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What is the difference between good religion and bad religion. That is the theme with which we are dealing today.
It should be noted that the primary difference between good religion and bad does not lie in the realm of theological ideas. Jesus did not denounce the scribes and Pharisees for what might be called “doctrinal heresy”. In fact he almost seemed to approve of them at that point. He told his disciples to “do everything and observe everything they tell you”. But then he added, “Do not follow their example.” In other words he approved of their religious theory but disapproved of their religious practice. He did not like what their religion had done to their character.
Jesus knew that in matters of religion it is possible to be doctrinally correct and, at the same time, to be morally and ethically corrupt.
These people had so misused their religion as to make themselves arrogant snobs. They were firmly convinced that they were just a little bit better than the average run of people. And that, my friends, is one sure sign of a religion gone bad.
Good religion always engenders humility. Bad religion engenders arrogance. Whenever you and I begin to think that we are a little bit better than some other person or some other group, we can mark it down at that very point, our religion has started to go bad.
It works something like this: Since I am right and you are wrong, and since I am better than you are, then God must surely be on my side against you. This means that I have a divinely mandated responsibility to get you straightened out. This gives me the right to impose my will upon you. If I cannot change your mind then I must control your actions so that you cannot corrupt the rest of society.
This is the attitude that brought about the crucifixion of Christ. This is the attitude that created and sustained the institution of slavery. This is the attitude that inspired and energized the Nazi regime in Germany. This is the attitude that underlies all racial discrimination and religious persecution. There is no more damnable attitude on the face of the earth than the tragic notion that Gods is on my side against you.
Let me illustrate the attitude by citing two events of recent history and a comment that was made concerning them. Some of us remember the tragedy when a Korean passenger plane was shot down by a Soviet jet fighter, killing two hundred sixty-nine people. The other event was less publicized. It happened a few months later in that same region. There was an accidental explosion on a Soviet military base that killed approximately three hundred of their military personnel. A short time later a nationally known television evangelist (Jerry Falwall) reminded his listeners of both events and then gave his interpretation of them. He pointed out that the second tragedy is shrouded in mystery. And no one knows for sure what happened. But he insisted that he knew. His exact words were these: “God struck the match.” In other words, God caused the explosion. He was punishing them for what they had done to us. The evangelist was saying that same old thing – God is on our side against them. And I could not disagree more.
I am saying, my friends, that God is not on our side against anybody. Our role in this world is not to conquer and control. It is to save. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest.” That is good religion. And if we ever forget it, our religion has started to go bad.
I close by quoting Mother Teresa. More than any person, she knew what good religion is. She says: “Each person’s mission is a mission of love. Begin in the place where you are, with the people closest to you. Make your homes centers of compassion and forgive endlessly. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier…
“At the hour of death when we come face-to-face with God, we are going to be judged on love; not how much we have done, but how much love we put into doing”
Now that’s good religion!