However, people like a former friend who say things like “I’m not into religion. I’m into reality- and that just happens to include Jesus dying on the cross,” sound more like the sort of people this article is about.

some people take that love further, and see others who also say they have this relationship as liars and then use that hate to commit terrible acts.

your “relationship with god” has also caused a lot of problems in the world.

When people say things like this they mean “I’m not Catholic/Orthodox/Mainline Protestant, I’m Evangelical/Fundamentalist.” They believe that since they don’t have priests, icons and fish Fridays, they are not part of any religion.

So the people who wear t-shirts that say, “Religion is a lie” are referring Catholics et al, who they must save from the flames of Hell because they belong to a “religion.” But then they issue statements like the one above, saying that certain things must be done, and certain things must be believed.

It is true. God will judge us by our deeds. This is because mankind cannot see faith. Mankind can see deeds and works. Therefore God will judge a person by deeds so that God, in the sight of mankind, will be just. On the other hand John 3: 16- 18 clearly states,

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 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 “ These are the words of Jesus Christ!
The idea is this- With God we are justified by faith in Christ alone.
With mankind we are “justified” by good deeds and works.
Consider this-
Titus 3: 3 ”At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”

Note that Paul, in this one paragraph, says that we are not saved [justified] by righteous things we had done [good deeds] and also we should devote themselves [ourselves] to doing what is good. This settles the whole matter for me.

Another way of looking at it- what you and I have been thinking about is different like the root and fruit of a tree. The root of our salvation is in faith alone in Jesus Christ. The fruit of our salvation is in our good works and deeds.

Well, that is it- in the religions of the world to have eternal life one must impress God with good deeds. In Christianity one receives eternal life as a gift and the good deeds follow.

Then there is the whole matter of what does “having faith” mean? But that can be the subject of another day and another post!

I am yours truly,
Happy

On the other hand, not all Christians are “religionists”, which is defined by the same dictionary as: “One marked by excessive religious zeal”. No doubt there are many “religionists” out there, and they usually are louder and more domineering than other members of their own religion, but the majority of Christians are simply religious by definition.

Of course, Christianity is one of the only religions that holds “belief and worship” to be elements of a relationship with said personal God. Consequently, Christians are both religious, and at the same time pursuing a relationship.

My problem with the perspective postulated in this post is that it fails to take into account the fact that there are hundreds of denominations, thousands of churches, and millions of self-ascribed Christians in the United States alone. Consequently, there are vastly differing perspectives on theology, and probably as much (if not more) heated debate within Christianity between differing viewpoints, as there is between Christians and non-Christians. So to use one constituency’s poorly thought-out proselytizing tactic as the ultimatum for all members of a vast religion seems rather hasty to me.

Admittedly, I am a self-professed Christian, but in consideration of the cornucopia of interpretation of Christianity and the Bible, I hold many parts of theology as loosely as possible. I have seen my own faith morph considerably over the past few years, and I don’t doubt that I will continue to approach my faith with an open mind, and consequently see even more changes over time. I hold that Christianity is a dynamic religion that is not, and should not be defined by one perspective or interpretation.

Apologies from me as well for the length of this post.

1. The bible is a book written by men. Many different men. If you believe the bible is the word of God, the only word of God, that in itself makes you religious.
2. If you give a man (Jesus, Buddha or any other person) deity status, that alone also makes you religious. You are aware that you are worshipping a man. Even if he did do all those miracles and rose from the dead you still need to understand (son of God or not) he’s still a man.

Stay in la la land but do understand that to us you really just look like another religous zealot.

Do a study of what Paul has to say about the last judgment, and I think you’ll find that his thinking reflects that of the O.T. and that he was consistent with that. Begin with Romans 2. Here you will find all of the elements of the Gospel that he developed that included both Jews and Greeks–a people with the Law, and one without. I will quote it here with italics added:

1Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

2And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.

3But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

4Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

5But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

6who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:

10but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

11For there is no partiality with God.

12For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;

13for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

14For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

15in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

16on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Also consider these passages:

Job 34:11 For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way.

Psalm 62:12 And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work.

Proverbs 24:12 If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?

Jeremiah 32:19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds;

Ezekiel 33:20 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.

Romans 2:6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

If you can reconcile Paul’s meaning in Romans 2 with his meaning later in the book then I’ll think you’ll see the sophistication of his argument, and why he has been often misunderstood.

I should add that I’m not arguing that the theology of Paul and James matched exactly–as an atheist I don’t need to adjust all statements so that they fit together to protect some idea of inerrancy of the Bible. But, I think it is possible to reconcile them since I think they both thought that all people are ultimately judged by their deeds, that works of love are a necessary component of real faith, and that the grace of God in Christ was the means by which salvation has come to all people.