The Most Religious

Any of you who listen to Christian Radio may know the name “Wally.”  He’s the loveable and laughable radio host of “Total Axxess.”  Wally has a good sense of humor and doesn’t hesitate to make fun of himself (sounds like someone I know).  He heckles guests and loves his Savior all at the same time.  I imagine I would do radio much the same.

I recently listened to his show as I drove across town and heard Wally talk about an article in Men’s Health that outlined the “100 Most Religious Cities.”  I was surprised to hear that Colorado Springs, CO topped the list.  Kansas City, MO was 19^th.  Fulton didn’t make it. 

My first thought was to figure out how they measured such a claim.  Men’s Health said they “tallied up religious organizations (U.S. Census) and the number of volunteers who support these groups (VolunteeringinAmerica.gov). Finally, we considered the amount of money donated to religious organizations (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and spent on religious books (Mediamark Research).” 

Given that the headquarters for Compassion International, Focus on the Family, Biblica and The Navigators are all in Colorado Springs, it no longer surprises me that it topped the list. 

Now, I could take this information and write about the criteria used to formulate the list. I could discuss how flawed it is.  Or, I could talk about the idea of being “religious,” and whether or not I’d even want to show up on such a list.  I could mention that I don’t think Jesus would want to live in the most religious city, but rather the least. 

Instead, I want to note that Men’s Health seem to get something Christianity sometimes loses sight of.  Notice that Houston (22^nd) doesn’t top the list because of Joel Osteen and the tens of thousands of people in his congregation or millions in his television audience.  Salt Lake City (39^th) doesn’t top the list even though it has one on the world’s most beautiful places of worship.  I would bet anywhere in America where you have people you have church attendees.  And anywhere you have church attendees you have the need for churches. 

What Men’s Health noticed and we should realize is that how the world views our faith is through our action.  The time volunteered and the amount of money donated is where the difference was made between Colorado Springs and Burlington, VT (100^th).  Many say they believe, but few put their most precious commodities behind that belief: their time and their money.

Where is your faith?

James 2:14-18
¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

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