Good Religion

Religion is a really good thing...maybe.

Have you heard people say that they were not religious, or that they were opposed to religion? Somehow they think that they can be Christian, or a follower of Jesus without being religious. Religion sounds stuffy, and less than authentic. What I think they mean is that bad religion is something to be avoided. Good religion however, is exactly the right thing.

What does it mean to be religious? The word is eusebeo. It means to worship or to show respect. The test of religion would be: Are we really paying attention? Is our focus upon the character and nature of God?

In our nation's archives there is an account of two ladies from Tennessee who came before President Abraham Lincoln at the conclusion of the Civil War. They were asking for the release of their confederate husbands held as prisoners of war at Johnson's Island.
Lincoln put them off until Friday, when they came again. Again the President put them off until Saturday. At each of the interviews one of the ladies stressed to Lincoln that her husband was a religious man. After the Saturday interview the President ordered the release of the prisoners. Then he turned to this lady and said, "You say your husband is a religious man. Tell him when you meet him, that I say I am not much of a judge of religion. In my opinion, however, the religion that sets men to rebel and fight against their government ... (so that they can) eat their bread on the sweat of other men's faces, is not the sort of religion upon which people can get to heaven!"

The way of the cross, it seems to me, is one that is subversive in a way that changes the status quo not through the power of this world, but rather loves so radically, so sacrificially that the world cannot help but be changed. What if Lincoln and his generals had also chosen to walk down south and stood to defend those enslaved without firing a shot? To give your life in such a way, now that is freedom! And that is good religion.