Most Americans believe in God. The term “God” and belief in a god is understood in various ways to be sure, but the fundamental truth is that most people, at least according to a 2018 Gallup Poll, still favor some form of divinity that has created, protected, and sustained humanity. God may or may not be knowable, but atheism in modern orthodoxy has not completely run the table, either.
If this is true, I will not spend our time here convincing you to believe and have faith in any god much less the biblical one. Simon Cowell, the celebrity judge on programs such as America’s Got Talent, once said, “When you get the answer you want, stop talking.” So, it would generally seem, belief in God is settled for a bit longer and not in need of further explanation.
What I find disheartening is the lack of application of one’s belief system for the greater good. While it is true that people of a religious bent should be more generous as relates to “doing unto others,” it does not always seem to be markedly so. In an age where many are advocating for egalitarianism, disparity still exists from individual plight to large structural cracks in society.
Part of the reason for this incongruence is rooted in the truism that there is more need than help available. According to the Phoenix Rescue Mission, for example, there are 36,000 homeless people in Arizona. In California, it is a staggering 150,000. How can a presumably God-fearing and benevolent country allow for homelessness on such a grand scale? In fact, how can any form of suffering not take center stage in religious people and nation? Why so few Good Samaritan’s?
To be fair, some areas are improving. Our abilities to move resources quickly with modern logistics has mitigated otherwise terrible suffering for many. Technology has provided access to ideas and solutions and increasing numbers of people seem at the ready to rally in support of a cause. Consider the programs and outcomes of GoFundMe campaigns and Make-A-Wish charities for example.
Still, there is much more to do that is within our reach. I find little consolation in excuses, especially my own. It is time, more than ever, to practice what we preach. Faith, hope, charity, and love must be more than art-deco paintings on the walls of our homes and doorways. In nearly every religion, selflessness and altruism are heralded as the archetypes to adhere. In other words, “If God, then nobility, compassion, and sacrifice.”
Since the issue of general belief in God is widespread, what is the perceptible product of such faith? Jesus said, “Every tree is known by its fruit.” What are you doing for others? How does your belief translate into action? Canada’s infamous professor of psychology, Jordan Peterson, admonishes us to behave as if God exists. Good advice. Now, let us get busy.
Kent Simmons is the pastor of Canyon Community Church. He can be reached at kent@canyon-church.com.