Going beyond religion
By STAN BOHM
First Mennonite Church
It may be surprising that Biblical prophets complained not about drinking, gambling or sexy clothing styles but about religion. Jesus also shocked people when he violated religious practices about shunning prostitutes and those collecting taxes for the Roman occupation. He undermined religion when he disregarded religious food, Sabbath and relationship taboos. The Bible writers knew that religion (doctrines and practices) could fail and be dangerous when used for our own interests. (Matt. 5:20)
The World Book Encyclopedia description of the Crusades is an interesting example of misused religion because it has similarities to our current situation. Launched about 1000 AD, the eight crusades continued for 200 years. Their two stated goals were: 1) to do a regime change from Muslim control of the Holy Land 2) to protect southeast Europe from Muslim expansion. Neither goal was achieved.
The unstated or real goals were political: Pope Urban wanted to gain power and prestige against a rival pope. Also Pope Urban thought the crusades would bring political unity and end the infighting among Christian knights and nobles. Merchants wanted trade routes, others wanted to acquire land, clergy wanted valuable religious relics, and peasants wanted wages and some excitement.
The crusades often ran out of funds. Some of the armies became mercenaries to fund their efforts. One army attacked a rival Christian group, the Eastern Church, bringing a heritage of hate that still exists. The Children's Crusade of 8 to 10 year olds never reached the Holy Land, but thousands died or ended up in slavery. Yet, religious doctrines were shaped to glorify the failed efforts.
Ironically, negotiations actually achieved more than military expeditions. Agreements between Saladin and Richard (the Lion Hearted) and later between Frederick II and a Muslim sultan gave Christians free access and later control of Jerusalem. But since that was not the real issue, religious crusade fervor continued despite those agreements until Columbus' discovery satisfied Europe's desire for expansion in America.
This kind of religious abuse keeps recurring when we create doctrines and creeds to justify gaining power over others. Even now Christian groups support Israel's illegal building of a security fence not on their own land, but where it confiscates Palestinian water supplies, homes, vineyards, olive groves and access to jobs, schools and hospitals.
For Christians the self-giving enemy-loving spirit revealed in the life, death and living again of Jesus is our measuring stick for testing religious doctrines and practices. Being reconciled to others was so important that Jesus said we should interrupt our religious activities to restore relationships. (Matt. 5: 23f)
One thing that has not changed since the crusades is the urgent need to pray and get together with others to seek God's help to keep our religion focused on sharing who Jesus is and not on using it to bless our coveting tendencies.
Jesus and the prophets were condemned for their exposing perverted religion. We should expect the same kind of pain they suffered when we reject abusive religion. Of course, religion is necessary, but it is that relationship that goes beyond religion that keeps us from self-destructing.
Our relationship to the living Jesus can make us more human and keep us from missing the deeper joy of real life. It is the walk with Jesus risen that enables groups to discover the kind of caring relationships with others that clarifies our purpose.
God can help us to go beyond religion to that relationship that helps us fulfill God's mission here.
