Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus – Jefferson Bethke

What if I told you that Jesus came to put an end to religious beliefs? Was it possible that voting Republican was not His stated goal all along. What if I told you that being a Republican does not always imply being a Christian? And just because you label certain individuals as blind does not imply that you have the ability to see. To put it another way, if religion is so fantastic, why has it been the cause of so many wars? Why does it construct massive cathedrals while failing to provide food for the poor?

However, in the Old Testament, God specifically refers to religious people as prostitutes.

They are unable to resolve their issues, so they choose to conceal them.

The trouble with religion is that it never gets to the heart of the matter.

  1. As an example, let’s dress up the outside and make it appear pleasant and tidy.
  2. Now, I’m not condemning; I’m only stating that you should refrain from putting on a false front.
  3. You understand that logic is unworthy in every other element of your life, don’t you?
  4. You see, this was also me, but no one appeared to be on to what I was up to.
  5. See, I was planning on going to church on Sunday, but Saturday was starting to fade.
  6. As you can see, I’ve spent my whole life constructing this façade of order.
  7. Because if grace is water, then the Church should be a vast ocean of love and compassion.

That means I don’t have to hide my failure, and I don’t have to hide my fault from anyone.

As a result, even though I was God’s opponent and surely not a fan, He looked down at me and said, “I want.

Man.” As a result, Jesus despised religion and labeled those who practiced it as idiots.

Please understand that I adore the church, that I adore the Bible, and that I do believe in sin.

Keep in mind that He was derided as a glutton and a drinker by religious leaders.

Now that we’ve gotten back to the issue, one thing that must be mentioned is how Jesus and religion are on opposing ends of the spectrum.

As you can see, one is the remedy, while the other is an infection.

Religion can make you blind, but Jesus can make you see clearly again.

The quest for God is symbolized by religion, whereas the search for God is symbolized by Christianity.

Not on the basis of my own merits, but only on the basis of Jesus’ obedience.

His grace, I suppose, is based on the fact that he took what we had all earned.

Moreover, He took all of your guilt upon Himself and buried it in the grave.

This is why I’m kneeling at the cross, calling out, “Come on, there’s still room.” So, religion is something I despise. In fact, I despise it on a physical level. Because I think that when Jesus stated, “It is finished,” He truly meant it.

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus – Wikipedia

“Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus”
Songby Jefferson Bethke
Released January 10, 2012
Length 4: 03
Producer(s) Matthew Robertson
Music video
“Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus”onYouTube
Music video
” Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus ” onGodTube

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesusis a popular video made by Christian speaker Jefferson Bethke, who gained renown after uploading his work to YouTube and GodTube under the screenname bball1989. As of this writing, the video has achieved more than 34 million views. The video’s central focus is “the difference betweenJesus and false religion,” as stated in the title. Bethke explained the goal of his film in the text that appeared beneath it: A poem I created in order to draw attention to the distinction between Jesus and bogus religious beliefs.

  • When it comes right down to it, Jesus’ message and Good Newsofthe Cross are in direct conflict with self-righteousness and self-justification.
  • This poem captures the essence of my quest to uncover the truth.
  • Pride because you created a list and were able to complete it while acting better than everyone, or sorrow because you were unable to complete your own list of rules and felt unworthy of God.
  • Jefferson Bethke expressed his displeasure with individuals who used his film to attack the Church, claiming that “His vehicle for reaching out to a lost world is the Church.

It’s the equivalent of a fiancé declaring his love for his future spouse but his hatred for her children: “I adore Jesus, but I despise the Church.”” Nonetheless, the video’s creator indicated that he wished to draw attention to the legalistic tendencies that are common in many places of worship.

It’s kind of, sort of, and not really “Kevin DeYoung, who had spoken with Jefferson Bethke about it and the video after composing it, contributed to this article.

Popularity

On January 10, 2012, the four-minute film had gotten 6 million views in the first three days following its publication. It had also received 64,000 comments. By the 23rd of January, the film had been seen over 16 million times. Jefferson Bethke’s films “Sex, Marriage, Fairytales,” “Sexual Healing,” and “Death Of Yolo” are among his most popular works, having received over 6 million, 5.2 million, and 1.9 million views, respectively, on YouTube.

