Religion can be a difficult topic for many. In Hospice work, my patients will often say, \u201cI don\u2019t want any of that God stuff.\u201d So, I don\u2019t give them any of that \u201cGod stuff\u201d verbally, but I always let them know I\u2019m praying for them and interject little stories about my faith in our conversations. It is so beautiful how often, before their last breath, they will say something like: \u201cDo you think your God would accept a scruffy old guy like me?\u201d or \u201cI want what you have now.\u201d Music to my ears!<\/p>\n
Working with human trafficking has also been a challenge, because of past hurt from the church and\/or because of the overwhelming burden of guilt and shame within the victims. Helping them to accept that they truly were \u201cvictims\u201d and that the scenario was not their fault opens the door to love for them. But the challenge still remains with regards to what the church has done to them in the past through condemnation, judgement, and blame. Often, that\u2019s a journey that is more difficult to heal. It\u2019s all based on trust \u2013 trusting the counselor, trusting their support system, and learning to trust God again.<\/p>\n
My challenge now is a subject we addressed last week with regards to whether college students are losing their grasp on Christianity because of their education. I truly believe that education and our confused political world can often cause young people to question more, especially in the sciences. Everything needs to be proven. Having all my kids in the medical field, I feel that their questioning and not finding scientific answers in their faith walk has caused some disillusionment and some drifting away from the church \u2013 and their undeniable belief in Heaven. This is a heavy weight for me, as my kids were all raised in our invested Catholic home, where I taught first communion, confirmation, and sat on many church boards. Their upbringing was integrated in the church. I loved my Catholic faith and made sure my kids were involved in the journey as well. Yet, in today\u2019s confused world, questions continue to dominate and confusion continues to grow about religion, faith, and spiritual connection.<\/p>\n
In The Evolution of the West<\/em><\/strong>, Spencer noted that the idea that \u2018Kingdom\u2019 is not a political term, \u2018God\u2019 is not a theological term, and preaching about the \u2018Coming\u2019 of both is not a revolutionary act and is not entirely convincing for most. \u201cIt is impossible to understand our politics without the Bible,\u201d Spencer added, \u201csince religion plays such a powerful role in our political life.\u201d[1]<\/a> Spencer went on to explore that \u201cChristian nationhood may be good but is never unalloyed or incontrovertibly good. Every act of inclusion is also an act of exclusion; and when those acts of inclusion are informed by religious affiliation, a whole new dimension is added to an already sensitive issue.\u201d[2]<\/a> That\u2019s where the misunderstandings and misjudgments about religion often come from, and this confusion colors politics.<\/p>\n Spencer notes that the Bible has a very high view of political power. He quoted Romans 13 as the proof-text of choice: \u2018Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God.\u201d In contrast, Kets de Vries in Down the Rabbit Hole of Leadership,<\/em><\/strong> describes the religious world this way: \u201ceveryone has gone mad, throwing up all kinds of obstacles in the search of truth.\u201d[3]<\/a> He added that \u201cthe ability of people in powerful positions to project and displace their personal neuroses into the public sphere\u201d is an added component to the confusion in the political world.[4]<\/a> Interesting perspectives from two very powerful authors!<\/p>\n Spencer explored that \u2018we enthusiastically genuflect before the altar of democracy today in much the same way as we did before the altar of nationalism a century ago \u2013 with more hollowness in our piety.\u2019 But he concludes that \u2018perhaps the lesson that may be drawn from Christianity\u2019s chequered engagement with democratic freedom in Britain over the years is to temper our democratic genuflection.\u2019[5]<\/a> People are fallible\u2026and so are our leaders. But, in the end, Christianity continues to hold the light for the world!<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Nick Spencer, The Evolution of the West: How Christianity Has Shaped Our Values <\/em>(London, Great Britain: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2016), 24.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Ibid, 32.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Manfred Kets De Vries, Down the Rabbit Hole of Leadership<\/em> (London: Pelgrave McMillion, 2018), 14.<\/p>\n