People sometimes use religion to fill the vacuum that was meant to be filled by God. So let’s look at the difference between religion and Christianity and how they are related.
What is Religion?
Pascal famously wrote, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
Human experience bears out the truth of Pascal’s statement in that within every person, no matter the age in which they live, or the culture in which they reside, every person has a vacuum that cannot be filled. We know this to be true because we watch all manner of people indulge in all kinds of activity and behavior trying to find something that will fulfil them.
If we don’t fill the vacuum in us up with God, it’ll fill up with something else. People sometimes use religion to fill the vacuum that was meant to be filled by God. So let’s look at the difference between religion and Christianity and how they are related.
Religion is man’s attempt to reach up to God. Christianity is God reaching down to mankind. Religion is about what I do. Christianity is about what Jesus did for me.
In the book of Ephesians in the Bible, it says, “It is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8)
Religion is about following a set of rules and rituals in order to get God’s acceptance. Christianity is about God accepting me because of what Jesus did when he died for me; therefore I obey him in gratitude.
The Bible says in the book of Romans, “God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins”. (Romans 3:24)
God wants to set you free!
Religion wants to fix us from the outside in. Christianity is God fixing us from the inside out by allowing us to experience His divine love and forgiveness. This short video will show you how to have a personal relationship with God.
When we use our efforts and energy to perform in order to get God’s acceptance, instead of accepting by faith His acceptance and love, we often find receiving forgiveness and forgiving others difficult.
Click here to release those who have hurt you and release you from the pain!