References

  1. A viral video titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” has sparked a faith debate, according to abRavelle Mohammed of The Christian Post. The video, titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” is available on YouTube. “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus: Posted by ‘bball1989’ on GodTube.com” ab”Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus: Posted by ‘bball1989’ on GodTube.com” Crosswalk.com. retrieved on January 13, 2012
  2. Retrieved on January 13, 2012
  3. YouTube
  4. Archived atGhostarchive and theWayback Machine: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word.YouTube
  5. Archived atGhostarchive and theWayback Machine: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word. The Christian Post published an article by Ravelle Mohammed titled “‘Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’ Viral Video Sparks Faith Debate” on January 13, 2012. The Church is referred to as Jesus’ bride
  6. The Christian Post published an article by Ravelle Mohammed titled “‘Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’ Viral Video Sparks Faith Debate” on January 13, 2012. Bethke makes it clear that he is devoted to the church
  7. Kevin DeYoung is a writer who lives in New York City “Is Jesus an atheist who despises religion? In a way, sort of, and not really “. The Gospel Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was retrieved on October 27, 2013
  8. Ileana Llorens’s article “‘Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus’ Creates Controversy on YouTube” was published on January 12, 2012. This article appeared in the Huffington Post on January 13, 2012, and is titled “‘Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus:’ Controversial YouTube Video Goes Viral.” The International Business Times is a publication dedicated to international business. The date was January 13, 2012, and the date was retrieved on January 13, 2012. The video, which was published to YouTube on January 10 and has received more than 64,000 comments, is on the verge of reaching 6 million views
  9. Poetry on “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” by an anonymous poet. A video sermon by rapper/poet Jeff Bethke entitled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” was posted on YouTube on January 23, 2012, and was subsequently removed from YouTube on January 27, 2012. Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:Sex, Marriage, Fairytales || Spoken Word.YouTube
  10. Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:Sex, Marriage, Fairytales || Spoken Word.YouTube
  11. Archived atGhostarchiveand YouTube is a subsidiary of Google. YouTube. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012
  12. Archived atGhostarchive.com and theWayback Machine:Death Of Yolo || Spoken Word.YouTube
  13. Archived atGhostarchive.com and theWayback Machine:Death Of Yolo || Spoken Word.YouTu

External links

  • You may see the video Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus on YouTube.

Jefferson Bethke – Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

Jeff Bethke’s poemJesusReligionwas created in 2012, and it was first featured in a four-minute film titled, Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus, which was released in 2012. There were 7 million YouTube views in the first 48 hours (and more than 23 million in the first year) and it actually became an overnight success. An avalanche of reactions ranged from enthusiastic to outraged in response to the statement, which went viral on social media. It also served as inspiration for his book, JesusReligion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough (Jesus Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough).

According to the Bible, Jesus encountered the greatest amount of hostility from the most pious individuals of his time.

Religion is oriented on man, but Jesus is centered on God.

Religion either ends in triumph or in a state of sorrow.

While with Jesus, however, you may experience modest confident delight because He represents you rather than you representing yourself, and His sacrifice is flawless, putting us in perfect standing with God! Jefferson Bethke is credited with inventing the phrase.

‘Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’ Creator Surprised by Critical Response Videos

– – – – – – – – – – – “What if I told you that Jesus came to put an end to religion?. And just because you label certain individuals as blind does not imply that you have eyesight yourself?. To put it another way, if religion is so fantastic, why has it been the cause of so many wars? Why does it construct massive cathedrals while failing to provide food for the poor?” It is these words that are taken from the YouTube video Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus, which has gone viral in biblical proportions due to its professional production.

