Is it faith or fanaticism?

 

There is a profound difference between a person of faith and a fanatic. The person who lives by faith is not offended when someone asks questions; the fanatic, on the other hand, lives defensively, confuses questioning with attacking, and believes that doubting is betrayal.

True faith does not fear being put to the test.

Because a faith that is never questioned is not sustained by a living relationship, but by habit. From a mature faith, a spirituality is born that allows itself to be examined, that allows itself to be challenged by questions, and when it survives the arguments, it becomes stronger.

The person of faith inspires, not imposes; they don't need to convince everyone to believe what they believe, but rather share their experience, not using it as a weapon. A fanatic, on the other hand, needs to impose, convert, subjugate, and manipulate to feel secure, confusing spirituality with control and authority with superiority.

Jesus was never a fanatic; he did not use faith to control, nor his influence to impose himself. Jesus approached people where they were, spoke their language, and walked with them. He first sowed the seeds, and only afterward spoke of the fruits, because faith that does not produce fruit is not faith, it is religious ideology.

True fruits breathe life, freedom, coherence, and love... never fear, guilt, punishment, or oppression.

The person of faith communicates good news. Jesus said it simply: "By their fruits you will know them." Faith is not imposed, it is lived.