Does the World hate God because of my religion?

Rom 2:24
 As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (NIV)

Recently I was looking through a book I hadn't read for many years... It is titled, How To Be A Christian Without Being Religious, by Fritz Ridenour.  It is a wonderful book if you are interested.  It was originally written for teens as an examination of the book of Romans.  Very readable and very understandable.  Anyway.... In the book Ridenour raises the question, (as does the Apostle Paul) whether "religion" gets in the way. He answers (as does the Apostle Paul) that of course "religion" gets in the way.  Huh???  Did you just say what I thought you said, Pastor Bill?  That doesn't sound very pastory.  Well, alright, I will give you that.  At first, it doesn't sound like what a pastor should or would say... but hear me out.

In the book of Romans Paul makes a distinction between observing the Jewish laws and codes and being faithful to God.  Paul builds a case for the idea that the only righteousness that matters to God is perfect righteousness.  Since we people are not perfect we have no righteousness that counts.  Everything we do is tainted with sin, pride, selfishness, whatever you want to call it.  Since Adam and Eve, we humans have a problem we cannot cure on our own... we are separated from God.  The only righteousness that can cure this separation is a righteousness that never fails or falters.  God's remedy for our lack was to become one of us, die in our place, rise from the dead, thus being both our brother and savior.  In doing so He gives to us His righteousness.  When God the Father looks at us He doesn't see our sin... He sees the righteousness of Jesus, given to us.  Pretty slick deal on God's part.

Then what Paul goes on to explore is this idea that when we go back to reducing faith to observing a list of do's and don'ts we deny the cross of Jesus and that is what the world hates.  They hate a deck of cards that is stacked against them.  By this unfair system, they can never win.  We have said God wants righteousness... that part is right... we have claimed His righteousness as our own to start this journey and then have reverted back to thinking we can make it the rest of the way on our own... 

One person has defined it like this... "Religion is human attempts to reach God, to appease God.  Christianity, properly understood is God's attempt to reach humanity. Which He has done through Jesus Christ."  The world hates God because of our "religion".  What the world needs to see is God's grace in and through us, not by our being good boys and girls.  Rather, by us admitting our failings and claiming the only righteousness that matters... Jesus's .  When we do that the world is convinced of the reality of what God has done.  Like the pilgrim who journeyed all the way from Germany to Rome in the Middle  Ages.  He went because he was interested in becoming a Christian, but wasn't sure of it truth.  On his arrival in Rome he got an audience with the Pope.  Afterward, when asked why he became a believer in Jesus he responded, "If God is capable of saving someone like the Pope... I am sure He can save me!"

In and Through God's Grace,
Pastor Bill