Question:  Dear Greg,

            You have said, “the only true freedom comes under God’s control and his plan— freedom from all human traditions, religion, and ideas”.  God gave Moses quite a list of “do’s” and “don’ts”.  How do you define “religion”?  What is the difference between “Christian” and “Christian religion”?  You also said, “Religion is a carnival— Counterfeit Christianity does all of this in the name of the God of the Bible (and Jesus Christ)”.  I agree with you.  I am trying to get a handle on a concise definition of religion so that I may answer one who asks “what is the difference?”  You are so “on target” with God’s word to man.  I appreciate what you and the Plain Truth ministries are doing in the poor lost world.

            Tom

Answer:  Dear Tom,

            The general definition of religion that we use at PTM is “any belief system or structure that promises God’s love and blessings in return for human effort and performance”.  This definition is a sub-definition of the commonly used definitions for religion— i.e. 1) serving and worshipping God; 2) commitment to or devotion to faith, (“someone who attends church religiously”); and 3) institutionalized attitudes, beliefs and regulations.

            Under the generally accepted definitions of our society and culture, Christianity is a religion.  However, when applied to biblical Christianity and the example and teachings we are given in the New Testament, religion cannot apply to Christ-centered and grace-based faith.  In fact, religion then becomes the very opposite of authentic Christianity.

            Individuals and churches may be Christian in name, in official teaching and doctrine, but be nothing more than religious Christians— or un-Christian.  If a person asks, “what is your religion?” for the purpose of demographics/reports/surveys, then they are not looking for, nor would they necessarily understand the critically important nuance we are discussing.  In such a case I answer “Protestant”, for I am a Christian, and a Protestant Christian, as compared to the two other major divisions, Eastern/Russian/Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic.  If that person wants to know the gospel, then it will become important for them to understand that everything they have seen on television and labeled as Christian, and every person they have met who has identified themselves as Christian, and every act of the institutional Christian church is not necessarily one and the same as the teachings of our Lord and Savior.  The distinction is crucial.  I cover much of this in further detail in my book, “Bad News Religion”.

            Hope this helps Tom, and thank you for allowing PTM to be of service.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht