i never watched it.
Slowly i started seeing other people posting comments about it... that maybe this isn't such a good thing.
Adam wrote this
"This guy has a lot of good things to say, but we need to be extremely careful placing Jesus and religion on opposite spectrums. Jesus did not come to destroy religion, He came to fulfill the law and in so doing confront many of the religiOUS of His time. But James 1:26-27 makes it clear what pure religion is verses worthless religion. The Bible seems to direct us to preserve and redeem religion and keep it from becoming worthless. Which a the root of it is the intent of this poem, I just wish religion was clarified rather than villainized."
i had to agree. (And i think he said much better than me). The reason i hadn't watched it is i am tired of the religion bashing.
i understand Jesus saves, religion doesn't.
And i understand Jesus > religion.
But does this mean i hate religion?
i kinda think it is like saying i hate soft drinks (pop) but i love cherry coke.
Keving DeYoung looks at the poem verse by verse and gives his thoughts in a post entitled
You probably should read it.
But here are my thoughts.
i love Jesus. And i don't have a big problem with religion, though sometimes it can be a problem.
Back in College i had a shirt from a conference that said 0% religion 100% Relationship.
i don't think i realized it said that. But when my roommate asked about it, i was quick to give an answer.
i kinda liked it, because i wanted to affirm following Christ is not about religious activities but knowing Jesus.
And i wouldn't stray from that stance. Jesus is all about us knowing the Father and not so much about what we do.
Another friend in college once said "I'm not religious like you"
To which i responded "I'm not religious"
Which did lead to good conversation.
Today, i would like to clarify that comment
If when you say religious you mean
you are more spiritual than I am... then i'd have to disagree...
There is nothing special about me. i am not that good of a person. i sin. A lot. i need a Savior
If you mean, you are more devoted and committed to faith
To a degree that may be true, but it's not because i am religious, it's because i am loved!... and in love!
If you mean i am more moralistic...
i might hope that is true, but as i said above - i am a sinful person. But if i do have morals that looks different than the rest of the world, It's not because i am religious, it's because i have been changed!
But i don't want to say religion is bad.
IT can be i suppose.
i listened to a sermon by Tullian Tchividjian the other day where he said Moralism is very bad. Morality is very good! He wanted to be clear at this point.
He went on further to say. Whenever we take a good thing (like morality in this case) and make it an ultimate thing, we make a very good thing, a very bad thing.
Religion in itself is not bad, but some people have exalted it too high and made it bad.
Jesus is ultimate, not Religion.
But Religion didn't cause wars... people did.
It is not religions fault that someone doesn't experience grace, it is a person's fault.
It is not religions fault that poor people are hungry, it is the choices of people to not give.
i think it is trendy these days to bash on religion, bash on churches, and avoid personal responsibility and fit into American culture.
And distance self, rather than confess sin.
You know, i don't think this is new. The Author of the book of Hebrews encouraged the believers to continue to meet together, instead of forsaking. Encouraging instead of cutting down. (Hebrews 10:25)
Let's Love Jesus & Love others too.
Let's walk with Jesus as individuals and grow together as a community & church.
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