Why I Love Jesus But Hate Religion

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.

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

See, one is the cure, but the other’s the sickness.

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

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
Retrieved on January 13, 2012
YouTube
Archived atGhostarchive and theWayback Machine: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word.YouTube
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
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
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
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
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
Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:Sex, Marriage, Fairytales || Spoken Word.YouTube
Archived atGhostarchiveand YouTube is a subsidiary of Google. YouTube. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012
Archived atGhostarchive.com and theWayback Machine:Death Of Yolo || Spoken Word.YouTube
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

Feb. 9, 2012— – “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.

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?
“Authenticity is important to my generation,” Bethke continued.
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.
Churches and institutions all throughout the country have expressed interest in having him lecture and perform.
Not everyone is a fan of the show.
“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.
Bethke said that he had not anticipated such significant negative reactions.

I’ve been accused of being a phony instructor.

so, 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.

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?

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

Love God, Hate Religion? — An Affair with Reason

Mick Mooney wrote an essay for the Huffington Post on February 16, 2015, in which he compared institutional religion with his personal relationship with Jesus. “I believe that I came to bring an end to empire thinking and to restore each of us to a personal, individual experience of God,” he wrote. So, what does it feel like to have a personal relationship with God? That’s what it feels like: it’s personal. The connection is something that you and God both experience and comprehend. It is not a business-to-business connection.

Organized religion, on the other hand, is in opposition to this.

When we become believers in a religion, we end up speaking, sounding, and even appearing the same as everyone else who shares that corporate branded identity with that religion.

The same set of beliefs.

The fact that each person’s experience is unique means that they must seek out their own unique beliefs through “personal messages” or sensations that “God stirs up in their heart.” Other individuals may have their own personal relationship with Jesus (which translates as a relationship that is suited to their comforts and preferences), but each individual must find the answers and beliefs that are unique to them.

No single identity exists, but rather a diverse group of individuals each seeking God in their own manner and arriving at their own “truths” in accordance with their own lives, beliefs, and preferences rather than a unified group of persons.
How many times have you heard someone declare that they have no interest in religion, only to have a devout disciple of Jesus respond with, “Oh, I have no interest in religion either!
Religion is defined as “an organized system of ideas, practices, and laws used to worship a god or a collection of gods,” according to the dictionary.
So, why do Christians refuse to participate in religious activities?

However, while some may make this claim in order to gain acceptance from the world, to sound clever, or to win an argument without regard for the confusion they may cause, I believe that the majority of Christians simply want to remove any barriers that prevent non-Christians from accepting the Gospel.

In our efforts to remove ourselves from the meaningless rituals and terrible sensations that are frequently associated with religion, we end up distancing ourselves from the obvious instructions of Scripture in an effort to make Christianity more appealing to nonbelievers.
What do you mean?
God has provided us with the truth via his revealed Word, and that truth does not come with any negotiation rights attached to it.
Jesus, on the other hand, taught that there is only one route to God.
To love our adversaries, to give abundantly and joyously, to be honest and follow through on our promises, to be willing to lay down our lives for one another, and to trust God in all things without worrying about the future, were some of the lessons he imparted to his disciples.
Among the things he ordered were forgiveness, prayer, fasting, and a concentration on eternal things rather than on what perishes.
The apostles committed themselves to writing and teaching accurate doctrine on subjects of the utmost significance, including how to live in light of those beliefs, after elaborating on the implications of Jesus’ teachings, death, and resurrection.
The same concepts, in the words of Mooney.
“Same well-defined doctrines,” says the author.
Baptism was presented by him, and his disciples elaborated on it.
Jesus also instituted the Lord’s Supper, through which we, as a community of believers, commemorate his sacrifice for us – his broken flesh and shed blood – and look forward to his return as we eat a meal together in celebration of his resurrection.

Christians are frequently compared to a single body with different parts and functions, members of one another who must work together, rely on one another, and strive for unity in all things, as well as to a single body with different parts and functions, members of one another who must work together, rely on one another, and strive for unity in all things.

The Christian faith prescribes well defined ideas, directives for life, social rites and a distinct corporate identity in one succinct statement of faith.
Consequently, my question is: how does Christianity differ from other religions?
Likewise, when we take personal liberties with our beliefs and behaviors, discarding the teachings we do not agree with and stressing only those we do agree with, we fail to fulfill God’s calling and God’s commandments.
Yes, it is difficult.
It entails forming a bond with folks who irritate us, push our buttons, and deplete our reserves of strength and endurance.
It entails holding one another responsible to become the persons God intends for us to be, developing together in our understanding of truth and goodness, participating in the beauty of life, and enjoying God’s kindness with one another, among other things.
It entails being a member of a family – the family of God – to which we are a part.
Not that he was against liturgy in general; rather, he was against hollow rituals that were done without regard for the far more vital problems of the heart.

As Christians, let us continue in upholding the real religion of Christianity — putting our faith in Christ, gathering as a community, working for unity, loving God and one another, and being obedient to the mandates of Scripture, all to the glory and credit of God.

Meet Those Who “Love Jesus but Not the Church”

We are living in an increasingly secularized American society. Religion is retreating from the public arena in this new age, and old organizations such as the church are no longer able to function with the cultural power that they previously possessed in previous generations, as has been observed. Today, about half of the population of the United States is unchurched. Although an increasing number of Americans are quitting the institutional church and its clearly defined border markers of religious identity, many continue to believe in God and exercise religion outside of its gates.