  1. The contentious rap has been seen more than 18 million times in only a few weeks, and it has been credited with sparking a modern discussion on an age-old question: what does it mean to be a Christian?
  2. “Authenticity is important to my generation,” Bethke continued.
  3. Bethke, who lives with his roommate on a bunk bed and works as a social worker with impoverished children, has suddenly become a very big thing.
  4. Churches and institutions all throughout the country have expressed interest in having him lecture and perform.
  5. Not everyone is a fan of the show.
  6. “Now, none of us are perfect sinners all at the same time, but Christ and Religion, man, you can’t truly disconnect,” explains one of the participants.
  7. Bethke said that he had not anticipated such significant negative reactions.
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I’ve been accused of being a phony instructor.

therefore, yes, I was taken aback by the response “he explained.

His latest statement indicates that not all of his passages should be read literally at all times.

“My intention is to create something that ruffles feathers and sparks dialogue, with grace and Jesus at the center.” People are conversing, to be sure.

Bethke has also become a member of a new generation of Christians who are more concerned with social justice than with party politics, which has emerged during this election year.

What if I told you that being a Republican does not always imply being a Christian?” According to Bethke in the video.

Bush, want to be known for more than just opposing gay marriage and abortion.

“The elder generation.

” “However, my age occasionally falls into the trap of believing that we simply do not think or preach about truth.” Bethke isn’t finished yet.

And he expressed a desire to establish a church where he might serve to his flock in the future. A church that isn’t going to fit into any mold. Watch “Nightline” tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT for the complete story.

Analyzing ‘Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus’

I was exploring the web for a video that I needed for class, but YouTube seemed very certain that I would choose to watch one titled, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” rather than anything else. It sounded like something a college theology professor would be interested in, so I took it on. A couple of weeks later, at the conclusion of our first session of the semester, a young guy approached me and asked if I had watched the video. I was delighted to say yes, and he expressed his gratitude.

  1. When the sermon is directed towards preachers, it is apparent that the assembly is prepared to listen.
  2. Unfortunately for you, it’s a bit on the lengthy side.
  3. Grammar is something that this young man despises much more than religion: What if I told you that Jesus came to put an end to religious beliefs?
  4. Because being a Republican does not inherently imply being a Christian, and just because you label certain people blind does not imply that you are blind yourself.
  5. Why does it construct massive cathedrals while failing to provide food for the poor?
  6. God, on the other hand, refers to religious people as prostitutes in the Bible’s Old Testament.
  7. Tend to criticize God’s people.

Can’t cure their issues, so they attempt to disguise it, Not comprehending that’s just like sprayin’ perfume on a casket.

Let’s dress up the outside, make things look nice and neat.

That’s what they do to mummies, while the corpse rots underneath.

In every other aspect of life you know that logic’s unworthy It’s like saying you play for the Lakersjust because you bought a jersey.

I’d go to church on Sunday, but on Saturday getting faded, Acting as if I was simply created to have sex and get wasted.

If grace is water, then the church should be an ocean,‘Cuz its not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken.

I don’t have to hide my sin,Because my salvation doesn’t depend on me.

Because, when I was God’s enemy and certainly not a fan,God looked down on me and said, “I want that man!” Which is so different from religious people, and why Jesus called ‘em fools.

Now let me clarify: I love the church; I love the bible; and I believe in sin.

Remember He was called a drunkard and a glutton by “religious men.” The Son of God did not support self-righteousness, not now, not then.

Because Religion says do, Jesus says done.

Religion makes you blind, but Jesus lets you see.

Religion is man searching for God, but Christianity is God searching for man.

Forgiveness is my own,Not based on my efforts, but Christ’s obedience alone.

While being murdered he yelled “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you.

The young man seemed earnest, though the quality of the production made me wonder if this really was an urban youth who felt compelled to share.

The web has no secrets.

That’s not to his discredit, because he has found a way to fulfil a gospel mandate, which is to make all things new in Christ.

(Mk 2:1-12).

Only the attentive notice that religion gets kicked out the front door only to climbs back in, say, through the roof.

I’ll begin with a strange little admission from my own youth.

But wait!

It’s down right pathological.

That was my ideal of a woman: chaste, demur, and regal, with plaited blond hair.

Five or six years later, I was caring the picture of a real young woman, and yet, without realizing it, I was still imposing upon her all of the qualities that I had read into that Prince Valiant Princess.

