A response to the video "Why I hate religion and love Jesus": I love Jesus and His Church!

If somehow you've missed it (especially if you are a Christian and have been on Facebook in the last 48 hours), watch this video first before reading the rest. Apologies for the length of the note, but it was really mostly for me to process and think through things - then I thought, "I might as well share.

I’m sure Jefferson Bethke is a nice guy. I feel like if we set down for a cup of coffee or if he came to my church that we would probably agree on a lot of things. He certainly seems likeable enough, and if the 6.2 million YouTube views (and counting) are any indication, his message “Why I hate religion but love Jesus” is certainly striking a chord with people – maybe especially with the young(ish) evangelical crowd, of which I, and many of my friends, would be a part of. People are loving it, but my reaction upon seeing it for the first time was different – like I felt something was missing or off base.

So what’s my problem? It’s certainly not the cool camera angles, the dramatic music, Jefferson’s talent as a lyricist, or the slick production of the video. Rather, it’s some of the gaping theological holes in many of his statements that people seem to be missing as the video goes viral through Facebook. There are some things that he says that I do agree with, but there are many that I do not. It’s not my intention to attack, but rather to just point out what the Bible says about some of these things. So here’s my take, verse by verse, of Jefferson’s poem:

What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion

First I would ask what religion you were speaking about. Christianity? Next, I would tell you that you are wrong.

Here’s what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”

Jesus came as a fulfillment of the religion that was began by God and handed down through the Mosaic tradition for generations. He didn’t come to destroy or end the religion, but rather to confirm and complete that which was set out by God in the Old Testament.

What if I told you voting republican really wasn’t his mission
What if I told you republican doesn’t automatically mean Christian

I would tell you I agree with those statements, although I don’t see the connection between an American political party known for its conservative social policies and religion. Of course, the Bible doesn’t say much about voting or how your political affiliations connect with your faith. It seems like this just makes a good sound bite for people to latch on to…and it kinda rhymes, so that’s cool, I guess.

And just because you call some people blind
Doesn’t automatically give you vision

Agreed. In fact the Bible (that great and ancient book written by religious men under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and canonized by religious councils to confirm the authenticity and divinity of the books) has something similar to say:

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” – Matthew 7:5

In fact, it seems that maybe what Jefferson is railing against here is not “religion”, but is maybe instead hypocrisy and the church?

I mean if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars

This simply isn’t true. There are a few instances of religion being one of the primary motivations for warfare, but a quick check of history doesn’t back this claim up. The Crusades come to mind, as does the Thirty Years War. I’m no historian, but it seems to me that although there may often be appeals to “religion” to justify warfare, the central reasons are more often to do with nationalism, economics, racism, greed, and the lust for power.

What do you do with communist (and therefore atheist) regimes like that of Stalin, Mao, Kim, and Pol Pot that have slaughtered millions of innocent people? They are as non-religious as you can get – ironically enough, because of their political affiliation.

The religion upheld and expanded by Jesus gives this command: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” – Matthew 5:43-44

Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor

The majority of churches are not “huge.” In fact, the median size of a church in the U.S. is 75 people. Of course there are also around 1300 “mega churches” in the U.S., which would have attendance in the thousands. Admittedly, the religious people who give money to build churches and feed the poor could certainly give less to the former and more to the latter.

With that said, did you know that the largest charity in the US is Lutheran and that people who attend religious services are the most likely to be charitable givers? In fact, it was the early church (a religious community) that took the idea of feeding the hungry so seriously that they designated men to be responsible for this very thing.

Acts 6:1-3 – Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

Tells single moms God doesn’t love them if they’ve ever had a divorce

I’m not sure how to respond to this. I’m not sure what “religion” says about divorce, but Jesus says it’s wrong. The Bible also says in Romans 5:8, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I don’t know any religion, let alone any Christians who would say that God doesn’t love someone because they had a divorce.

But in the old testament God actually calls religious people whores

This is a bit misleading – I think he must be referring to passages like Jeremiah 5:7, but God says that because the people have strayed from His commandments – aka their religion – and had turned to idolatry. So in the Bible, it seems that God doesn’t hate religion, but rather takes it quite seriously and demands adherence.

Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice

I’m not sure how “religion” preaches anything. Again, I think he must have hypocrisy in mind here? The religious leaders of Jesus’ day (whom he called hypocrites were notorious for not practicing what they preached. But Jesus told his followers to obey what they say anyway: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.” – Matthew 23:2-3

Tend to ridicule God’s people, they did it to John the Baptist

I can’t think of an instance in Scripture when John the Baptist was ridiculed. Please, correct me if I’m wrong. I do remember John the Baptist turning the heat up himself though in Matthew 3:7-10 – But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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 used to do to mummies
While the corpse rots underneath

I suppose if “religion” is looked at as just the acts of men trying to fix their own problems, I would agree. There is behavior modification that should happen as a result of the Christian religion, however. That won't be able to fix any of your problems, but a transformed life should be a result of the Christian faith. Christ does call us to keep his commandments: “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” – 1 John 2:3-6

Now I ain’t judgin’

Good to know.

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

Agree.

I mean in every other aspect of life, you that logic’s unworthy
It’s like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey

Again, I think this is speaking more to the idea of hypocrisy than religion.

