Christianity is a relationship, not a religion

Some will make the claim:

It is a relationship w/ Jesus Christ. You can be religious and still not make it into the Kingdom of God. Religion can not get you into Heaven only Jesus can. When you die and stand b4 God it wont matter how religious you were, what will matter is if you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Remember the Bible says that everyone who says Lord Lord will not go to Heaven. Religion is false but Jesus is the real deal.

Whenever I hear this "relationship" version of Christianity, it is always expressed in just this way and in almost exactly these words. This consistency of expression clearly points to an organized system of belief. What is religion but organized belief?

Now, why would someone want to claim that Christianity was not a religion? Christianity has a long history of exceptionalism. Hegel is exemplary in this regard.

The motivation, I suspect, is that these "relationship" Christians have an emotional need to feel special. Since there are many religions, as Christians they would be one type of religion person among many. This is hardly special. But, if all the rest were religions and Christianity was unique -- a "relationship" -- then Christians would be exceptional.