Hopefully, when we do fall in love, a real person comes to incarnate our dream, transforming it into something real, concrete, and demanding, often without our noticing the transition from fantasy to fact.

Never mind that none of us would have ever heard of him without the Church — without the Apostles and Evangelists who preached him, the Fathers who preserved that witness from error, the saints in every generation who made the gospel alive rather than relic, and, finally, our own families who shared their faith.

  1. That’s easy enough for lovers to do with a person of flesh and blood.
  2. That’s why I desperately need the Church, from the Pope in Rome to the little old, candle-lighting lady in the pew.
  3. I need them to introduce me to a slightly different Jesus than the one I know, because, whoever else my Jesus might be, if he is no more than a projection of myself, he cannot possible be my savior.
  4. When opposite meets, something potent is born.
  5. Indeed, it’s the very task of the Spirit to advance a Christ who is more than any of one of us, than all of us.

“ See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is 43:19). That promise of Isaiah is renewed daily in the mystery we call the Church, the place where my Christ and your Christ, both yield to an ever-the-new Church. Rev. Terrance W. Klein

Lyrics to WHY I HATE RELIGION BUT LOVE JESUS

INSTEAD OF HATING RELIGION, I LOVE JESUS LYBIO.net is the source of this information. What if I told you that Jesus came to put an end to religious beliefs? Consider the possibility that voting Republican was not his primary goal. What if I told you that being a Republican does not always imply being a Christian? And it’s not only because you label certain individuals blind that you should be concerned. Doesn’t instantly provide you the ability to see. In other words, if religion is so fantastic, then why has it been the cause of so many wars?

  1. explains to single mothers If they’ve ever been divorced, God doesn’t love them anymore.
  2. Religion may teach grace, but it is another thing that they put into practice.
  3. They know they won’t be able to cure their issues, so they merely put a bandage over them.
  4. The trouble with religion is that it never gets to the heart of the matter.
  5. For example, let’s dress up the outside and make it appear pleasant and tidy.
  6. While the corpse rots under the surface.
  7. LYBIO.net is the source of this information.

If the only way people know you’re a Christian is through your Facebook page.

It’s the equivalent of claiming you’re a member of the Lakers just because you purchased a jersey.

While hooked to pornography, I’m pretending to be a religious kid.

I’m acting as if I was made just for the purpose of having sex and getting inebriated.

But now that I’ve come to know Jesus, I can take pride in my inability.

Instead of a museum for decent people, it is a hospital for the sick and injured.

Because it is not dependent on me; rather, it is dependent on him.

The man glanced down at his feet and remarked, “I want that, dude.” That is why Jesus despised religion, and he referred to those who followed it as “fools.” Don’t you realize that there is so much more to life than simply obeying certain rules?

Nevertheless, if Jesus showed up at your church, would they genuinely let him in?

However, the son of God will never promote self righteousness, neither now and not in the future.

One important remark must be made.

See, one is God’s creation, and the other is a man-made fabrication.

See, just as religion tells to do something, Jesus says to do it.

Religious belief enslaves you, however faith in Jesus liberates you.

As a result, religion and Jesus are considered to be two distinct groups.

As a result, salvation is completely my, and forgiveness is entirely mine.

Due to the fact that he wore the crown of thorns and the blood trickled down his cheeks.

And he screamed while he was being slaughtered.

And Jesus absorbed all of your sin, burying it in the grave with the rest of humanity.

So, as for religion, I despise it, and I literally dislike it on a daily basis.

LYBIO.net is the source of this information.

See, I was planning on going to church on Sunday, but Saturday was starting to fade.

On LYBIO.net, you may find the most comprehensive collection of accurate speeches, text and words as well as quotes and lyrics.

Tom has been writing on religion – in its broadest sense – for years in the Journal of Religion. Tom’s background as a retired pastor, along with his insatiable interest for religious subjects, will make for an always thought-provoking investigation. Tom Holmes has contributed to this article.

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus By Jefferson Bethke.

