I have a new appreciation for John Lennon’s song “Imagine.” At one time, I thought it was irreligious, an anthem against faith by the guy who said that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. (He may have been right at the time.) 

But I have read the words anew. Here are the lyrics. (1971)

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too

Imagine all the people
Livin’ life in peace… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

As I read these words they speak to me of the Kingdom of God here on earth, as we pray for in the Lord’s prayer: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Recall Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount when he speaks of life here on earth being lived well in God’s will. He says it’s all about hearing his words and putting them into practice in daily life, a life that will be better for the doing (see Matthew 7:24-27). ‘Live for today’ is Jesus’ message, do not ‘worry about tomorrow’. We don’t need to think about heaven or hell. Besides, heaven is not somewhere ‘up there’. It’s where the will of God is being done right here and now. 

At one time I was offended by Lennon’s words telling us to imagine no religion but as I think more deeply I believe he’s right. I think of Nazi Germany during the time of Hitler –  the majority of churches supported Hitler. Religious people continued to worship, practicing their ceremonies and rituals. They chose not to consider the horrors of the Nazi regime. In fact, many Christians in those days believed Nazism to be in some sense a Christian movement. [The Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity, 1919-1945 by Richard Steigmann-Gall: Cambridge University Press, 2003)

Religion today has doctrines, dogmas, rules, and regulations while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, charity, and faithfulness. That’s what Jesus said to the Pharisees (see Matthew 23) who were so good at practicing their piety without love. 

Theologian and pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, spoke against Hitler. He was eventually imprisoned and executed for his resistance to the Nazis. Bonhoeffer even took part in a conspiracy to rid the world of Hitler. From his prison cell in 1944 he wrote the following to his friend:

“What is bothering me incessantly is the question (of) what Christianity really is, or indeed who Christ really is, for us today. The time when people could be told everything by means of words, whether theological or pious, is over, and so is the time of inwardness and conscience–and that means the time of religion in general. We are moving toward a completely religionless time; people as they are now simply cannot be religious anymore. Even those who honestly describe themselves as ‘religious’ do not in the least act up to it, and so they presumably mean something quite different by ‘religious’.” (Letters and Papers from Prison)

‘No religion” is not a bad idea. Following Jesus is the best idea.

I also imagine a world of peace. My hope is diminished these days, but I know that Jesus is the prince of peace. I know that Satan is weakened to the point of being defeated. And I know that multitudes on this earth are seeking God’s will and God’s peace.

Some say we wait until we get into heaven, where God’s will is effective all the time, but I am thankful for people who see that image now, who can imagine, now, a world that is better. That’s what God wants. 

Yes, like Lennon, I can be a ‘dreamer’; but I hope God takes pleasure in our dreams of a better world, a better country, a better neighborhood, a better household, and better relationships. 

God is THE God of love.

So I’m going with John in his song lyrics. This reminds me of another John, the Gospel writer and disciple of Jesus who records Jesus’ words in John 10:  “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”  (NLT) That means for you and me and this world. 

Let’s join with Jesus and his friend John, in making that imagining a reality for as many as possible.