Jesus>Religion???

Well I have been seeing this video go viral over the past week.  Especially on facebook where people are amazed by it.  It is a spoken word poem by Jefferson Bethke who is a young performer.  I have had 3 young people this week talk to me about it.  One kid was telling me that this is what he has been looking for.  Confirmation that he can have a relationship with God in his own way.  Another said she was glad she doesn't have to go to church or tithe.  The last just said it doesn't seem right and she was trying to explain to her brother why, who told her this is why he doesn't have to pray and read his bible every day.  So please watch the video for yourself and be prepared to think critically about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY  

My first impression of Jefferson Bethke is that he is a genuine young Christian who does want to introduce the world to Jesus.  While the poem does contain a lot of truth it also contains many half truths and is misleading.  When he says "religion" what he actually means is legalism, or a Pharisaical heart, or people who come to church on Sunday and act like the devil for the rest of the week.  He is not talking about religion.

I have been to more than one youth service or gathering where people stand up and say that they are tired of religion or hate religion but love Jesus and have a relationship with Him.  I think these people are mislead. This year I have seen many ways people are trying to make Christianity easier to consume for the masses.  I do believe that this comes from good intentions and a love for Jesus but it is wrong. I read a great article earlier where the author went through the poem verse by verse so I thought I would do the same.  Lets go.  Again, approach this with critical thinking.
 
 Verse 1
What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion
What if I told you voting republican really wasn’t his mission
What if I told you republican doesn’t automatically mean Christian
And just because you call some people blind
Doesn’t automatically give you vision

Well first off, I can tell you Jesus did not come to abolish religion.  But this is the whole point of his poem.  So what does Bethke mean when he says "religion"?  Again what he means is is legalism, or a Pharisaical heart, or people who come to church on Sunday and act like the devil for the rest of the week.  Also he is comparing "religion" to many of the worlds religions that would say we could follow rules and do good deeds and maybe at the end of our life we will have done enough good things to enter heaven.  A works and man centred theology.  This is not the Christian religion.  Christianity is about God's grace and is not about our own works.  So I have a question for you....Was Jesus religious?  Take a minute and actually thing about your answer.

Jesus was a Jew, so what did that entail in the 1st century?  Jesus went to synagogue, so that is the answer to my friend who thinks this video means he doesn't have to go to church.  Jesus also observed the sabbath.  Jesus practiced a quiet time of prayer and spent time with God.  Jesus read scripture, so much so he memorized scripture.  He held a high view of baptism and instructed his followers to baptise others and make disciples.  Jesus emphasised doctrine.  Jesus preached about Hell.  Jesus talked about peoples sin, and instructed them to repent and believe.  Jesus instituted sacraments like the Lord's Supper.  I really could go all day on this, but I think I've made my point.  Jesus was religious.  For Bethke to say that Jesus hated religion is plain wrong.

The lines about Jesus not being republican is really just a jab at popular media, and its just plain silly I don't think I need to address this idea here.  I do agree that some people need to hear that, but it is a very small group of Christians.

Verse 2
I mean if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor
Tells single moms God doesn’t love them if they’ve ever had a divorce
But in the old testament God actually calls religious people whores

Well here we go, the first time I saw this this is where my discernment alarms went off full blast.  Just do a simple survey of all the wars throughout history and you will find out that only about 2% of all wars had anything to do with religion.  I personally hear this argument from Atheists all the time who say that religion is bad for the world.  Ill always ask them to name one.  They will usually only ever say "the Crusades"  well compare the death toll to how many were killed under the Atheist regimes of the 20th century.  Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot.  I guarantee you will be shocked.  Ill also ask them to name 5 wars and they are usually all wars that have nothing to do with religion.  So why does religion cause so many wars?  It simply doesn't.  Mankind fights wars over power, oil, money, terrorism and such.

In regards to "huge churches but fail to feeld the poor"  he is plain wrong again. The Christian Church is the champion of the poor and needy worldwide.  Christians open hospitals and schools worldwide.  Share love and healing with broken hearts and give food, supplies and money more so than any group in the world hands down.  The huge churches and huge bank accounts is another issue.  When it comes to Christians in general, no one, and yes I mean no one does more for the poor and widows and those in need than Christians. 

Next he addresses the hurt experienced by Divorced single mothers.  I myself have never ever ever heard someone saying that "God doesn’t love them if they’ve ever had a divorce" that is solved by reading the Bible.  As Christians we do need to affirm how terrible divorce is, but the idea that God does not love them?  Wow what a jump.  I do know that this has been said to people I am not denying that.  But a simple read of the bible shows that to be untrue.  A religious person who reads the Bible daily and has a vibrant prayer life should know better and should work for change within the church.

