Genuine vs. Generic Religion
One of the definitions of "generic" is: of or relating to a non-specific
group or class. An example would be tissue paper. When we have a runny nose
we ask for a tissue paper. Sometimes we ask for a Kleenex. Kleenex has branded
and copyrighted its product for years. Many companies and retailers make something
very similar and use other names for it, but we have been so accustomed to using
the specific brand name in a generic sense, that it does not matter if it is
packaged under a store brand or competitors brand, we still use the term in
a generic sense.
Drugs are marketed two ways. The genuine is a brand name for a specific drug.
Some companies offer a generic name for pretty much the same drug. We have no
problem with generic drugs as they are usually cheaper to buy. Many insurance
companies will not pay for the brand name, but will cover the generic product.
It may not matter to us because we want to get well, and it is usually less
expensive.
A knockoff product is one which is designed to give the appearance of the real
thing, but is cheaply made and usually sold really cheap. These products are
usually illegal. But as long as you do not advertise them under a specific name,
a purse is a purse, and a watch is a watch. How else could I afford to be seen
wearing a Rolex watch or my wife carrying a purse that the original would cost
a lot of money to buy?
That is how many people treat their religion. They want it to look, feel, and
taste like the genuine article, but are content to not be that specific. When
God is asking us to give Him our "whole" heart, it means that He wants
every bit of our being involved in our worship and lifestyle. Too often, though,
we give God a cheap knockoff of our self, because the real thing is so costly
to us. And we do this for appearance sake.
We have adopted the mentality that anything that looks or feels like the real
thing should be good enough.
Who decides what is "good enough" for God? The truth is that we decide
what is "good enough" for ourselves. Sure, there are people who are
genuine in their faith and practice of religion, but most people have gone with
the cheap version. This cheap version looks like the real thing. It sounds like
the real thing. It also feels like the real thing. But in reality, we have not
given God the genuine service that He requests.
Too often our prayers are generic and not specific. Yes, there are times when
we pray that it is appropriate to be generic. In the public assembly, the one
leading the prayer asks for the remission of sins in a generic way. It might
embarrass someone if we started listing specific sins that they have done. But
when we pray in private, it needs to be as specific and genuine as possible.
We teach our children the standard "now I lay me down to sleep..."
but sometimes we do not grow out of the generic prayer. Often we just repeat
what we always say and do not change the words or phrases we use. We all know
someone who does this in public.
Let us make sure that our worship to God and the demonstration of our faith
are the real thing. God reads our hearts and God knows the difference, and so
should we.
By Carey Scott
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