Do You Love Jesus and Hate Religion?
The other day I watched a provocative and challenging video on YouTube titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." In this poetic presentation Jefferson Bethke shares his struggle with religion and what his faith in Jesus means for his life.
In the video this young man shares a poem/rap message on his faith in Jesus and what he dislikes about religion. In his message he highlights Jesus’ mercy, love and grace as well as the fact that we are sinners in need of healing and new life. At the same time he is critical of religion being as being a facade or appearance of
religiosity without really embracing the love and call of Jesus.
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He says that religion leads to self-righteousness and pride, instead of humility and total reliance on the grace of Jesus. Religion to him means “dressing yourself up on the outside” while living unfaithfully on the inside and other parts of your
life.
This video reminds me of how easy it is for life of faith to become disconnected from Jesus–how our actions and behaviors may not reflect the love and mercy of Jesus. In our humanity and sinfulness we fall short. We miss the mark. We say yes to loving our neighbor and serving our neighbor and then either hurt or ignore our neighbor.
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Another insight from this video that impacted me is his perspective on religion. There are times when organized or institutional religion fails Jesus and hurts our faith in Christ. What church hasn’t been rocked or shaken with poor leadership, bad congregational decisions, poor treatment of pastors and staffs, or financial mismanagement or sexual indiscretions? The church as an institution is human or broken as well as sacred and holy. Living in this tension can be challenging to
our life of faith.
My assessement of this incredible video is this: Jesus doesn’t want us to “go through the motions” of being a Christian or putting up a front that we are living as disciples. No, Jesus wants us for who we are-sinners in need of God’s mercy and grace.
Living out our faith with humility and authenticity relying on the grace of God is what our Lord desires.
Joy in the Journey,
Pastor Durk Peterson, Alleluia! Lutheran Church.
