Religion and Gov. Ventura

* Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura has made headlines for his remarks during an interview with Playboy magazine. (The fact that he granted Playboy an interview should tell us something.)

In addition to referring to himself as a “king” and calling for the legalization of drugs and prostitution, Gov. Ventura shared his views on the church, saying “organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people.”

Biblical religion is always “organized.” True religion is social and God has made it clear that we are to worship and serve him in the presence of other believers. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to worship at religious festivals. In the New Testament, Jesus referred to his “church”--a word that literally means “gathering.” Some people believe they can drop out of church and shift into a “just Jesus and me” mode. Sorry, but Jesus would not agree.

Jesse Ventura also called organized religion a “crutch for weak-minded people.” Well, if a crutch represents something helpful then religion is a crutch. We admit we need help to get to heaven. We need God’s help, God’s saving grace. We also need the help and encouragement of other people.

But Gov. Ventura is absolutely wrong when he says that seeking help in spiritual matters is an indication of a weak mind. Getting help for the journey to heaven is a sign of intelligence, not stupidity. The weak-minded are those who think they don’t need the help of God or man.

THE REV. DEAN COONRADT

Pastor,

Oxnard Church of the Nazarene