Opiates, Religion & Christ....

Psalm 53:1 (Amplified Bible)

"To the Chief Musician; in a mournful strain. A skillful song, or didactic or reflective poem of David. 1THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt and evil are they, and doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good".
God

"There cannot be a God because if there were one, I could not believe that I was not He". Friedrich Nietzsche

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people". Karl Marx

Fred Nietzsche is convinced that God doesn't exist, although he does assert that if God does exist that man is just one of God's many blunders. Karl Marx asserts that religion is the opiate of the masses. That's a very interesting analogy. I work with drug addicts and drunks, but I have never encountered any addicted to religion (in the medical sense). I would argue that it is not a bad thing to desire a greater relationship with God, but making it look like drug addiction may not be a good thing either. Obviously, Karl Marx was no fan of religion as well as Fred Nietzsche. They left a legacy though. The blood of millions stands as testimony against them and their beliefs. King David under inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote, " the fool has said in his heart, there is no God". I found these pictures interesting, the first is sort of a mosaic Nietzsche infused with Christian themes. The other picture is sort of complementary to the quote by Marx. The way I interpret the second picture is Jesus taking the punishment and pain of addiction in this man's stead. All the elements of man's sin and greed are visible. The skull behind them speaks of death. The gun, the cards, the drink, the drugs, the cigarettes are a testimony of what a life without God looks like. Most people are clever when it comes to concealing their despair, and others are not. I am not so much different from this man. I have done horrible things to myself and others out of the pain and despair I felt early in my life. Then, in steps Christ to take the needle in His arm in my place. The great Intercessor is always doing this for us. Why? No philosopher or attempt at psychology could scratch the surface of the love that compels Christ to do this. Selah....

Peace,

Chaplain Jeremy