The goal, of course, is for true religion to point to God with clarity and integrity. But at any time and place, religious practices can be tainted by the world. Cynics and skeptics are eager to point out how the church and church leaders throughout history have committed all kinds of evil in the name of religion.
You may be surprised to hear the Bible confirms that religiosity has the potential for deception.
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:26–27 ESV).
Let’s all agree the practice of religion requires checks and balances to stay protected from the distractions and temptations of the world. It’s too easy for individuals, congregations, and entire denominations to be caught up in looking good, knowing the right words, feeling holy, and even doing reasonably good deeds. Sometimes fooling others; often fooling themselves.
Still, there are clear benefits to authentic believers rallying for a common cause. It’s true that one person can make a difference, but it’s people working together that really gets things done.
That’s why religion is organized. Maybe too organized for some. But that doesn’t make it evil. Even the original rallying cry of the early church called members to hold each other accountable and collectively aspire to honor, generosity, and integrity. Peter taught and pleaded with the people to “save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2:40 NIV). Thousands were baptized and devoted themselves to fellowship, prayer, and sharing their worldly possessions.
It may help to think of religion not as a set of rules or beliefs but as a process. Learning. Growing. Welcoming. Encouraging. Admitting our human frailty. Broken people helping other broken people see the big picture.
All of which means, we should all be ever vigilant regarding any church bodies and individuals in church leadership who dishonor God with their thoughts and actions. Never forget it was religious zealots who arranged for Jesus’ trial, lashing, and death on a cross.
But also never forget that religion—specifically the Christian faith—also gave the world the YMCA, the Salvation Army, Prison Fellowship, St. Jude’s Hospital, The Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, World Relief, Compassion International, Leprosy Missions, Food for the Poor, Open Doors USA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Amnesty International, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cambridge, Oxford, the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Schubert, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, da Vinci, Galileo, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, Marconi, George Washington Carver, Jane Addams, Clara Barton, Lech Walesa, Louis Braille, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and tens of thousands of doctors and medical professionals who travel to minister to the poorest of the poor every year on medical mission trips.
Is there a problem with religion? The problem might be that too many people these days, intentionally or otherwise, are giving it a bad rap.
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