“Faith Undaunted Or Opium Of The Masses?”

“Faith Undaunted Or Opium Of The Masses?”(Is.60:19-20).
Thank you, LORD, for another day of grace.
“The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.”
I sought AI to explain “Faith undaunted” and I got: “Having courageous, unwavering hope that isn’t discouraged or frightened by difficulty, danger, or setbacks, remaining bold, resolute, and determined even when facing immense challenges. It’s about staying optimistic and persistent, refusing to give up your purpose or efforts despite obstacles… Undaunted Hope: A powerful, resilient hope that remains steadfast and courageous in the face of adversity.”
Then I asked for a summary of what Karl Marx meant when he called religion “the opium of the masses.”
Answer: “He meant it functions like a drug, dulling the pain and misery of real-world oppression (like poverty and exploitation) by offering comforting illusions of future rewards (heaven) or spiritual solace, thus pacifying the oppressed and preventing them from challenging their exploitative conditions and fighting for real change. It provides temporary relief but ultimately distracts from the systemic issues causing suffering, fostering ‘false consciousness’ that supports the ruling class. “
By religion, Marx was directing his challenge to Christianity. This begs the question whether with hope undaunted Christians have become docile observers where they are supposed to be active participants?
While we have hope undaunted, should we not be asking ourselves whether we have not inadvertently refused to address the reason for our present sorrow? Why should we rejoice for when our days of sorrow will end?
A time of famine is over when the farmer harvests the crops. But harvest comes only after the long investment of preparing the ground, planting, regular tending as God gives it the growth.
Faith undaunted without Marxist action is fatality. We have to reflect on the word of God in the light of praxis before our days of sorrow will end.
Weekend prayer: LORD, as we look forward to the day our sorrow will end, inspire us to work on the reason for our present sorrow. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you! Merry Christmas!
Rev Babila Fochang.
20/12/2025.