Adventures in Religion
W. Carl Ketcherside
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The spiritual sterility which passes for religion is no doubt the result of a good many factors. In the first place, it is considered in bad taste to demonstrate one's religion openly. If he would avoid the charge of radicalism or fanaticism, he must cleverly conceal the fact that he believes. Our world has undergone a complete transformation since the days when Jesus was upon the earth. In those times men wanted to appear more religious than they were. They would disfigure their countenances so they would appear gaunt and hollow-eyed and others would give them credit for fasting. They had a trumpet sounded to announce a great contribution to charity. No longer do men want recognition for such gifts except when filling out their income tax blanks.
One of the big problems Jesus faced was to keep everyone from getting in early to secure a front pew. He was pretty stern in his denunciation of those who hurried to meeting to grab a chief seat in an elevated position where all the other worshipers could see they were present. If Jesus were to see the average congregation in these days he would be surprised at how well his teaching is being heeded. Unfortunately, the motivation is not quite that sincere and wholesome. The "amen corner" is as unpopular as a spoken "Amen" is presumptuous. It is amazing how those who yell like Comanche Indians at a Saturday night ball game sit like wooden cigar store Indians on Sunday morning. The quickest way to lose status now is to "go all out" for religion. It generally embarrasses your associates in the congregation, especially if they have friends who are not members. You are expected to "play down" any enthusiasm for real Christian service, to treat it lightly and jokingly. Of course, you are expected to do your share but it must be in nonchalant fashion, with a sort of "don't care whether school keeps or not" attitude. It will not do to attack the matter seriously or soberly. If you do someone will start calling you "preacher" This is an indication that religion is now a business to be run by professionals, and amateurs have no business "monkeying around" with its management.
It is true that many have developed two sets of religious attitudes. One is reserved for the public services. Surrounded by stained glass windows filtering in an eerie glow they have a sanctimonious expression as they sing, "Rescue the perishing, care for the dying." As soon as they get out of the door of what they call "the sanctuary" and get a filter tip lit up, they engage in good-natured chaffing and banter about the very message which a few minutes before they pretended to hear with earnest concentration. The difference is even more apparent the next day at work or on the golf course. It is quite obvious that religion has come to be merely a buffer to ward off or soften the blows of fate. It is like a fire insurance policy which one purchases because of the personality of the salesman. It isn't necessary to know anything about the home office if you keep your premiums paid up.
Faith has succumbed to fashion. Loyalty to Christ has been swallowed up in looseness of life. It is easier to belittle than to believe, to trust in luck than to trust in God. We have a "form of godliness but deny the power thereof." Our hope is not in the hereafter but in what we are after here. We estimate spiritual growth by the figures on a bulletin board. Our standing is determined by
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If we are to alter this state of affairs and recapture the significance of the transforming power of the Spirit in our lives we must be willing to "launch out into the deep" in the realm of faith. True, it is safer to let down our nets closer to shore, but that which is safest may not be sanest, if the object is to catch fish. Faith involves a risk. There is a difference between being saved and playing it safe." The real heroes of faith were not those who proved they were as good as anyone else in the world, but those who demonstrated that they were "too good for the world." The world got rid of many of them because they had already rid themselves of the world. The motto of the world is "Conform them or crucify them!"
One of our crucial mistakes is to think we must wait for some big crisis in which to demonstrate faith. But the quality of faith does not depend upon the magnitude of the problem which confronts us. Besides that, the church is always at crisis while in this world. A high school student who has been sitting with the group in the back of the auditorium may become a leader if he starts sitting on the very front seat, exactly as one demonstrated non-conformity in the days of Jesus by sitting in an inferior position. It may take faith to deliberately choose to lend your influence to a small congregation where you can truly help rather than to go where all is made ready to your hand. A large congregation is frequently a hiding place where one may "lose himself" figuratively--and literally!
There is a raw recklessness about genuine faith which makes it border upon madness to the casual and indifferent. It is not mere coincidence that the terms "the cowardly" and "the faithless" appear together in the category of the condemned. Nothing is more disconcerting to any sect than for one to rise above conformity and "preach the good news of the faith which once he tried to destroy" (Gal. 1:23). To fling oneself into such a task with utter abandon can only bring the charge, "You are raving; too much study is driving you mad." But to all who confuse faith with fidgeting and floundering around in what is called "religious activity" in these times, we recommend a reading of the account of the truly faithful. Read it slowly and seriously!
"Through faith they overthrew kingdoms, established justice, saw God's promises fulfilled. They muzzled ravening lions, quenched the fury of fire, escaped death by the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength, they grew powerful in war, they put foreign armies to rout. Women received back their dead raised to life. Others were tortured to death, disdaining release, to win a better resurrection. Others, again, had to face jeers and flogging, even fetters and prison bars. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were put to the sword, they went about dressed in skins of sheep or goats, in poverty, distress, and misery. They were too good for this world. They were refugees in deserts and on the hills, hiding in caves and holes in the ground" (Hebrews 11:32-38). Think of this the next time the congregation spends an hour in business meeting arguing over whether to secure cushions for the pews!