What Is Christianity?

It’s a question I’ve been asked before, so I was not surprised to have it raised again.  It is a question that has baffled some of the greatest minds in history and one which has been the subject of much debate.  What is Christianity?   What is the Christian faith all about?

For me, the answer is simple:  Christianity is Christ!  All that is rightly associated with the Christian faith finds in centre in Christ.  John Stott has written:  The person and work of Christ are the foundation rock upon which the Christian religion is built.  Take Christ from Christianity, and you disembowel it; there is practically nothing left.

Christianity is rooted in the person and work of the Lord Jesus and is lived out through a relationship with Him.  The Apostle Paul understood this truth and declared it rather succinctly:  For to me, to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21). This statement from Paul along with his words in Galatians 2:20 capture the essence of Christianity!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 
The life I life in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.  
                                                                                                                              (Galatians 2:20)

What is Christianity?  Christianity is Christ; faith in Christ, fellowship with Christ, following after Christ and a future with Christ.  It is the acknowledgement that you can do nothing to save yourself; to establish a right relationship with God.  The Bible reminds us that all of us have a record of violations before a holy God; we need someone who can change our record, erase our violations, make us acceptable before God; Jesus Christ is that Someone. 

At some point in our lives if we are to truly embrace the Christian faith, we must accept the truth about ourselves and the truth about Christ.  We must transfer our trust from what we think we can do to find acceptance with God and trust what Christ has already accomplished on our behalf. 

There is a huge difference between being religious and being a Christian.  Years ago I came across this explanation:  Religion is spelled ‘D-O’.  It is what we think we can do to find favour with God.  Christianity is spelled ‘D-O-N-E’.  It is rooted in what Christ has already done for us.  We need only to put our faith in Christ alone. 

Christianity is Christ; faith in Christ and fellowship with Christ.  It is rooted not just in the truth about Christ and the teachings of His Word, but also in a relationship with Him; one in which we find peace and joy and meaning and purpose as we journey through our days on earth.  It is following after His ways and finding in Him all that we need.  And it the sure hope that when our days here on earth come to end, we have a future with Christ, in heaven. 

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so,
would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 
                                                                                                                                  (John 14:2-3)

 For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 
                                                                                                                                              (Philippians 1:21)