Verse 3
Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice
Tend to ridicule God’s people, they did it to John The Baptist
They can’t fix their problems, and so they just mask it
Not realizing religions like spraying perfume on a casket
See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the core
It’s just behavior modification, like a long list of chores
Like lets dress up the outside make look nice and neat
But it’s funny that’s what they use to do to mummies
While the corpse rots underneath

Like I said at the beginning, his definition of "religion" is actually is legalism, or a Pharisaical heart, or people who come to church on Sunday and act like the devil for the rest of the week.  He is not talking about religion.  But does he have a point?  Yes indeed.  If you are a Christian you have met these people.  It is something we need to address and fix.  But we don't blame religion to do that.

Verse 4
Now I ain’t judgin, I’m just saying quit putting on a fake look
Cause there’s a problem
If people only know you’re a Christian by your Facebook
I mean in every other aspect of life, you know that logic’s unworthy
It’s like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey
You see this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me
Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography
See on Sunday I’d go to church, but Saturday getting faded
Acting if I was simply created just to have sex and get wasted
See I spent my whole life building this facade of neatness
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness

No complaints about this verse at all.  We as Christians are called to think critically and work in community.  If there is problems we are to work together to solve the problems within.  I think we all put our best selves on display and have lots of problems underneath.  We need to work on openness, unity and community.


Verse 5
Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean
It’s not a museum for good people, it’s a hospital for the broken
Which means I don’t have to hide my failure, I don’t have to hide my sin
Because it doesn’t depend on me it depends on him
See because when I was God’s enemy and certainly not a fan
He looked down and said I want, that, man
Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools
Don’t you see so much better than just following some rules
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the Bible, and yes I believe in sin
But if Jesus came to your church would they actually let him in
See remember he was called a glutton, and a drunkard by religious men
But the Son of God never supports self righteousness not now, not then

Well again, as long as we clarify terms I like this verse.  People often ask why there are so many people in church with problems and I respond with Jesus' words in Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  The Church is a hospital for sick people.  We have problems and they are on display in a trusting community so we can help each other and receive help from God.

One important point here is that Jesus does call us to follow rules.  Yep I just said that.  Read John 14:5 and tell me what you think.  "If you love me, keep my commands."

Verse 6
Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums
See one’s the work of God, but one’s a man made invention
See one is the cure, but the other’s the infection
See because religion says do, Jesus says done
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see
And that’s why religion and Jesus are two different clans


the only think I think I need to say here is that Christianity does actually say "slave".  Not negating "son" but just read the New Testament especially verses like Matthew 6:24 "“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." also Ephesians 6:6.  Or if you are interested further on the word slave just do a word study on the greek work "doulos" in the Bible.

Verse7
Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man
Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits but Jesus’s obedience alone
Because he took the crown of thorns, and the blood dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, I guess that’s why you call it grace
And 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
And he absorbed all of your sin, and buried it in the tomb

Which is why I’m kneeling at the cross, saying come on there’s room
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said it is finished, I believe he meant it

I have no problems with this verse and love it.   I think its a beautiful message to people in need of God and salvation. 

In closing, the main thing I want to make clear is that religion is a beautiful thing.  I meet young people all the time, truthfully weekly that say things along the lines of "I don't feel close to God"  "I don't hear God's voice" "I don't feel God"  how do we rekindle intimacy with God?  A friend of mine was telling me once that the spark in his marriage once had faded out.  So what did he do?  He took her out for a date every Wednesday even though he didn't feel like it, he took her dancing every Saturday even thought he didn't feel it, he picked her a flower every day, and he sat down with her for an hour every day just to listen to her about her day.  This went on for a while then he started to look forward to date night, he had a spring in his step as he thought about how his wife giggled as he gave her the flower, he laughed and cried as he listened about her day and shared his, and he learned new moves to impress her on the dance floor.  The point is sometimes disciplines are how we rekindle intimacy.  


With God, when we feel far we should pray earnestly, not just mumble out a prayer in the last few minutes as we fall asleep.  We should devote time to reading the Bible in books not bits, rather than just opening to a random verse and hoping God will pick the perfect one.  We should honour God with our money and time, because He is where our hearts are.  As time goes on, we will rekindle intimacy with him.  Many people call this "religion" but I think it is clear that it is a loving relationship.

