We’ve all probably heard that Christian cliché. We’ve seen it as bumper stickers, Facebook memes, and billboard messages. It sounds great, and a lot of Christians love it! But is it true? Let’s take a closer look.

That Christianity is based on a relationship with Jesus Christ goes without saying, is self-understood (selbstverständlich in German – I love that word!). I seriously doubt that there are any Christians that would dispute that fact. It’s the “not a religion” bit that could use the closer look.

First of all, let’s examine a dictionary. Our old friend, Merriam-Webster[i] gives ‘religion’ two definitions:

1. “the service and worship of God or the supernatural”
2. “commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance”

Next, let’s see what the Bible has to say about Christianity and religion:

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:26-27)

Case closed? Not quite. There’s an evangelistic aspect to our beloved cliché. We’ll start with a question.

How many times have you told someone with whom you are sharing the message of the gospel that what was missing in his/her life was a relationship with Jesus Christ? Be honest. Are you ready for an intellectual speed bump? It might be a big one, but I hope not. Hold on to your hat!

Every single human being already has a relationship with Christ! Every single one! Let’s ex[plain that starting with the easiest part. In Christian terms, every person on the planet is either saved or lost, headed for Heaven or the warmer place with no air conditioning. Still with me? Maybe, maybe not? What dies the Bible have to say?

As it turns out, both Jesus and the Apostle Paul had something to say:

In His late evening conversation with the Jewish teacher Nicodemus, Jesus said that God gave his only son so that anyone who believes in Him has eternal life (John 3:16 again). Then Jesus added the following:

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (v. 18)

There we are again with two kinds of people in the world – those who believe in Christ and those who don’t.

Later, the apostle Paul, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, had this to say about the former lives of those who became believers in Christ:

“You were dead in the trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Dear readers, It doesn’t get much clearer than that. “Whoever” means “whoever” and “we all were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind” means ‘ladi dadi everybody’. (military jargon).

What does that have to do with evangelism? Well, the next time, and every time after that, when you find yourself sharing the message of the gospel with an unbelieving family member, school mate, co-worker, or acquaintance on the street keep those passages deep in your heart. They describe that person with whom you are sharing the promise of salvation in Christ. It will take your burden for that dear one to the next level. I promise!

I almost forgot. In case you missed it, Christianity is BOTH a religion AND a relationship!

[i] Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 2003.