Is it necessary to be a Christian in order to love Jesus? Or do you have to rely on Jesus alone to save you? Both of these poems, written in guileful compositions of language and emotion, reflect the same devotion and adoration for their savior, Jesus, and are juxtaposed because of this. Jefferson Bethke’s poem, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” expresses his belief that you may love Jesus and proclaim your commitment to the lord without being loyal to a bunch of “man-made” religious organizations (Bethke 2012).

  1. What distinguishes these two poems as comparable yet distinct is their capacity to maintain their style in today’s current environment, despite their similarities.
  2. To persuade his profound believe in loving Jesus without having to be tied down to a religion that dictates your acts or inactions, Jefferson Bethke’s poetry is filled with a bewildering array of metaphors and rhymes, as demonstrated by his poem.
  3. He believes that the church should be brimming with grace for everyone, good and evil, but that it only shelters decent people, not the ones who are in most need of help and comfort from the church.
  4. “Let’s dress up the outside so they seem lovely and clean, but it’s hilarious, since that’s what they used to do to the mummies while the corpse rotted below,” Bethke says in another metaphor (Bethke 2012).
  5. additional stuff to be displayed.
  6. This is done in order to draw attention to the strong thoughts and emotions she has for her Christian faith.
  7. Wimmer’s poetry, in contrast to Bethkes’ poems, are straightforward and easy to comprehend for the reader, allowing them to comprehend what she is witnessing as well.
  8. The author use repetition to arouse the reader’s interest and to establish a rhythm that will be remembered.
  9. All throughout the poem, she uses rhyming to express herself: “When I declare I am a Christian/I don ‘t talk of this with pride/ I’m revealing that I stumble/needing God to be my guide” (Christian, lines 5–8).
  10. Wimmer use catchy words that are repeated and rhymed in order to emphasize and magnify the message she is expressing, which in turn burns the phrases into our minds.

An alternative interpretation of Wimmer’s rhyme is as follows: “When I claim I am a Christian/I do not seek to judge/I have no authority/I just know I am loved.” (From “Christian” to “Christian”).

Can you hate religion, but still love Jesus?

Earlier this week, a video stating that “Jesus came to eliminate religion” went popular on the internet, garnering more than 15.5 million views to far. It definitely speaks to the Zeitgeist, despite the fact that it has received a bombardment of negative feedback at the same time. Jefferson Bethke, the 22-year-old creator of “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” is expressing his wish to stay calm and modest in the middle of all of this exposure. According to him, it’s all about the mercy of Jesus, and he takes no credit for his own accomplishments.

  • Several thoughtful answers have been received from Christians who disagree with Bethke’s fundamental assumption yet do so in a kind and helpful manner.
  • But first, if you haven’t already, here’s the original video in case you haven’t before: Then there are the answers.
  • Keep in mind that the distinctions between Fr Pontifex and the contemporary church building, the red jacket, and the beard are only superficial: the video methods, the manner of “spoken word,” and the real content of his sermon are all comparable to Fr Pontifex.
  • He refers to the saints as witnesses to the truth of the Catholic religion, which he believes to be true.
  • Therefore, it is heartening to see this young Catholic adolescent reacting with the same zeal and earnestness as before: If you watch any of these films, you’ll notice that Bethke’s argument has several significant flaws, while it also contains a great deal of truth.
  • Now, here’s the intriguing part of the question.
  • Fr Robert Barron believes that it has something to do with the American fixation with independence from institutions, and that the religious urge may be traced back to Luther specifically.
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In any case, Fr Barron is correct in associating it with the current motto of “spiritual but not religious,” which becomes “Christian but not religious” for Bethke’s brand of evangelicalism.

In a statement, Jefferson Bethke stated that, for him and his Mars Hill megachurch in Seattle, ‘the name “religion” is very much associated with hypocrisy, legalism, self-righteousness, and self-justification.

Even in the Bible, the word “religion” is used in a positive context: In God’s eyes, the only pure and flawless religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their sorrow and to avoid becoming tainted by the world.

It has the ring of a rhetorical device, a slogan or a catchphrase, used to promote a specific religious point of view.

This is a medium that resonates with people.

A well-crafted presentation can obscure erroneous reasoning.