"atheism makes no claims, it is simply lack of belief"

A friend of mine will use this statement quite often.  If you challenge his worldview he can always retreat to the safety of a worldview that makes no claims.  So, the definition of atheism for many years was that they believed there was no god and to lack belief in god was agnosticism.  Now because of the "new atheism" this definition has changed.  If you were to talk about atheists like Fredrich Nietzsche and Bertrand Russell they would ascribe to the definition that "God does not exist" it is a philosophical stance, and is a stance to be defended.  But today since most of the new atheists are not philosophers they have retreated to this neutral stance.

Many atheists will claim that atheism is just simply a default position.  But is this really true?  If they were neutral then why do you always see them taking sides on issues? A neutral person would stay to the sidelines and pose questions if anything.  You will hear atheists make truth claims all the time.  "there is no such thing as absolute truth"  "we don't need God" "the bible is hopelessly flawed as a document"   "belief in God is silly"  "religion is responsible for the evil in the world"  so when anyone makes a claim they have the responsibility to back it up.  The same goes for Christians, we cannot say God exists without being able to provide some kind of argument, whether that comes from personal experience to evidence from history or science.

Also if atheism really is the default position then new born babies would be atheists.  That would shock the people in my kids church this Sunday morning.  and at the local maternity hospital            

So my main point in this blog is that when you speak with atheists understand that if they are going to engage in conversations about theism/atheism they do have a point of view, and make truth claims.  In the same way that you would make someone back up their political and ethical statements you have to get atheists to do the same thing as well.

"aren't Mormons and Christians the same?"

  Today in the coffee shop I was reading Hank Hannegraaff's book "Has God Spoken?"  with a title like that I was bound for someone to start a conversation with me.  So a guy asked me if I was happy that Mitt Romney had won the Iowa caucus.  I said not really but I wondered why he asked me.  He replied that I'm guessing you are christian because of your book and Mitt Romney is also Christian.  So we chatted for about 10 mins about how Mitt Romney is actually a Mormon and not Christian at all.

  So what exactly are the differences between Mormons and Christians?  Are we the same or very different?

  Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses are somewhat frequent guests at my house, I am always happy to have them over.  This is for a few reasons, first when I was first looking into the question of Gods existence I met a group of JW's at the local subway and they were happy to meet with me once a week and talk.  We did for about 2 months.  Second,  I am amazed at how much the Mormons and JW's really live out their faith.  I meet Christians all the time who act like undercover agents.  But most of the Mormons and JW's I meet are bold and really involved in living out their faith.  Third, these people really enjoy talking about God and will consider your viewpoint.

So, I do have a lot of experience with both and know that they really do have some very interesting beliefs that just don't hold up to the evidence.  When you read the Book of Mormon for example it reads as a book of fiction.  Archaeology does not support the book of Mormon, nor does history or anthropology.  But rather than go into a detailed account of the differences today I will just talk about the couple things that I always talk about with both groups when I first meet them.

Now I think it is important to say that I only talk about a couple points because I am trying to foster a relationship, not win a knockdown argument with a landslide of issues and points.  The second time we meet we will go further into their beliefs and challenge them.


Both groups accept the Bible as God's word so they will accept a Biblical case for this fact.  So I am usually happy to use their own Bible, but they are also happy to use the King James Version.  Both groups usually get uncomfortable when you pull out your NIV or ESV.

First they do not believe Jesus to be God.  Second they believe you have to work your way into heaven and they hold no assurance of salvation.

So when talking about Jesus being God ill challenge them to explain a few verses.  There are many, but I usually go with two and then we can talk further if they are up to it.  I go with John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  this really is the Christological climax of John's gospel after Thomas encountered the risen Jesus face to face and actually touches His crucifixion wounds.  Thomas proclaims Jesus as Lord and God.  Second Ill talk about Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." here God is speaking to Jesus and calling him God.  So these are two great verses to talk about with your Mormon and JW friends.  Many Christians go right for John 1:1-3 but the JW's dispute the translation of this verse.  It has no merit because no Greek scholars were included in their "new world translation" but still its better to stick with what they do accept.  Also I will throw in Colossians 1:16-17 usually.


With working their way to heaven I will speak about how the Bible is very clear that we cannot get to heaven based on our own good works and that we can be assured that we are saved.  Ill use Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:not of works, lest any man should boast." this is very clear that salvation is by God's grace not by works.  Also I will use Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."  I think this one is pretty self explanatory.  Actually I believe Galatians is the perfect book for both groups. 

Lastly for assurance of salvation Ill go with 1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."  I think this clearly shows that John wants us to have assurance of our salvation and that we can have it. 

So that is just a quick little talk about Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses.  I hope the next time they knock on your door you wont turn them away.  They are are our neighbours like anybody else and need Jesus just as much.