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 façade of neatness

Yes – this is all of us. All people are sinners, including Christians. And we all come up lacking when presented with the righteous standard demanded by God’s holiness. Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We simply can’t do it on our own, but that is not a license to sin. Believers are covered in Christ’s righteousness while growing in holiness themselves (sanctification). The hypocrisy happens when you pretend that you are something that you’re not. So you’re right to admit you’re a wretched sinner like the rest of us, but that doesn’t mean you can go on sinning without consequences.

But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness

I think I know what Jefferson means here, as it echoes Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:30 – but as it follows a list of hypocritical sins in his poem, the meaning isn’t in the same context as what Paul is talking about. To clarify, this doesn’t mean that you can boast in your sins and failures before God – but that you should be humble in that it is Christ who triumphs amidst human weakness.

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

OK, I can go along with that. A couple of questions then: Who are the good people anyway? The Bible teaches that there aren’t any that are good. And who are the broken? And how do you distinguish the hypocrites who are really broken, but “building a façade of neatness?”

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

Actually, there is a tension between God’s sovereignty in salvation and man’s responsibility for his choices and actions. There is a great example of this dynamic in Philippians 2:12-13 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

See because when I was God’s enemy and certainly not a fan
He looked down and said I want…that…man

Agree – certainly echoes that passage from Romans 5:8 again.

Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools

Would like to see the Scripture reference for this one. We’ve already established that Jesus didn’t hate religion, in fact he was part of it – he did call out the hypocrites though.

Don’t you see so much better than just following some rules

I’d love to know what kind of rules Jefferson has in mind here. I would refer you again to 1 John 2:3-6.

Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the bible, and yes I believe in sin

Love the church, but hate religion…ok. Someone might want to mention that the idea of the church, the book we call the Bible, and the idea of sin actually come from religion.

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

Yes. Actually, we believe that he comes every Sunday. Seriously though, maybe I’m lucky, but I’ve never been part of a church where people were turned away at the door – even if they ate and drank too much. He was also called “My Lord and my God”, “Savior”, and “Messiah” by religious men, if that counts for anything.

But the son of God never supports self-righteousness…not now, not then

Agree with that. But the question is does being “religious” = being “self-righteous”? I don’t think so, in fact, it’s exactly the opposite of what Jesus’ religion teaches.

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

As is clear by now, I disagree that Jesus and religion are on “opposite spectrums.” Is the church a man-made invention, or established by God? In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock (Peter’s confession of Christ as the Messiah) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Parentheses are mine.

See one is the cure, but the other’s the infection

I would be more likely to classify sin as the “infection” rather than religion.
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—Romans 5:12.

See because religion says do, Jesus says done

Agree and disagree. Certainly it is “done” by the standard that Christ’s work in salvation is finished. But Jesus and the apostles had a whole lot to say about the things that we should be doing.

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

Again, yes and no. We certainly are adopted as heirs and sons into the Kingdom. But really we are only set free from sin to become slaves to Christ. Romans 6:16-19 – Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

I’m pretty sure Jesus and the apostles were speaking of slavery, bondage and being blind in reference to sin, not to religion.

And that’s why religion and Jesus are two different clans

Been there, done that.

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

I like this in the sense that it rings true to that whole divine sovereignty/human responsibility tension, but I don’t think that’s what he was getting at.

Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits, but Jesus’ obedience alone

Another yes and no for me on this. Yes to the fact that salvation is not based on your merits, but Jesus’ alone. No to the idea that salvation is freely yours – salvation isn’t free; it comes at a great cost. No again to the notion that forgiveness is your own as well. Forgiveness from sin comes from God 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”

It wasn’t the crown of thorns or the blood or even the murder of Jesus that meant anything for us. Anyone could have done that. It was the full absorption of the wrath of God for the sins of all those who would ever believe in Christ that he took upon himself – the wrath that we deserved.

Because when was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you

This is a nice and emotionally appealing sentiment that is prevalent in Evangelicalism today. In some sense it is true, but I would argue that that wasn’t the primary thing Jesus was thinking about on the cross. The whole idea makes it a bit too much about “me” than about Christ. Based on his own words from the cross, it seems that Jesus was thinking much more about the divine abandonment that he was about to endure (Mark 15:34), and by implication of his quoting the beginning of Psalm 22 – the promise that his death wouldn’t be the end of the story and that God would be greatly glorified.

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
No problems with that word picture. Although, I wonder what “there’s room” for if you hate religion. Room to not be at church or to gather with other believers? What about Hebrews 10:24-25? And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

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

Hate is such a strong word – and a dangerous launching point to start from when talking about religion. I too believe that when Jesus said “it is finished” he meant it – as regards his work in salvation. There is no indication that the work of the church – the religion that Jesus fulfilled and expanded is finished.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:26-27

Well, if you made it this far – thanks for sticking with me! I hope this is more than just an issue of semantics. There are some ideas presented in the video which I think are not biblical. Perhaps what bothers me more – and I don’t mean this in any sort of “holier than thou”, judgmental way – is how quickly we Christians are apt to jump on board with the latest thing before we take the time to evaluate and discern the message. Grace and peace to you all!