Otherwise, we run the risk of descending into fanaticism or superstition, which St Thomas Aquinas characterizes as “a vice hostile to religion by excess,” which is an intriguing definition.

There is nothing else that can give a stable foundation for authentic religious belief and practice.

During the interview quoted above, Bethkes summarizes his theological position as follows: “Religion takes the rotten fruit off the tree whereas Jesus just establishes a new tree.” “That is, in essence, the crux, the root, and the heart of my poetry,” she says.

Catholic theology, on the other hand, is perplexed by the Calvinistic concept of ‘complete depravity.’ If humans are like trees that can produce either good or harmful fruit (Mt.

Jesus does not go out and plant a new tree.

15:16).

5:8).

In the same way that Jesus Christ referred to religion itself as “the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 5:17), we are comforted by the Church that Jesus Christ did not come to abolish us, but to bring us into full fulfillment.

Jefferson Bethke – Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

What if I told you that Jesus came to bring an end to religion? What if I told you that voting Republican wasn’t actually His goal in the first place? What if I told you that being a Republican does not imply being a Christian? And just because you label certain individuals as blind does not automatically provide you the ability to see them. I mean, if religion is so wonderful, why has it been the cause of so many wars? Why does it construct massive cathedrals while failing to provide food for the poor?

  • However, in the Old Testament, God specifically refers to religious people as prostitutes.
  • They are unable to resolve their issues, so they choose to conceal them.
  • See, the trouble with religion is that it never gets to the heart of the matter.
  • For example, let’s dress up the outside to make it appear lovely and tidy.
  • Not judging, I’m just stating that you shouldn’t put on a phony face all of the time.
  • You understand that logic is unworthy in every other element of life, don’t you?
  • You can tell that this was also me, although no one appeared to be on to me at the time.

See, I was planning on going to church on Sunday, but Saturday was starting to fade.

But now that I’ve come to know Jesus, I can take pride in my infirmity.

It is not a museum for decent people, but rather a hospital for the sick and injured.

Because it is not dependent on me; rather, it is dependent on him See, even when I was God’s enemy and certainly not a fan, He looked down and said, “I want that, guy,” and I understood.

Don’t you realize that there is so much more to life than simply obeying certain rules?

But, if Jesus showed up at your church, would they truly let him in?

However, the son of God never advocates self righteousness, not now, not then, and certainly not in the future.

How Jesus and religion are on different ends of the religious spectrum See, one is God’s creation, while the other is a man-made fabrication.

See, just as religion says to do, Jesus says to do it.

Religion enslaves you, while Jesus liberates you Religion imprisons you, but Jesus liberates you Religion blinds you, but Jesus restores your sight And it is for this reason that religion and Jesus belong to two separate lineages.

As a result, salvation is completely my, and forgiveness is entirely mine.

He took what we all deserved, I guess that’s why you call it grace.

That’s why I’m kneeling at the cross, pleading with them to come on, there’s still room. I despise religion, to the point where I physically dislike it, because when Jesus said it is done, I believe he intended it to be completed.

“Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” Analysis and Critique

This week, I saw that a particular video was being shared a lot on Facebook, so I decided to view it. Despite the fact that I understood where Jefferson Bethke (the author of the poem and the guy featured in the film) was coming from and what he was trying to say with his words, I was still a little uneasy watching this movie. Many persons, many of whom are evangelical in outlook, appear to be delighting in this video (even “The Resurgence” featured it on their website, which may be seen here).

And, to be quite honest, I agree with many of the points raised by these Catholics in their objections.

Here is the video that has garnered so much attention and prompted so much debate: Word document of Jefferson Bethke’s poetry uploaded on Vimeo, along with the same video.

What is Bethke referring to as “religion”?

The fact that he does not define religion is extremely harmful to his overall goal. It’s true that include a definition of “religion” at the beginning of his film would have been an odd addition, but my critique is nevertheless legitimate. What exactly does he mean when he says “religion”? Assuming that what he is referring to is the assumption that one’s connection with God is contingent on one’s performance, then much of what he says is valid. However, if he is referring to the genuine Church and its theology, he is completely incorrect.

