Rabid Religion

What is it about our allegiance to a religion that makes a person so angry and even rabid at times? And have you noticed how religion keeps us so off track and missing the point of being a follower of Jesus who is in love with Him and other people?

I heard some story about a few churches banding together and filing a public complaint against those in their denomination who are conducting worship services in ways they feel is wrong. Seems to me we need to spend time tending to our own flock in the church we're involved in and not get so worked up about what other Christian groups are doing. This reminds me of the story of a minister at a church whom God raised up to be a spiritual leader in the Emmaus community. One church in his city got very upset when they got word that he was a leader in this ecumenical movement. So they wrote a letter to this man's church, scolding them for their minister's involvement in this group. His elders wrote a letter back to this church saying basically, "Please mind your own business at your church. We'll handle ours."

C.S. Lewis once said: "Discussions divide us. Actions unite us."

On the way to work, as I was pondering this whole notion of how the devil gets us sidetracked and in a spiritual straight jacket with religion, a truck pulling a trailer passed me by. Emblazoned across the trailer were the words: "Broadview Baptist Church -- Disaster Relief Team." A few men wearing caps were in the truck. I knew immediately where they were going -- to help the flood victims in Eastland that have been hammered by all these rains.

I'm sure that these men weren't all worked up about how wrong other churches are in how they conduct their Sunday worship. They just knew that Jesus loves them so much and that He is calling them to go minister to these flood victims in the name of Christ. And I just can see the Lord smiling over this group of servants.

Such examples of humble service makes me want to be more passionate -- not about my opinions about how Sunday morning should be at our church or other churches, but instead passionate about Jesus and doing His will in small ways each day. Maybe that's why that aged apostle John told his flock in 1 John to major in love. Because that's how we please the Father and show the world that Christ is at work in this world to bring people to Him. And that's something that I can get very passionate about.