Starting with the interesting portion of the American population that, as the expression goes, “love Jesus but hate the church,” let’s take a look at what makes them tick.
Barna developed a measure to identify Christians who most closely meet the criteria of lasting fidelity notwithstanding their rejection of the institutional church in order to have a better understanding of this phenomenon.
The majority of these people have a true faith (89 percent have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still vital in their lives today), yet they are noticeably missing from their local church.
Among those interviewed, the majority (61 percent) are women, and four-fifths (80 percent) are between the ages of 33 and 70.
The fact that Millennials are the least churched generation is compounded by the fact that they are also the least likely to identify as Christian or to state that Christianity is very important in their lives, which explains their underrepresentation within this group.

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 clearly speaks to the Zeitgeist, despite the fact that it has received a barrage 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 differences between Fr Pontifex and the modern church architecture, the red jacket, and the beard are only superficial: the video techniques, the style of “spoken word,” and the actual content of his message are all similar 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 videos, you’ll notice that Bethke’s argument has some significant flaws, though 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.

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 defines as “a vice contrary 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 cited above, Bethkes summarizes his theological point as follows: “Religion picks the bad fruit off the tree while Jesus simply plants 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 people are like trees that can produce either good or bad 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.

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).

What distinguishes these two poems as comparable yet distinct is their capacity to maintain their style in today’s current environment, despite their similarities.
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.
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.
“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).
additional stuff to be displayed.
This is done in order to draw attention to the strong thoughts and emotions she has for her Christian faith.
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.
The author use repetition to arouse the reader’s interest and to establish a rhythm that will be remembered.
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).
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”).

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.

When the sermon is directed towards preachers, it is apparent that the assembly is prepared to listen.
Unfortunately for you, it’s a bit on the lengthy side.
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?
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.
Why does it construct massive cathedrals while failing to provide food for the poor?
God, on the other hand, refers to religious people as prostitutes in the Bible’s Old Testament.
People have a tendency to make fun of God’s people.

They are unable to resolve their problems, so they attempt to conceal them, without realizing that this is like to spraying perfume on a coffin.

Let’s spruce up the outdoors and make everything appear pleasant and organized.

That is exactly what they do to mummies, as the corpse rots under the surface.

I’m just warning you to be cautious about putting on a phony persona, because it’s an issue if people only know that you’re a Christian because of a small piece on your Facebook page that says so.

If you say you play for the Lakers merely because you bought a jersey, you are ludicrous.

On Sundays, I’d go to church, but on Saturdays, I’d be exhausted and unable to attend.

I’ve spent my entire life maintaining this façade of order, but now that I’ve come to know Jesus, I take pride in my frailty.

After all, the church is not a museum for nice people; it is a hospital for the broken.

There is no need for me to conceal my wrongdoing because my salvation is not dependent on my efforts.

Since I was God’s opponent and obviously not a fan, God looked down upon me and declared, “I want that man!” This is in stark contrast to religious people, which is why Jesus referred to them as idiots.

Now, please allow me to clarify: I adore the church, I adore the Bible, and I believe in the existence of sin.

Remember that “religious men” referred to Him as an alcoholic and a glutton for punishment.

Now that we’ve returned to the subject, one thing that I believe is important to emphasize is how Jesus and religion are on opposing ends of the spectrum.

Because religion commands it, Jesus commands it to be done.

Religion binds you, but Jesus sets you free.

This is what distinguishes religion from Jesus as two distinct groups.

As a result, salvation is offered to me without charge.

Because he wore the crown of thorns and blood poured down his cheeks, he was crucified.

He paid the price for all of your guilt and then buried it in the tomb, which is why I’m standing at the cross right now, begging, “Come on, there’s room for one more.” Knowing that I despise religion, to the point where I genuinely dislike it, I think that when Jesus shouted “It is done,” He truly meant it.

Moreover, I smugly observed in my mind that he performs far more than his fair share of religion-preaching, espousing the notion of salvation via faith alone.

After a few minutes of research, I realized that the young guy is himself an evangelist, one who is just as intent on offering a religious system as anybody else.

That does not reflect poorly on him, since he has discovered a method to carry out a gospel duty, which is to create all things new in Jesus Christ.

In this particular instance, he has gone out to young people, capitalizing on their innate skepticism about authority and establishments.

My age belies my need for religion, and I’d want to explain to you why I so strongly need it, and indeed why I can’t find my way to Christ without from it.

When I was in junior high, at the very least, and definitely without a female to call my own, I came across a photograph in a newspaper, cut it out, and stuck it in my billfold, right next to the image of my girlfriend.

My admission is more than a bit sad, to be honest.

An ink and pen drawing of a princess from the Prince Valiant comic series was used to create the image.

That was fantastic!

We all behave in the same way.

We treat Christ in the same way.

The point is that, once we’ve gotten Christ into our heads, we can’t help but project our own perspectives, biases, and fantasies onto him.

When the Beloved comes to us in the form of Spirit, we can’t help but respond.

I need them to think and act in ways that are different from mine.

I need them to introduce me to a Jesus who is a little different from the one I am familiar with because, whoever else my Jesus might be, if he is nothing more than a projection of myself, he cannot possibly be my savior.

We develop by becoming more open to things that are different from ourselves, to things that broaden our perspectives and challenge our comfort zones.

It is not the case that all of these points of view have converged into some sort of muddle.

” As you can see, I’m trying something new!

(See also Is 43:19.) It is in the mystery we name the Church, where my Christ and your Christ both give to an ever-new Church, that the promise of Isaiah is repeated on a daily basis. Rev. Terrance W. Klein is a minister in the United Methodist Church.