I read an article in my younger sister’s high school newspaper.  The article interviewed students in the school population that practiced different religious beliefs.  One practiced Hinduism, another Judaism, and the other Christianity.  The Hindu student talked about how she values the practice of giving and sharing, as well the acceptance of non-Hindu’s as a part of her tradition and practice.  The Jewish student simply described her practices, the importance of family, and the importance of not forcing your religion on others.  The Christian student was very different.  “Christianity is not a smorgasbord, where you can pick and choose what you want to believe.  You are either a Christian or you are not,” he starts out by saying, even though Christianity was from the very beginning a very pluralistic tradition absorbing and rejecting culture, traditions, and philosophies a la carte.  He continues to say that “Christianity is unique because it is based on faith, not good works.  You receive eternal life by believing, and not by how good you are on Earth,” and that the three most important things that guide him and other Christians to make the right decisions in life: “the purpose in life is to glorify God; there is no other God than him, and the salvation of Jesus Christ.”  He then clarifies, “That means that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save our sins.”  Even though this was familiar territory, it gave me a bit of a start.  It is not bad in and of itself, but it is more the larger societal and behavioral implications of such a set of beliefs.  I understand that these are very commonly held beliefs of Christians the world over, and he is probably just regurgitating what he has been taught, but I typically think that the most important things to guide a Christian’s life are the Greatest Commandments—to love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.   What worries me the most about this article is the negative impression it gives about Christianity compared to the other traditions, particularly to impressionable teenagers just beginning to think about such things.  I wish I could scream, “We are not all like this!”  The impression given is that doing good things and behaving morally are nice things to strive for, but ultimately don’t matter two-beans worth, whether you are Christian or not (and especially if you are not).  I am sure that is not the picture he meant to paint, but it is the picture painted nevertheless.  I don’t believe that piety can be materially measured by the amount of good works one performs, but I do believe that Jesus’ message is one based on doing the right action, not having the “right” beliefs.

For example, let us visit the parable of the Good Samaritan.  The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were much like the Christian fundamentalists of today—rigid interpretation of scripture, placing a law above compassion and common sense.  Don’t get me wrong, the Pharisees gave us many good things including the modern day rabbinical system that has survived tremendous adversity to the modern day today.  Likewise, Christian fundamentalists have brought us mega-churches and contemporary worship.  The Good Samaritan is not just about helping your fellow man, but is also about the primacy of compassion over religious affiliations.  A priest and a priest’s assistant—considered the two most righteous people and keepers of tradition and law—passed the dying man on the road.  Samaritans were not considered “real” Jews because they had slightly different practices, beliefs, and worship—much as how many Christians say that there are real Christian and those who are not real Christians because their beliefs and practices are slightly different.  The Samaritan was the one who stopped and helped the man even though he was not “real Jew” and thus should be headed straight for Hell.  But Jesus tells the expert in law that he is speaking to, to go and act like the Samaritan. 

I believe we too can learn a lot from those who practice other religions, especially if they help us honor God with all our hearts and love our neighbor as our self.  To Jesus religious affiliation meant little to nothing without right action associated with it.  He warned that many of the “real Jews” were going to come into the Kingdom of God behind those who love their neighbor as themselves.  Behind those who were “unclean” according to religious practice and law, but were “clean” in thought, speech, and action (Mark 7:1-22).  Behind the “sheep" who, regardless of religious beliefs, gave food to the hungry, clothed the poor, cared for the sick, and visited those in prison (Matt. 25:31-46).  Behind those who violate the fourth commandment and heal on the Sabbath (Luke 6:6-11 & Luke 13:10-16).  Jesus was very critical of faith without action.  It bothered him that people believed that what you believed was more important than what you did and that they would actively persecute those who did not fit within their narrow set of beliefs (such as the lepers, the Romans, and the Samaritans).