Religion is news. That may not come as a shock to some, but to others, the discussion of things of faith in daily life can seem highly disconcerting.
Take for example the man who confessed to a murder after seeing “The Passion of the Christ.”
“Isn’t it bizarre to think that seeing a movie could make someone confess to a crime?” one television anchorman asked, seeming to imply that it was akin to someone jumping off a cruise ship after seeing “Finding Nemo.”
With continuing discussions about the movie, gay marriage and the faith of the presidential candidates, religion discussions are highly visible. But to those who come from a place of faith, entering into such discussions must be done with a great deal of prayer and trepidation.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think believers should downplay their beliefs or be fearful of speaking up. But those who believe must remember that topics about faith are holy. Those who do not share our beliefs may be able to treat the discussions as sport, but if we claim to know God, we raise the discussion to a new level. We must tread carefully in such conversations, understanding that our attitudes may speak more than our words. And we must remember some fundamentals about how God works.
First, God doesn’t need our help. It was truly a shock to my system when I finally understood that my role in God’s drama was a bit part at best. Second, I don’t fully understand God or His plan. Many say that we can use the Bible to prove God’s intent. But whenever we use Scripture to tell someone else what to do instead of how we are supposed to live, we should beware.
We need to acknowledge how many things in history were “proven” using the Bible as text. Slavery, bigotry and chauvinism all found “proofs” using Scripture.
Finally, I am a pretty poor representation of God. I am reminded of the story of a woman arrested after she honked and cursed at the driver in front of her. When she asked why she was arrested for her outburst, the policeman told her that it was not her behavior but the suspicion that her car was stolen. Her fish sign, “Jesus Loves You” bumper sticker and other religious symbols on her car were so out of line with her behavior that the policeman concluded the car must have been stolen.
I may speak up about my faith, but if I don’t do it with humility and the knowledge that I may not be the best example on any given day, I may drive people further away from God.
During the war in the Balkans, Christianity was so perverted that Bosnians were found murdered with a cross carved into their backs. Some of those who called themselves Christians carried out horrible atrocities, all the while proclaiming that God was on their side.
When the war ended, students at a Christian seminary in Croatia asked their professor how they could share their faith while helping the people of Bosnia. Wisely, the teacher said that it might take a long time before Bosnians could hear about Christianity without fear.
Peter Kusmic said something powerful and heartbreaking: “We must live in such a way that we cleanse the face of Jesus for this generation of Bosnians.”
I’ve often thought of those words and considered how the way I represent Jesus could mean His image would have to be cleansed by someone else before others could see Him clearly. It is a thought that makes me try harder to pray before I speak and listen before I try to persuade.
Religion is in the news. But faith is rarely found in an argument and holiness often makes little sense in the mundane world.
Dale Hanson Bourke is a consultant to humanitarian organizations.
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