Irrelevant?

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV)

    Sitting at a table at a Church with a group of citizens and Church members interested in a common cause, an atheist said, “Religion is irrelevant.” He did not explain his statement. He also didn’t respond to any issues that were being raised.
    It is a common statement of modern critics of faith. Some hold religion as symbolic of the  institutional Church or Religion. Others seem to hold as a symbol of faith in general.
    Is religion irrelevant?
    If faith is about the institutional Church, perhaps it is irrelevant. The rules, the dogmas, and the apparent controlling nature of institutional religion may be problematic for some people. The new atheism spends a great deal of energy pointing out the mistakes of the institutional Church in excommunicating, oppressing its opponents, even killing heretics. Following old models of worship that are no longer appealing may be irrelevant. Revising worship to get people to Church instead of getting the Church to people may also be irrelevant.
    However, if religion is about love, peace, joy, forgiveness and hope among the body of believers, then relevant. Surely, in this hostile, violent, chaotic, and mean-spirited world, love, peace, joy, forgiveness, and hope are relevant.
    Even beyond that, it is well known that every person will perish. With all the medical and technological advances, people still die. It has been said, no one gets through life alive.
    It is real clear that Scripture points to the gift of eternal life for those who in faith accept the gift. John 3:16 is widely known by believers and non-believers alike. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16 (KJV).
    Certainly, life is relevant. To resign one’s self to its end is hardly inspiring. It is also hardly trusting. Faith, in its relevance, points to the God who found a way to reach out to us. “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” 2 Corinthians 5:19 (KJV).
    Is it possible to get any more relevant than that? Any other approach to relevancy puts trust in human kind, not God. Anne Graham Lotz said, “If your hope is in this world, there is none.” Faith is relevant.