  • A poem I created in order to draw attention to the distinction between Jesus and bogus religious beliefs.
  • When it comes right down to it, Jesus’ gospel and his good news of the Cross are in direct conflict with self-righteousness and self-justification.
  • This poem captures the essence of my quest to uncover the truth.
  • Pride because you created a list and were able to complete it while acting better than everyone, or sorrow because you were unable to complete your own list of rules and felt “not good enough” for God.
  • Take note of the phrase “fake religion.” Consequently, when he speaks about religion in this video, it appears like he is talking to counterfeit religion rather than genuine religion.
  • However, none of this constitutes real religion.
  • Despite the fact that they appear to be religious, these practices are not pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27), and they are absolutely something that Christians must oppose.
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As a result, many people get the erroneous impression of what he is condemning (and I don’t blame them).

In conclusion, his usage of the term “religion” demonstrates poor diction and word choice.

If he had chosen a different set of words, he could have communicated his message more successfully.

True Biblical Christianity is, in many ways, a religion; it has dogma, morality, and an organizational structure.

Consequently, Christianity is not a religion in the traditional meaning of the term if religion is defined as being performance-based by nature (but such a definition is unusual).

According to this viewpoint, reality is subjective and, as a result, all faiths are fundamentally the same.

Finally, if one defines religion as erroneous, man-made belief systems that are in opposition to the one genuine teaching of the Bible, it is clear that Christianity is not a religion by that definition.

“Jesus came to abolish religion”?

Jesus “came to eliminate religion” is a theologically laden phrase that would almost certainly elicit a lot of discussion among theologians. As to whether he is referring to Judaism (which was obviously a God-established religion—just look at Leviticus) or to his own peculiar definition of “religion,” which is virtually synonymous with the concept that one’s connection with God is based on his performance, I’m not sure which it is. He has created a can of worms that I am not going to explore at this time if he is referring to the first scenario.

How does Bethke feel about Matthew 5:17, in which Jesus clearly states “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”?

Furthermore, claiming that Jesus came to abolish religion and is opposed to religion appears to be at odds with Jesus’ own words in Matthew 16:18, in which He speaks about how He will build His Church (which is something religious, depending on how you define “religious” of course), which is something religious.

Is this not, in many people’s eyes, a religious practice?

Interesting logic and argumentation

The term “interesting” refers to anything that is unsatisfying or unusual. For instance, I’m not sure how to It is because I was God’s opponent and surely not a fan that he looked down on me and said, ‘I want that man!'” which leads Bethke to argue in his following words, “Which is so different from religious people, and why Jesus called em idiots,” that his salvation does not depend on him, but on Him. God’s rescuing him is distinct from the salvation of religious people, and this is why Jesus labeled them foolish.

“Remember He was dubbed a drunken and a glutton by’religious men,'” he added at another point, leading Bethke to conclude, “But the Son of God never endorses self-righteousness, not now and certainly not then.” I don’t understand how those two statements are in opposition to one another.

I get that it is poetry; yet, it should make logical sense and progress in a logical manner (although I am confident that Bethke has an explanation for what he was referring to in these instances).

The church: hospital, museum, or both?

As Bethke puts it, “the church is not a museum for excellent people, but rather an institution that provides hospitality to the broken.” Is it not true, however, that the church is meant to be both in many ways? Could it be that the church serves as a welcoming environment for the broken, and that it then takes the once broken individuals and sees them built up so that the church may be transformed into a museum displaying good people? When the church closes its doors to sinners, I have an issue with that.

  1. He sought out to those who were considered social and religious misfits (i.e., prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors).
  2. They were not professing believers in the traditional sense.
  3. As a result, when people ignore the idea that the church is supposed to maintain high standards of purity, I have serious concerns about them.
  4. This is necessary in accordance with the notion of church discipline.
  5. (1 Cor 5).
“Jesus said ‘done’; religion says ‘do’”?

