More Than a Feeling: Why Biblical Faith is Both a Relationship & a Religion, Part 1

When Christians describe their faith by saying, "It's not a religion, it's a relationship," they're making an important distinction. Most likely, they're pushing back against the kind of religious practice that places emphasis on attending church and participating in the programs. They're insisting that real faith is not about our performance or trying to score spiritual brownie points; it's about real, living, ongoing communion with the risen Lord.

Obviously, that instinct is not wrong. After all, the Pharisees were nothing if not religious, and Jesus condemned them precisely for focusing on outward-facing practices to the neglect of a life of real faithfulness. The Reformers, too, were at pains to insist that justification is received by faith alone and not earned by the careful execution of one's religious duties. To truly know, trust, enjoy, and worship God is the heartbeat of genuine faith in both Testaments. Jesus prayed, "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3). The very personal, relational, and experiential dimensions of one's faith are woven into the gospel message and our response.

So, the slogan, "It's not a religion, it's a relationship," captures something right and important. It emphasizes the believer's personal commitment to Jesus Christ. It is, we have to say, a genuine Biblical instinct.

However, as we'll see in the next blog post, this popular slogan also leaves a lot to be desired.