I have had the privilege recently of reviewing the manuscript of a novel that might be (ought to be) published in the near future. I won’t give away the ending (or the beginning) (or the middle) (or the title) (or the characters) (or the message)…<\/p>\n
… but I’d love to give away one of the subtexts, which is to beware of organized religion.<\/p>\n
Speaking for myself, I tend to distrust anything<\/em> organized, but that’s another matter. Now the world, which looks for any stick with which to beat Christianity, invariably points to religious wars as pro forma<\/em> warning-labels against spirituality. In truth, however, most “religious” wars have probably been waged using religion only as an excuse.<\/p>\n Moreover, the serious attacks, excesses and atrocities committed in the name of Jesus… do not mean that Jesus would commit them. The world too often forgets that Jesus is the standard<\/em>, True and Holy. When people scurry around, constructing and construing, blaming and naming, if they fall short of that Standard they dishonor themselves more than they dishonor the Savior.<\/p>\n Before the “amens” roll, it is good to recognize that Christians, also, forget this fact too often. The sad truth — the more important deal than wars and doctrinal arguments (although doctrine is<\/em> important) — is that the church often fails its mission in direct proportion to the extent it is “organized<\/em>” religion. Youth pastors who serve (Barna Research says) an average of only 1.5 years — what heartache must that represent? Churches that don’t preach the whole Word. Children abused by priests. Pastors involved in sexual scandals. Judgmentalism. “Open-Mindedness” so open that theologians\u2019 brains fall out. Politics, bureaucracy, and pride on church boards and committees. Is this the church Jesus wanted? — the Bride of Christ awaiting His return?<\/p>\n “What sort of music accompanies this<\/em> heavy message?” Well, it’s the same message, but a more light-hearted delivery. Hilarious, in fact. But the chorus that Buddy Greene returns to in this living-room get-together is<\/em> the message for this week, and has been for 2000 years: “Jesus — That’s All!”<\/p>\n You can beware — that is, be wary — of organized religion’s pitfalls by keeping this song in your mental iPod!<\/p>\n