c. True Religion: Fanaticism or Passion?

The Apostle Paul writes:

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the all surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ --the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians [in the Injil] 3:7-9).

Fanaticism and passion for God may appear superficially similar, but they are actually opposites. Saul was a fanatic until he came to know the living God personally. After he came to know God, he was passionate for God and the things of God.

What is the difference? Fanaticism is a type of sinful zeal. It is essentially idolatrous. Its ultimate object is not really God, no matter what the fanatic may claim. Its object is glory and gain for self, not for God. It is not love for God, because the fanatic does not even know God. It is the best imitation of devotion that sinful man can produce. Its fruit is misery and death for self and others. It dishonors God and is an abomination to him. It does not originate in heaven. Saul may have been sincere, but he was surely deceived. Fanaticism and passion are very different not only in their object and spirit, but also in their source and fruit.