Three Myths About Christianity

Have you ever encountered someone sharing information that you knew was false? Our instinct is to want to correct the fallacy immediately, even if our instinct for self-preservation or maintaining good relationships often keeps us silent. Over the years, I’ve come across many misconceptions about Christianity that distort what Jesus represents. Therefore, I’d like to clarify three of the most common myths.

Myth #1: Christianity is a religion. Yes, Christians do religious things such as going to church, but at its core, Christianity is a covenant. In fact, the term “New Testament” means “New Covenant.” The dictionary meaning of “covenant” is “an agreement or promise, usually formal, between two or more people or groups.” In the case of Christianity, God has promised that people can be reconciled to him thanks to the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

So why does it matter if Christianity is called a religion or not? The term “religion” conveys a completely different concept from what Christianity is all about. If you look up the meaning of the word, it generally refers to a set of beliefs and practices that enable those who follow them to please their god (or gods). All you have to do is follow the rules.

Christianity, on the other hand, begins with the premise that no one is ever good enough to earn their way to God. No set of beliefs or practices can remove the stain of our guilt, which is precisely why God acted unilaterally by sending Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins. The covenant God offers is straightforward. He promises us a restored relationship with him—salvation—if we acknowledge our sinfulness and follow Christ. God himself will forgive everything we’ve ever done if only we trust Jesus.

In other words, Christianity is a relationship with God based on his promise of salvation through faith in Christ. Anyone who focuses on religious activities without first establishing a relationship with God doesn’t understand the essence of Christianity. ⁽¹⁾

Myth #2: Christianity doesn’t want you to have fun. The way some people talk, you would think that God is a big grouch in the sky whose only goal is to suck all the fun out of life. Granted, God has a moral standard for us to follow, which may appear overly restrictive to some, but it’s essential to understand God’s motivation. He created us and knows how we function best. He understands what’s beneficial and what’s harmful to our well-being. Whatever he defines as sin is damaging to us or others. Sure, sin may bring fun and pleasure, but there’s always a cost.

The truth is that God does want us to enjoy life. The Bible is full of his encouragement to rejoice. After all, God is the one who created us with the desire for a happy and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, Satan has deceived us into believing that the only way to achieve such a goal is by ignoring what God wants, while the reality is that only God can give us true inner peace and joy.

Do God’s ways contradict what much of the world teaches? Absolutely. Moreover, following God may even be painful at times, requiring us to give up something we want or enjoy. However, whenever I’ve struggled to follow God’s will—my human understanding not agreeing with whatever God wants—I’ve always returned to the truths I know about God and his character. He loves us and wants what’s best for us. He has good reasons for telling us not to do something. I may not understand his rationale, but if I choose to follow him, trusting that he knows what’s best for me, my well-being will result. And joy. ⁽²⁾

Myth #3: Christianity is intolerant. Intolerance is the refusal to tolerate or respect beliefs contradicting our own or people who differ from us. This raises the question: Are we intolerant whenever we disagree with someone? Many in our society believe this to be true, accusing anyone who dares to voice an opposing opinion of spewing “hate speech.”

Fortunately, disagreement and intolerance aren’t the same thing. If they were, all our relationships would be in for a rougher ride than they already are, because no two people agree on everything. Differences of opinion and belief are a natural part of life, but they don’t have to destroy our friendships. I can passionately disagree with someone about a topic and still love them wholeheartedly, willing to sacrifice everything for them.

Intolerance, conversely, is a nefarious attitude of the heart that affects our mindset and emotions. It goes beyond mere disagreement and becomes a refusal to recognize the other person as worthy of love and respect.

Just because Christianity teaches that the Bible is the only Word of God doesn’t mean it’s intolerant. Quite the contrary. God commands his followers to love everyone without exception, even their enemies. Yes, he wants Christians to spread his message of salvation, but only because he wants everyone to experience his love.

Let’s take Jesus as an example. He never shied away from calling out sin, and yet, who was drawn to him? Those considered to be “sinners” by polite society—the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and the other “scum of the earth.” Why did they feel so attracted to Jesus even though they knew he disapproved of their sin? Because they felt his love and acceptance. Above all, they knew that everything he did was for their well-being, even when he pointed out inconvenient truths.

 Yes, there may be intolerant Christians (to our shame), but Christianity doesn’t teach intolerance. ⁽³⁾

⁽¹⁾ Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hebrews 10:1-14, Colossians 3:20-23

⁽²⁾ Psalm 16, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, John 15:9-11

⁽³⁾ Luke 15:1-7, Luke 5:27-32, Luke 6:27-31