Jesus hates religion? Well, perhaps.
Then again, maybe not.
As in all complex conversations, it all depends on what we mean by the term, Religion.
On January 10, 2012, Jefferson Bethke uploaded a video clip on You Tube. Bethke says that the video is, “A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion.”
The video has gone “viral.” As of today’s date (February 7, 2012) it has been viewed 18,483,750 times.
I watched the clip and found myself agreeing with much of it.Then I found myself questioning whether I really agreed with it. Then I wondered what I really think about the issues being raised.
I then read a response to the video from Kevin DeYoung. Once I thought through DeYoung’s response I found myself saying, “I wish I had said that.”
Then I read Bethke’s reply to DeYoung’s response, and so on and thought, “This is a very, very, very important conversation we are having.”
And so far, it has remained focused on the issues and has not become a character assassination.
I like that – a mature conversation about a subject that concerns all of us.
Does Jesus hate religion? Depends on what you mean by “religion.”
What do you think?
February 8, 2012 at 8:06 am
Here’s a comment left on my Facebook wall:
Cindi Nordgulen Ingram: Thanks for sharing this! I believe this is something my generation is really struggling with. I’ve had my own struggles with it. It’s really such a heart issue. This article was such a gracious response to the video and had a lot of wisdom that I needed to hear!
February 8, 2012 at 8:07 am
Here’s another:
Amanda Egger Worley: I thought the video was ok and had some good things to say, but the article brought more clarity and reason biblically and he gently responded. Loved it, and agree that this is such an important conversation.
February 8, 2012 at 8:08 am
And another:
Rance Schumacher: As a younger person, Bethke’s poem honestly just felt right. His plea is the plea of our generation – stop making Christianity a Sunday morning facade and start being the hands and feet of Jesus. His plea might have been misconstrued by some of his choice of words and ideas, but I believe that is the underlying message of the poem. Our desire is for people to stop worrying about their suit jackets and dresses and just let people know how awesome God’s sacrifice is and how much He truly loves them; to drink in everything God has offered us and then pour out ourselves as a drink offering before Him in thanksgiving. (Not saying all older Christians are opposed to that, but you catch my drift)
With that being said, I disagree with the idea of “separation of Jesus and religion.” Now, we can certainly mess up religion just like we can mess up practically anything, but there still no separating Jesus and religion. Religion can be about God (James 1:26-27) or it can be about self (Col 2:23), but either way it is still religion. According to the passage in James, to follow Jesus is to be religious.
My generation is all about relationship without rules, as DeYoung pointed out. But you can’t have Jesus without rules, which is what I think most people mean to a large degree when they talk about separating Jesus and religion. Peter says that we are “chosen…to obey Jesus Christ…” (1 Pt 1:1-2); the gospel leads us into an “obedience of faith” (Rom 16:26). It’s not all about following rules, but to say that the rules aren’t there is as unbiblical as legalism. I think people use the word “religion” because they don’t know what else to call it, and because it in some weird way satisfies our generation’s desire to be rebellious against the institutions of the modernists (not saying that’s right, but it is one of the characteristics of our generation). We just forget that our modern fathers and grandfathers didn’t invent religion, and that Jesus is still calling us to a “pure and undefiled” religion.
I read DeYoung’s follow up post with Bethke’s correspondence. I’m with DeYoung, Bethke seems to be as sincere as he can be about wanting to be a follower of Jesus. In the same token, I believe that most people who suit up on Sunday and put on their best dress are as sincere as Bethke. They are sincere in their worship and sincere in their efforts, regardless of how miniscule we might think they are. And just because we don’t agree with everything they do or say doesn’t mean their hearts are black (1 Sam 16:7). We just have to remember that sincerity doesn’t get us into heaven, the blood of Jesus does. We cannot make God indebted to us no matter how sincere we are or how much good we do, we just have to accept His forgiveness in the way He has offered it to us.