Religion is a pattern of how to live life. Most patterns are based on an ethic, on morals defined by its leader. Adherence to those morals requires obedience from those who follow. If you are not living according to the pattern then you are not a follower. Many believe punishment awaits those who fail to measure up, or reward/enlightenment for those who do.

Communities of followers gather together to make living according to the pattern possible. Leaders are trained to teach the pattern and remind followers how to live accordingly in an ever-changing world that holds to a sometimes drastically different pattern based on wants and desires.

Outside forces try to make followers abandon the course and inside forces inspire rebellion. How closely you guard yourself against these forces equals the quality of your faith.

Then there’s Jesus. The One who completely fulfilled the pattern. Without Him the best we have is a reincarnation/another chance to try to be better, to live better, to match up to the pattern. With Him, we are brought further than we could ever accomplish on our own. His love and sacrifice beats all.

I have a friend who thought he could do better than Jesus and made his own religion free of hypocrites. But that’s the best we can do. Jesus gives grace to all, even to those who fail. My friend’s religion offered no hope, no salvation to any but himself, that is until he will fail his own pattern. Grace is a hard concept for the self-righteous.

A few days ago, my wife got into a car accident with a young Muslim man. Immediately he checked to see if she was ok. She was, and then he proceeded to speak to her about his faith. He believed God had a reason for their accident. Later, he told us both of the good deeds he has done: taking care of the poor and other deeds of justice, etc. of which I’m sure his treatment of my wife was included. He was very kind and considerate, much more so than many of our own faith.

I could see his passion for Islam and hear of his obedience to the pattern it taught. As he spoke I thought, “Wait a minute, isn’t he supposed to want to chop off the heads of infidels and enslave women?” Here was a young man doing his best to make the grade. I pray for the chance to help him know Jesus as Lord and Savior and be filled with the Holy Spirit, for without the salvation freely given by Jesus, he will continue to run a doomed race he can’t ever finish.

Religion is a pattern of how to live life. All without Jesus are left living the best they can with hopes that in the end, it will be enough. They will keep jumping that pile of sticks till they can’t do it anymore. Then they will be left with nothing, cast out and away from their god.