For All Who Like Blaming “Organized Religion,” I have a Challenge

It happened again the other day–a friend told me that he wasn’t sure about God but he was quite certain that he didn’t care for organized religion. Others aren’t so diplomatic–organized religion is proof there isn’t a God and is the source of much of what is wrong with the world.

To all those friends who like to default to playing the “organized religion” card, and with all the love and humility that my organized religion-infected heart can produce–I want to say that I’m really getting sick of it.

Here’s why. Organized religion gets blamed for everything from the injustice in the world to homophobia to the US’s economic woes to giving false hope to people facing death or difficult times. We might as well blame oxygen for all the world’s evil because it happens to be in the lungs of bad people.

The fact is that “organized religion” has become the perfect scapegoat–better–the perfect excuse for those who don’t want to deal with the rather unrelenting reality of God. They write off God because of the bad behavior of some of his people–and some who aren’t his people–as if he is responsible for the actions of freewill individuals. It’s a cop-out of the highest proportions.

But that’s not even the point I want to make. This blog was inspired while I was in Haiti a few weeks ago. It’s hard to describe the level of suffering that is so pervasive in Haiti and countries like it. Pain is in ample supply; hope is scarce. And yet hope is what we found all over the tent cities and even slums of Haiti. Hope–not because things are getting better, far from it; but hope because widows and orphans are receiving food and clothing. Hope, because children are being educated. Hope, because wells are being dug and clean water made available. Hope, because the sick are receiving medical care. Hope, because the elderly and special needs children are being rescued off the streets they were dumped on. Hope, because abuse victims are getting counseling and are learning how to protect themselves. And hope, because those who are suffering under the relentless hand of poverty are learning that there is a joy that rises above one’s circumstances, no matter how difficult.

And what is the source of this hope? Who is behind this upsurge of spirit among the Haitians? Those pesky men and women who happen to be a part of “organized religion.” That’s right–pastors, missionaries, counselors and care givers–all working for either a church, a ministry or a mission organization, and most walking away from promising careers to serve the poor, are right there in the thick of things and working in the name of God and their “organized religion.”

Kristen Hale, a volunteer, with some of the poor children of Haiti

I remember one night in particular, after hearing a septuagenarian who has been in Haiti over 40 years talk about what it’s like for a child to die of hunger. She talked about the countless babies she has rescued from dumps and doorsteps in the past four decades; and while many have died, many more have grown into beautiful thriving Haitian men and women. Some even work in her ministry today.

That was my “Give me a break” moment. That was when I snapped. I turned to a friend and promised that the next time someone plays the “organized religion” card with me, I was going to issue a simple challenge. Put up or shut up.

I invite any skeptic, atheist, agnostic, burned-out church goer, former-saint-turned-sinner or any one else who likes to blame the evil O.R for all that’s wrong with the world to join me on a trip to Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Uganda, Mexico or even South Texas in the near future. If money is an issue and you seriously can’t afford to go–btw, teens wash cars, mow lawns, count pennies, write letters, babysit and do just about anything else that’s legal so they can go on these trips and serve the poor–I will reach deep into the coffers of my organized religion and find the resources to pay your way.

Come with me and see for yourself. While you sit at home being critical of God and his Church, the force you call “organized religion” is quietly providing people, food, clothing, safety, medicine and yes, hope for many around the globe that the rest of the world has forgotten about.

And if you don’t believe me, I’ll be happy to show you.