The Weirdness of Religion/How To View People
The Weirdness of Religion/How To View People
Religion is one of those strange things, with which we are all "stuck." There is no way around it; and there is no escape from it. It represents the very best in humans created in the image of God; and it also expresses the very worst in humans created in the image of God.
This little paper is designed to try to help us understand how we should view people--all of whom are, in fact, "religious." At the same time, I intend to write about those who are "seriously" religious; and about those who are not.
Ironically, when it comes to religion, we want our unbelieving friends and neighbors, co-workers and fellow-students, et. al., to *not* be "serious" about their professed religious faith. For instance, to use three examples, employing the three great "faiths": Christianity, Judaism, and Islam--we desire our regenerate Christian friends to be "serious" about their Christianity; but we would prefer all unregenerate people, even those representing these three faiths, to not be serious about what they believe.
Do not worry: I am not going to talk about politics in this paragraph; but, to put it another (odd) way: we like it better when our Jewish and Muslim friends are "liberal" with regard to their faith adherence--while we would rather have our unregenerate Christian friends be quiet (altogether). Regenerate Christians do not appreciate theological Christian liberalism; but we also find hypocritical, legalistic formalism (on the "conservative" side), to be even more reprehensible.
As we regenerate Christians deal with unbelieving Jews and Muslims, for instance, we should seek to discern, "Is this person 'serious' about his or her Judaism or Islam, or not?" If they are not, then we need to be especially gentle and sensitive with them. Their station in life has nothing to do with themselves. They had no more say in their being born into a Jewish or a Muslim family, than we did, in being born into Christian ones. These people are very often ripe and prime candidates for gospel grace; and God has His elect amongst them.
On the other hand, if we are dealing with Jews and/or Muslims (for sake of illustration), who are self-consciously "serious" about their faith--then we should not have a knee-jerk reaction of animosity toward them. The key is to ascertain their level of understanding relative to Jesus Christ and His gospel--and to seek to meet them at that point.
In the relatively less-common situation, where a "serious" unbelieving Jew and/or Muslim has self-consciously understood and rejected the gospel of Jesus, and His Person--then these people are, typically, from our point of view, the "hardest" "nuts" to "crack." But still, the Apostle Paul was in this position; and look at what Christ did with and in him(!!)
I guess the thing I am hoping to communicate here, in wrapping all this up, is this: let us not view everybody the same, by "painting" them all with "cookie-cutter" "broad strokes."
Do we prefer our unbelieving Jewish and Muslim friends (for instance) to be theologically "liberal"? Indeed, we do; and for good reason. And that reason is, because they are less indoctrinated by dogmas that pose a more grievous immediate threat to themselves and others; AND, they are, from our angle, more promising candidates to hear and embrace the gospel.
At all times, let us who love Jesus be gracious with everyone. We are the only ones who have life, assurance, and hope. We are the exclusive claimants to a perfectly serene and secure heart and conscience--and all of this is because of Jesus Christ's work on our behalf; and the presence of the blessed Holy Spirit in our souls. We want this for everyone else, as well, (1 Cor. 9:19-23).
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #77
2 March 2026
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