"Get God out of Religion"...Really?

'Can We Please Get God Out of Religion?'  Barrett Holmes Pitner, May 24, 2015

 Mr. Pitner posits his plea based on the latest Pew poll that reveals “Millennials” are fleeing (his words) organized religion. He gleefully reveals his part in the exodus the following way: I still remember when I graduated from children’s church when I was a tween and could now attend the sanctuary with the adults. But instead of being fixated on learning more about Christianity, I just wanted to take a nap. I loved it when I had soccer matches on Sunday and could skip church. By the time I was a junior in high school, church no longer interested me at all, and when I left home for college, the idea of waking up early on a Sunday to attend church had become laughable. I am most certainly part of America’s cumulative religious decline. I have helped bring the “nones” to the fore.

Really? I hardly know where to begin. But...since it’s “Pentecost Sunday” I don’t have to dig too deep before figuring out what went wrong with Mr. Pitner’s faith journey. As has been said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sitting in your garage makes you an automobile”.

Pitner recruits a few authors, to support his argument… including Lisa Miller, The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Striving. Ms. Miller’s thesis suggests “spirituality—which she describes as religion minus the belief in dogma, the veneration of prophets and deities, and the fixation on the afterlife—is an innate human trait that needs to be encouraged and developed”. To fortify her position she cites a number of studies that suggest spirituality encourages children to believe in something greater and more powerful than themselves and, as a result, they develop more resilience and less anxiety throughout life. People who engage in spirituality, she finds, are 40 percent less likely to use and abuse substances, 60 percent less likely to be depressed, and 80 percent less likely to have dangerous or unprotected sex, according to her findings.

No mention of “eternal life”…a benefit I’d consider mentioning.

In fact, Ms. Miller is correct about the earthly benefits of spiritual health. Robert Woodbury, Professor at the University of Texas has worked in the area of “Spiritual Capital” for over a decade and his research confirms these findings. Woodbury, however, found these results derive only from devout religious practice…regardless of faith tradition…exactly what Ms. Miller conveniently eschews.

I will digress in order to make a salient point. Religion and spirituality are inextricable. Religion is, in fact, the body of rituals, activities and dogmas that our spiritual journey demands. This is exactly what Mr. Woodbury’s research confirmed. Ms. Miller is entirely wrong in suggesting her spirituality benefits from a religion that requires nothing from her.

So…as a Christian…I benefit most when my life is invested in the dogmas of Christianity. I refer you to the Apostle’s Creed and suggest Christianity demands “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting”.

Since Eighty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians, Let me see Mr. Pitner “get God out of that!”

Back to “sitting in my garage…”

The glory of Pentecost is the difference it makes.  Pentecost brings us the Holy Spirit and that makes all the difference.

The Holy Spirit makes us a “NEW CREATION” by which we are joined with God in an eternal relationship. Ephesians 1:13, 14 says  In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Of course, If Mr. Pitner and Ms. Miller (or, anybody) hasn’t first “believed” they have never received this Holy Spirit. Is that a problem? Not if they don’t care to “be sealed” for eternity…or understand the significance of God.

Jesus, Himself, tells us exactly how this Holy Spirit benefits us beyond our gift of eternal life.

1.       "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.  (John 15:26)

2.      And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8-11)

3.      When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. (John 16:13)

In sum, The Holy Spirit comes directly from God and affirms the veracity of all Christ taught…concerning sin, righteousness and judgement….as well as many truths this world can never comprehend.
Now tell me…why would I want to get God out of anything?

Or course, I shouldn’t be surprised that non-believers are “hell-bent” on doing so.

Live boldly out there today...