Occasionally someone will tell me, “I’m not very religious because I don’t need a crutch.” Or, “Religion is for people seeking an escape from real life.” Or, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” I don’t actually hear that last one a lot, I just wanted to let you know that I read a book one time. Anyway, you get the picture.
Crutch? An escape? I wonder which Bible those folks are reading. Mine has a couple of stories about people of faith, shutting the mouths of lions, quenching raging fire, escaping the edge of the sword, winning strength out of weakness, becoming mighty in war, being tortured, refusing to accept release, suffering mocking, flogging, chains and imprisonment. (See Hebrews 11: 32-37) If they were trying to escape, I think David might have been running the wrong way when he met Goliath and the disciples should have just divided the five loaves and two fish among themselves. To heck with all those other hungry people.
I know some people do actually use their religion as an escape, but don’t let that lead us to believe they are representing an authentic response to God’ call. Our Lord calls us to stand vulnerably and open hearted before the world, telling our friends and neighbors God loves them and is with them in the midst of life.
It sure doesn’t feel like an escape when the Spirit bids me to go where I wouldn’t choose to go on my own; to give what I would prefer to keep; to speak when I don’t want to rock the boat; to hurt and cry when I would rather escape; to walk and not faint when crutches look so inviting.