Scripture makes it abundantly evident that Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross completed redemption once and for all (also known as the “done” Bethke alludes to). But this is not mutually exclusive with the burden of directives issued by the apostles and other New Testament authors (aka, multiple “do” statements) post-Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection (aka, “done”). Therefore, the “done” does not exclude the “do.” In many ways, the “done” is what pushes us to “do”! However, I believe Bethke makes his remark in reference to justification, which in that instance, is both correct and an important doctrine.

“Religion says ‘slave’”?

In fact, the apostle Paul stated in Romans 6 that both the unsaved and the saved are under the authority of the law. They simply serve different lords (one is wickedness, while the other is holiness), and hence serve separate masters.

Republicanism?

In the opening of his film, he makes some interesting remarks on Republicanism that don’t really appear to help his aim or topic. They are correct, yet they are strange statements to make.

Conclusion

In general, the message he was attempting to convey is a positive message. However, the manner in which he delivered it might have been more polished and well-thought out. In fact, the entire movie has an emerging church feel to it—a postmodern approach to Christianity that, among other things, attempts to remove any religious flavor from Christianity (such as doctrine and the importance of being involved in a church). Given that Bethke has stated that he loves the Church and what it teaches, I don’t believe this is what he is attempting to promote (i.e.

As Christians, though (and this includes me), we must be cautious about what we say and how we say it, taking into consideration how people around us would understand us (i.e., what is their definition of the word “religion”?) I frequently hear individuals say, “I have a relationship, not a religion,” which is a statement that we may apply to ourselves.

See the follow-up essay to this one, titled “Why I Don’t Hate ‘Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,'” for more information.

Why I Hate Religion But I Love Jesus

I despise X, but I adore Yis. In a picture macroseries including stills from Jefferson Bethke’s video speech, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus,” asnowcloneused is shown.

Origin

An audio recording of Jefferson Bethke, a spoken word artist living in Washington, delivering a poem he created about the differences between religion and Jesus was published to Bethke’sYouTubechannel on January 10th, 2012, and has since gone viral. Reddit users responded well to the video, which earned 839 upvotes and 421 downvotes when it was posted on the 11th. In only five days, the video had more than 12 million views, was shared more than 86,000 times on Twitter, and received more than 1.4 million shares on Facebook.

It also sparked the creation of many picture macro series on image generating websites, which went by the names Contradiction Guy and Contradiction Chris, among others.

Spread

The film was featured on MetaFilter, the Daily Dot, Yahoo! News, the International Business Times, and the Huffington Post, among other websites and news organizations. Christian websites and blogs, such as Christianity Today, the blog of St. Mary’s Catholic Center of Texas, the Mennonite Weekly Review, and American Jesus, were also significantly involved in the debate. The poem was analyzed word by verse by a Michigan pastor, Kevin DeYoung, who published a verse-by-verse breakdown of Jesus’ genuine sentiments on the church, referencing relevant Bible scriptures whenever possible.

Response Videos

It was the day after the video was released on January 11th that the search for it officially began.

External References

YouTube – Why I Despise Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word Message YouTube – the channel of bball1989 Scumbag is a quickmeme. Jefferson BethkeBox –Jesus Religion.docx Jefferson BethkeBox –Jesus Religion Chart of most popular viral videos – Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus || Spoken Word I despise religion, and I despise Jesus as well. || Spoken Word –Twitter –@JeffuhsonBethke || Reddit –Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus Scumbag on the Reddit community Jefferson Bethke was born in the town of Bethke, in the state of Jefferson Bethke.

  1. Contradiction Guy is a quickmeme that can be found on the internet.
  2. Chris HATE RELIGION, LOVE JESUS – Quickmeme n14.
  3. News – ‘Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’: Controversial Viral Video Receives 10 Million Views in Four Days ‘Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus:’ a piece in the International Business Times.
  4. In the Huffington Post, the article titled “Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus” stirred some controversy on YouTube (VIDEO) Christianity Today – ‘Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus’: Is it better to adore or despise God’s creation?
  5. Should You Do It?
  6. In a way, sort of, and not really Following up on the Jesus/Religion Video, the Gospel Coalition has released a statement.
  7. Metafilter – Why I Hate Religion, But I Love Jesus ||

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