ILLUSORY RELIGION AND REAL RELIGION

Most of us would probably concede that we are at least a little religious. We would not go so far as to say that we are deeply religious because we fear that in saying so we might have to prove the truth to our statement – and we know what that means! But being a little religious, having faith, however deep or weak, that we can manage. Even those who claim to be “spiritual but not religious”, would, I think, admit, if pressed, that they are at least a little religious

But what does it mean to be religious? What does it mean, at least as a minimum requirement, to have faith in God? The answer probably depends upon who is being asked the question. Does faith in God mean that we have no fear? Does it mean that God will take care of everything, answer all our prayers? Does it mean that God will do God's part only if we do our part?

John MacMurray writes: "The maxim of illusory religion runs: 'Fear not; trust in God and he will see that none of the things you fear will happen to you'; that of real religion, on the contrary, is 'Fear not; the things that you are afraid of are quite likely to happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of."

On the surface MacMurray's definition of illusory religion looks and sounds good. All we have to do is have enough faith in God and God will take care of us, protect us from all harm. And if harm and hurt do come our way, the reason for that must be that we do not have enough faith, that there is something missing on our part, that we aren't religious enough. It’s our fault and not God’s.

On the other hand, he says, real religion means that even if we do have enough faith in God, faith that God will protect us from all harm, nevertheless harm and bad can still happen to us. And probably will. God will protect us but God will not keep us in a cocoon. Life goes on no matter how strong or how weak our faith. And in this life bad things happen to everyone no matter how religious we are.

What real religion does is remind us that life is, if you will, a two-way street. God gives us all the gifts and talents and abilities to live our lives as best we can. And God promises that he will be there with us through thick and thin, in good times and in bad – as he was for his Son. If anyone deserved to be protected from his worst fears – death on the cross –Jesus certainly did. Even so, Jesus's worst nightmare came through, the pain was excruciating, but God was there with him all through it. And in the end there was resurrection.

That, I think – resurrection – is what MacMurray is getting at. Illusory region doesn't need resurrection because there is never any death, never any pain. Real religion knows that we just do not get through this life without pain and suffering, no matter how great our faith. It also knows that God is true and God will make life-after-suffering better than before, somehow in some way. Bad things will happen to us, but we need not be afraid of them, not if we let God be God.