The Lions Rohrer

Don’t look now, but your pants may be down: The Deception in Religion

Imagine this scenario:  Place yourself back in the glory days…that’s right, high school.  Vividly paint the picture with your mental brush strokes.  Allow yourself to walk through the halls, visiting your favorite memories with pristine care and detail.  You walk down the halls seeing that guy or girl you had your eye on, this group or that group that conjugated in all the wrong places (like right in front of your locker).  The trophy cases, the memorabilia, it’s all coming back to you.  The cafeteria was always a place to conjure up conversation, to see the “who’s who” and the “who’s not”, so let’s head over there.  Whether you were or you were not, allow yourself to be vulnerable in this setting.  You are kind of awkward, really trying hard to fit in, really desiring to be liked.  A best friend: allow yourself to walk with your best friend (at this point, fictional is alright, just really imagine a wonderful best friend).  This is the person that knows you; I’m talking dives in to “you”.  They know who you like, what you have and haven’t done (on all fronts), your dreams, your hopes….and now they have just pulled your pants down in front of everyone.  That’s right; you just got de-pantsed at the largest public setting quite possibly in ten square miles.  All eyes on you, front and center (this may be easier for guys, as most have been de-pantsed or at least witnessed an attempted de-pantsing episode).

Unfortunately, that’s what religion does to a person.  You spend your life trying to measure up, trying to meet the requirements, trying to earn your “rightful” place in the heavenlies, only to work, work, work and try, try, try just to find out your work was in vain, and your effort, although piously exerted, has left you far short from the mark.  Religion leaves a person standing in the cafeteria with their pants down and their undies showing.  Your face gets red, covered in embarrassment, and you’re grinning like an idiot. 

Maybe you get it, maybe you have come to the conclusion that you just don’t measure up, that your works are, “as filthy rags”.  Maybe you “get” Jesus and why you need not only His salvation, but also His life.  But maybe you are on the other side.  Maybe you have been burned by a church experience, or someone who is a Christian.  Maybe you just think it to be foolish to put all your eggs in one basket.  Maybe you think religion is a waste of time and that anyone who adheres to anything that dominates their time, finances, and life is a complete weakling.  You think, “Man, I am self sufficient, I feel bad for those people who need a crutch.”  I hate to be the spoiler, but your pants are down too.  Your religion is yourself, and being that you (and I) are not perfect; you have left yourself far from the mark.

So what is the mark?  Simply put, the mark is perfection.  Sounds impossible and it is.  That is why it is so important to stop trying to make it on your own, by whatever method makes you “feel” good.  Feelings don’t reflect truth, they reflect fallibility.  Truth remains true whether we “feel” like it makes sense or works for us.  The age old problem with religion is arrogance, pride.  Like we could actually come to God on His terms the way we are??  Good one.  I know me, and I know I just don’t have what it takes.  You may be more wise, more educated, more likable, smell better, speak more eloquently, do more “good”…but you’re still too jacked up to come before a holy, perfect God.  I am a big fan of perspective, and I have mentioned it in previous posts.  If you can at least look inside yourself and realize there are some major issues going on, most of which have been suppressed or prettied-up for years, then you have to admit you need help.  That desire you have that everything else just won’t meet is because you have gone about it all wrong.  Your attempts, though valid, are skewed.  You have thrown everything else at that innate desire that resides deep within in order to shut it up , everything that is except the one thing that desire is meant for, which is to know God.  Knowing God has nothing to do with religion, but everything to do with a relationship.

We come to God on His terms, not our own.  When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are saying, “I know I can’t do it on my own, and I know I just don’t measure up, but man, Jesus, You do measure up.”  God knows we can’t make it on our own, so let’s stop pretending we are able.  Let’s stop “trying “and “working” and instead trade that death trap in for real life.  Let’s trade it in for a relationship with the Creator of the air you are breathing right now. 

Let’s be real. I know there are very genuine, even valid objections to this topic.  Let’s face it, it’s a hot topic of much debate and our culture which screams for everyone to be “right” and the relativistic nature of our society hates absolute truths.  Uh-oh.  Think about it, how can everyone be right?  How can everyone be wrong? 

Get freedom, get life…get your pants up.

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