On Mixing Religion with Anything

There is a long-standing slogan to which many have committed themselves over the years: “politics and religion don’t mix.”  There are also many who refuse to stop there. Education and religion don’t mix. Science and religion don’t mix. Business and religion don’t mix. The question is, does religion mix with anything? Is it intended to exist only within the four walls of a church building or the confines of a prayer closet?

 Several years ago a Chandler priest, accused of sexual misconduct, confessed to nearly 2,000 sexual encounters with males (22 of them juveniles). He said, “I did my job and I did it well; I didn’t let either of those two worlds, my secret sex life or my life as a priest, overflow into the other.”  Do you really think that is possible? Can someone who is born again, filled with the Spirit, released from all sin and guilt and kept by the abiding grace of God continue to live a “normal” life (that is, never let it touch the other areas of his life)? I don’t think so.  Neither did Jesus.

Jesus recognized the evil influence of the Prince of Darkness upon the popular practice of “secret discipleship.” He saw it as a strategy to nullify the influence of God’s people upon the world. Thus, Jesus’ appropriate conclusion was that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a bowl…”instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

I think the challenge for us to cease viewing our faith as only one of the many hats we wear in life. Instead, we should see it as it truly is, the head upon which all the other hats rest.
 

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