When we consider the many world religions and the vast individual diversity expressed in each of those differing belief systems, it would be hard to imagine how any one definition of religion could encompass the whole, and yet for every religion from atheism to polytheism there is actually one general definition that takes into account all the apparent diversity and provides one basic principle from which they all originate. In Webster's New World Dictionary (1960) we find the most general definition of religion as follows: "Any specific system of belief, worship, conduct, etc., often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy." Though stated in a very general form, contained in this definition is the kernel from which all religion arises; that being the idea that we must do a certain thing or think a certain way in order to be in right relationship with God, the universe, our fellow man, ourselves, or whatever we decide to venerate. The focus is on what we do or think as measured by a code or standard.

The way that this principle is applied can be seen in the illustration of a balance scale. In this we picture one side of the scale for wrongdoing, the other side for doing right. Essentially, the goal is to counterbalance the bad with the good -- that is, good works compensate for sins. The way most people assess how they are doing is much the same as someone would with a school report card. Here you have a system where someone might get a "C," another an "A," neither one of which represents a perfect record for the subject involved. Those things which would limit us from keeping a perfect record are taken into account as natural limitations, "After all no one is perfect."

It is at this point necessary to assert that Christianity is not a religion at all. Although it has many external features in common with some religions, the point at which it differs with all religions is the idea that we can establish or maintain a right relationship with God by our works.

Now in order to see this crucial difference it is necessary to consider some of the key elements in the religious man's world view. The first thing to understand is that the idea that "no one is perfect" cannot explain away sin. The Bible explains that we are not in some kind of school of life in which we should expect some to be more gifted than others with respect to moral issues, instead, we are all equal in regard to the ability to, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). Therefore, we can never explain away our willful wrongdoing by saying we didn't have enough information, or we didn't have enough time to study, or that we are not gifted enough in the subject.

The second thing to understand is that a relationship with God is very different from a grading system where an "A" does not really mean a perfect record, but only that we achieved the percentage required to attain that grade. Everything changes when we speak of a personal relationship rather than an impersonal relative standard. Imagine a husband coming home from a business trip and saying, "Honey, I had ten times in which I could have been unfaithful to you and nine times out of the ten I was faithful." Well, as we all know, at this point the relationship is broken, it will never be the same again. There is a separation which the Bible tells us is the consequence of sin. In the same way, when we sin against God we are separated from Him and there is no sense in trying to make up for our willful wrongdoing with good works like the husband who tries to buy off his wife's pain and hurt with some act of bribery.

Of course, there are those that would object that they don't believe in a God or the moral standards given in the Bible and, therefore, they will live by their own standards. However, a personal code of ethics is no better than any other in terms of its ability to establish or maintain a right relationship with anyone -- not even oneself. A practical illustration of the futility of using any standard as the basis for a right relationship is found in the traffic laws. Consider whether you have ever heard of someone having been awarded the "Key to the City" for having obeyed all the traffic laws. This is, of course, absurd since, as we all know, the chief time we become concerned with the law is when we break it, for which we expect to pay a penalty. So it is with any standard and especially God's standard, none of which could ever provide a means for right relationships. In fact, the only thing standards can do is prescribe the penalty when we do wrong which we are all certain to do. Further, if one simply lowers his standards in order to escape punishment for wrongdoing, he needs to realize that this very act is punishment in itself. This is actually the definition of degeneracy which will either stop at some broken-down standard, or become established as a declining life pattern which can only end in self destruction. Finally, for those that believe that only the "truly evil" people are condemned to hell -- the final place of separation, the question is, "Where is the line drawn. How many sins am I allowed. How can I know if all hope is lost?" An insightful paraphrase of Romans 3:23 sums this up in saying, "All have sinned and are far away from God's saving presence."

The Christian response to all the world's religions, whatever form they may take, is found in Ephesians 2:8.10:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith [in Christ] -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

It is because of God's grace (His unmerited favor) and through the faith in Christ which he himself provides, that we are saved both from the life pattern of sin, as well as the consequence of death, which is eternal separation from God. Christianity alone has rightly diagnosed the condition of man who would begin from the position of a broken relationship with God and then boast of the good works that are used to buy Him off. Jesus Christ unlike any other showed that unstained good works are the result, not the cause of a right relationship with God. For all others the only hope of either establishing or maintaining a relationship with God is through the new beginning of forgiveness found in the death of Christ on the cross.

The world is full of religions and philosophies, each of which offers a different path on which we can work our way back to a right relationship with God. Christ, however, said "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13,14). Then he showed by his sinless life that he was that narrow gate, and in his death he paid the penalty for our sin stained "works," and finally he was vindicated by God in his undeniable resurrection; therefore, Jesus can say with all authority, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).