A Viewpoint on Religion

This is a great blog written by my squad coach from the World Race, Michael Hindes. Makes you think!
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Rantings on Religion…

Most who know me know that I’m not a very religious guy. In fact the word religion makes my skin crawl. It stirs up in me all the demands placed on Christians to attend, to memorize, to dress, to act, to self loathe, and ultimately to judge those who don’t.

Religion demanded: the death of a Savior, the circumcision of the early church, the end of the creative arts in the middle ages, haircuts in the 70’s, picket signs in the 80’s, a single political party to vote for in the 90’s, and a suspicion with subsequent hatred of people who are different.

Religion allowed: the death of a Savior, the ruthless murders of 1st century gospel prophets, cast systems to be established around the world, the enslavement of different colored people, the continued abuse of young boys in the supposed safety of the church, the oppressive ignoring of a woman’s true place, the bombing of abortion clinics, the blaming of homosexuals for the falling of the twin towers, and the accusations that Haiti brought on it’s latest plight by forming a bond with the devil.

I know this sounds harsh – but those are the facts as I see them…

Jesus is busy giving out grace. Religion is busy giving out demands and laws.

The world can’t see Jesus through the religious veil of judgment, anger, and hostility.

I’m concerned about the next leg of the Church’s journey. In her current state she won’t make it if she allows the influence of religion to continue. And let me tell you it’s not about traditional versus seeker-friendly or charismatic versus evangelical. It’s about Spirit versus law and life versus death. Religion has caused us to live at the wrong tree for too long. It’s constant force-feeding of the church with the apple of comparison is making us all sick.

I do however see some hope. There are some new churches out there (even some old ones with new mindsets) that stay out of politics, feed the poor, care for orphans, worship with abandon, encourage community, and hand out grace in large doses. They are full of reckless hope - my mother would say of them “they’re as happy as if they were in their right minds”.

They’re not charismatic, pentecostal, seeker-friendly, fundamental, emergent, protestant, or catholic. They can’t be labeled and they can’t be named. In fact they hate both - if they didn’t have to have a name they wouldn’t. They just are, they just exist, and they just do the thing without fanfare…

They do have an enemy though; it’s the enemy within, because we all have a tendency towards religion. Religion will accuse them of: pandering to sin, stretching grace too far, not practicing truth, and certainly not being deep enough.

To the new hopeful church I say “Run Forrest Run”! Run from religion, run from politics, run from easy already formed answers, run from anything that isn’t saturated with grace, and run from that which doesn’t smell of Holy Spirit fire.

Come on new hopeful, grace filled church make it happen. Don’t be concerned about buildings, weekly financial needs, marketing strategies, or attendance figures. Just feed, clothe, love, worship, and live…