Karl Marx is famous for claiming "religion is the opium of the masses."
The idea behind this remark is that religion is nothing but a way for people to cope in a heartless world, and find happiness based on an illusion.
Unfortunately, there's some truth in what Marx says.
For some, their religion is nothing more than a way to escape the difficulties of this life.
It serves as a holy distraction. Or as atheists are inclined to say, "a crutch."
But biblical faith goes far beyond relieving us of the challenges of our existence.
From the beginning, the Bible calls us to rule and cultivate the world as God's image-bearers and representatives.
The entrance of sin made fulfilling this charge difficult, and even impossible on our own.
But with Jesus came not just the redemption of our souls, but the process of renewing all of creation.
With this understanding, biblical religion is far from -- as Marx saw it -- a drug of choice.
It's about taking hold of God's world by faith and fashioning it according to His design, as we obey Him and live in the power of the Spirit.
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