrary. It’s an important distinction. The two ideas are not the same. While the modern concept of religion may be convenient for professors and expedient for politicians and journalists, it actually distorts the Gospel. Members of Christ’s body should ask a pointed question: how did the biblical writers conceptualize their faith and practice? This is part three of a 6-article-series written to give you bible-informed confidence in a “relationship-focused” life in Christ.
Christians universally proclaim Jesus as Israel’s Annointed King, (“Messiah” in Hebrew, “Christ” in Greek). But why is he the king? The New Testament authors are reading (and writing) from the same playbook as the Old Testament writers: the Bible is about a Kingdom not about religion.
Reason #3 - New Testament writers continue the Kingdom language when presenting Jesus and his followers.
New Testament writers amplify and expand the kingdom language. The “gospel” is the good news about the Kingdom of God inaugurated in Christ (Mark 1:15). Jesus receives the throne of Judah as the Son of David and is seated with the Ancient of Days as the Son of Man. Even his crucifixion is portrayed as his enthronement (John 12:32, John 18:36, John 19:1-22) including Jesus declaring judgement, pardoning enemies, and granting kingly favors. and, following his resurrection, affirms his dominion over all other authorities (Matthew 28:18-20)
In the book of Acts, the Spirit-empowered church is not a religious movement, but an army advancing against spiritual rulers in rebellion against Yahweh and his anointed (Ephesians 6:10-12, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Having been rescued from a dark domain into a better kingdom (Colossians 1:13), Jesus’s disciples are royal ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), bringing the blessing promised to Abraham and David to the nations. Allegiance to Israel’s Annointed King allows all to become equal heirs (Ephesians 1:13-14) and part of Yahweh’s inheritance (Ephesians 1:18, Romans 11:17, Ephesians 2:14). In fact, even now are we are sitting on the divine throne with Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6).
If the average church service, if our lives as Christians, seem tame and… dull compared to the portrait given to us in the New Testament, it is not because we’ve been given a boring and tame book.