There are many different religions in the world, and all of them have certain core beliefs and reasons for being in existence. I have provided a matrix of all the differences for twelve of the major religions in the Resources section of this website.  But, let’s cut to the chase…

Seeking God

In every religion (except Christianity) people are seeking God’s acceptance, or enlightenment, or seeking to become a god, by their own efforts.  And in every case, there are specific things which they must do in order to reach God, become God, or be accepted by God. Christianity differs from all of them in one aspect, which is the key to understanding Biblical Christianity.  Christianity is the only religion where God himself does what is necessary to bring people to him. 

That’s crazy, right? It’s hard to believe that God would lower himself to accommodate us.  But, conversely, can we really reach God by being good enough? 

Think about the best things you can do.  If you are like me (and I suspect we are all this way), even the good things I do are tinged with pride or ulterior motives.  You may say that people are basically good and it is outside influences that create the bad, but have you really looked at human nature? 

I have a granddaughter that is a very sweet girl, but she wishes she were a “hooligan”.  Somehow, it seems more attractive to her to be a hooligan than a sweet girl.  But isn’t this how we all are?  The naughty appeals to us more than the good.  A good person is a “goody two-shoes”, and a hooligan is “cool”.  Why?  Why is one of the first words from a baby, “mine!”?  Why is it when we make a new year’s resolution to do something good (i.e. eat better, exercise, whatever…) it is impossible to keep? Because we are attracted to behavior that is not good for us.  It’s in our spiritual makeup.

Christianity addresses this problem at the source.  We are not able to reach God because we are separated from God by our rebellious nature.  But – and here’s the really GOOD NEWS – God loves us and want us to be able to live with Him.  He had a plan to accomplish this from the very beginning. Yes, He actually loves YOU and ME!  The Bible tells us this throughout. 

A Few examples of God’s love for you

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them…The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:7, 18)

He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”  (Isaiah 25: 8-9)

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine…Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it? (Isaiah 43:1,13)

Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely, they may forget, yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands… (Isaiah 48:15)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 38-39)

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1John 4:10)

Relationship

Christianity is not really a “religion” because religions are all about what we do. Christianity is a “relationship” instead because it is all about God wanting to be in relationship with us. Huge difference!