"Religion" vs. Christianity

[Cattitude]

How would you refute the following assertions I came across on another forum? This comes from someone who believes that Christianity is not about “religion”:

Religion gives us this process of doing the right things to feel satisfaction to earn a relationship with God.
We strive to become better people but ultimately our failures still outweigh our success…were left desperate for the Creator we long for but with an even deeper sense that we are just simply not worth Him.

That the system of religion and balancing good works vs bad works…does nothing but leave men desperate and uncertain.
Religion leaves us wondering if we have done enough to earn Gods love…have we tried hard enough?
Will God love me if I earn that love?

The Bible tells us that Jesus came into the world not to give us more religion…but to bring the message that religion can save no one…it can free no one…it cannot bring peace.

Although he does not name Catholicism, I know from previous posts that he speaks about “religion” that’s what he means. Of course, I know that none of this is true (I am certainly not desperate and uncertain, nor do I feel I need to do “enough” to earn God’s love), but I have a hard time putting it into words.

 

[Reepicheep]

It sounds like the person you quote says “religion” but means “works”.
You might try pointing out that he’s defining “religion” too narrowly.
Or maybe point out that what he’s doing is contrasting works with faith, then calling works “religion”.

 

[James224]

How would you refute the following assertions I came across on another forum? This comes from someone who believes that Christianity is not about “religion”:
Although he does not name Catholicism, I know from previous posts that he speaks about “religion” that’s what he means. Of course, I know that none of this is true (I am certainly not desperate and uncertain, nor do I feel I need to do “enough” to earn God’s love), but I have a hard time putting it into words.

I agree with Reepacheep. It’s their way of saying Catholics think they can “Earn” their way to heaven. I could use scripture to refute this but I like to use the VERY FIRST CANON ON JUSTIFICATION AT THE COUNCIL OF TRENT:

CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.

James224

 

[Bishop93]

I agree with Reepacheep. It’s their way of saying Catholics think they can “Earn” their way to heaven. I could use scripture to refute this but I like to use the VERY FIRST CANON ON JUSTIFICATION AT THE COUNCIL OF TRENT:

CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.

James224

Why wouldn’t people want to do good works to begin with?

A greedy,lying,thief can simply believe and have faith…but it takes a real Christian to do good things to show it.

Makes no sense.

 

[Julian0404]

He is framing the question with a false understanding of both religion and the bible.

Religion does not give us “…a process…” It gives us an avenue to establish a relationship with GOD - who did give us an “organized religion”, the roots of which begin in Matthew Chapter 16.

His comments that Jesus came into the world to tell us that the Bible can save no one is an ignorant statement demonstrating an lack of understanding of Jesus message from the bible and the bible itself. Of course the Bible cannot save anyone, it is only a book. It is Jesus who saves, and guess what, HE gave us an “organized religion”, so I am betting HIS religion is the way to salvation.

 

[Church_Militant]

He errantly condemns religion, so let’s look at the passage of New Testament scripture that he has either forgotten or ignored. According to St. James, religion is a good thing.

[bibledrb]James 1:26-27[/bibledrb]