1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects

3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices

4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.

5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience

7. religions, Archaic . religious rites

8. Archaic . strict faithfulness; devotion.

While any of these definitions can be true of Christianity, they all are vague and stand true for any number of different people groups. This list, when looked at objectively, could include any group that share a set of beliefs; such as Atheists, Americans, Buddhists, Christians, Europeans, Muslims, Scientists, Theists, Theorists, or even Welders. “Religion” is simply too broad a term to use as an answer to “What is Christianity?” Besides, our key text from James 1:26-27 does not offer any of these definitions as an answer for the Christian religion. It has to be different from the world’s definition.

Christianity has to be more personal.

So… What is Christianity to me?

To me, Christianity is a way of life; a life choice (if I can use such a  phrase). It is my religion, but so much more at the same time.

My Religion

If “religion” is the broad term that describes Christianity; then let’s use scripture.

James 1:26-27 addresses Christianity as a religion…

James 1:26-27

“If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, the his religion is useless and he deceives himself.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Straight forward, I would say that Christians today (as a whole) have failed at religion. However, there are still a few that meet these qualifications and uphold the standard for religion that was set forth by James in his writings. Most orphanages around the world operate on a religious basis and are most identified as Christian.

Operation Christmas Child is a Christian organization that focuses on the care of the poor and deprived of the world.

There are even some churches that still work toward caring for those in need in their communities. Sandia Church of the Nazarene in Albuquerque, New Mexico is one of those churches. At least they were when I traveled through there on a mission trip in 2010. Every Saturday, they partner with other churches in the city to feed the poor and homeless. 

These examples do give me hope that Christians can and will uphold Biblical religious standards, but religion is still only part of what it is to be a Christian.

My Being

I would like to narrow the focus of Christianity by saying that it is also my being, or even my species.

Paul addresses this in his second letter to the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.”

This does not mean that I (or any of you) am no longer human, but rather that my spirit is no longer from this world, but from God. By changing someone’s spirit, God is able to change everything about the person.

This is what I mean by Christianity is my being, but we can get a little more specific than this.

My Nationality

Christianity is also my nationality.

Jesus says, in the gospel of Luke…

Luke 22:29-30

“I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.”

Many of us; myself included; are quite proud of being “American.” Christ says that we are a part of His kingdom. This means that American is not the first identifying nationality that I should claim. In fact, I am many nations in this world. Since nationalities only serve to identify the government to which I belong, I could claim American, Mississippian (the state I live in), Pontotocian (the county I live in), Beldenian (the town that holds my address), and even Endvillean (the community I live in). However, before any of these, I should first and foremost claim Christian. It is the kingdom of Christ that I most belong to anyway. It is also in the kingdom of God that I will spend eternity. The rest of my national claims are fleeting and meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

My Military Rank and Division

Am I simply to be a good citizen in the kingdom though? No. Christ has called me and you to be soldiers in His army. Christian is our military rank and Christianity is our military division.

Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy about this very thing.

2 Timothy 2:3-4

“Share in the suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter.”

There is a war against all things evil and unholy going on, and Christ has not called us to sit idly by. He has called us to battle.

In my book, Preparation for the Battles: a Study in Joshua Book II,  I walk you through the pains and struggles that prepare you to come to the call of Christ as a soldier. In “Chapter 6: God Gets the Victories” I stated the following;

“By doing God’s will we glorify Him. Jesus points out in Mark chapter three in verse thirty-five that, ‘whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’ What He is saying is that those that seek to glorify God will be counted as His equal. The reasoning behind this statement becomes clear later when we learn that we are covered by His sacrifice. Jesus took our sins so that we can take His place as children of God. We should want to do God’s will and bring glory to Him. I think the Apostle Paul said it best in Romans:

‘Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.’

-Romans 12:1-2″

So far, we have learned that Christianity is a religion, a life choice, a state of being (a new creation), a nationality, and a military division and rank.

I Am Christian

When the believers were gathered at Antioch for that year of study, they became known as Christians.

Acts 11:26

“and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.”

They embodied every quality of what it is to be a Christian. Even if the stories are true of the name being meant as an insult from non-believers, it is a title that should be carried with dignity and pride in the One whose name it bears. Christian does literally mean “little Christ,” and THAT is exactly what we must be. To be a Christian in the modern dictionary sense would be an insult to the One that makes us set apart from the world. However, to truly be a little Messiah, bringing the True message of Hope and Love to the world; to be the caregiver of orphans and widows; to be the living embodiment of the Joy of Christ; to be a new creation and live a new life in Him; to serve His kingdom and to fight His war with His power; that is what it means to be a Christian.

What Organic Christianity looks like

We have too many country clubs bearing the name of “Church.” If we are to become His once more, we have to strip all the excess from our beliefs and get back to Antioch. We have to relearn what it means to be a Christian. We have to start with true belief that what Peter wrote in his first epistle is who we long to be.

1 Peter 2

“So rid yourself of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good. Coming to Him, a living stone – rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God – you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it is contained in Scripture:

Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to Shame!

So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected – this One has become the cornerstone, and a stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined for this.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. As God’s slaves, live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.

Household slaves, submit with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel. For it brings favor if, mindful of God’s will, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.

He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth; when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He was suffering, He did not threaten but entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; you have been healed by His wounds.

For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of you souls.”

That, my friends, is true, pure, organic Christianity. That is what I long to find and share with all of you, and ask that you share with everyone else. If the Christian Church is to become the beacon of Hope that it once was, and should long to be, then it has to get back to this type of enduring belief that we are to be the sacrifice for Him, just as He was the sacrifice for our souls.

I hope to share more thoughts and revelations soon.

Until then,

God bless

Bro James