Jesus came to abolish religion." -- Jefferson Bethke
Truthbrary wrote a piece the other day titled, "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus".
http://www.rantrave.com/Rave/Why-I-Hate-... and posted a video by a young man named Jefferson Bethke.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlp...This is a powerful video garnering its fair share praise as well as criticism in some circles but apparently not here. I was surprised that a topic such a as this one has generated interest but only a trickle of comments.
Here is another spoken word clip in very much the same vein. In many ways it is even more powerful than Bethke's because is unveils more of the depth and detail of the Master's plan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b28JIoP-r...G.O.S.P.E.L.
God Our Sins Paying Everyone Life. His work, not ours.
Jesus came to abolish religion? What DOES that mean? How could Jesus come to abolish religion? Didn't Jesus establish a religion?
No. He did not.
Jesus DID come to abolish religion. That may sound strange, but it is true.
Jesus DID NOT come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it.
Religions are human inventions, and are based on trying to get to God through rules and regulations and works. Human made religions ALL are based on people's efforts at reaching God and being made right with Him through their own good deeds. Some won't even admit that they are in a hole.
Jesus taught that our righteousness is rubbish. Garbage. Filthy rags, if you will.
If one doesn't understand or accept that fact, they cannot be His disciple. Stop quoting Him and saying what a great moral teacher He is. Don't bother. It's all or nothing. He didn't leave other options open. He claimed to be THE way, not A way. Not our works, not our ideas, not our politics, nor our morality. None of that is sufficient to bridge the gulf. Only He can do that, not religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WCTltHR-...Just ask around. Most folks who consider themselves to be either "not religious" or "religious non-fanatic", or go to church only on Mother's Day but no real animosity toward the church, believe that if there is a heaven or might be a heaven, they will make it there by their own good deeds or righteousness. That's where they are. That is their religion.
These folks believe that somehow their "goodness" is going to outweigh all their sinful and all their bad behavior. They believe that any REAL and LOVING God would accept them just as they are. Period. Sin and all, warts and all, repentance or not, evil attitude and bigoted notions along with every other piece of baggage they have. Either that or THEY reject Him or better still deny His existence.
Others say they see no evidence of intelligence or design in the universe. None. They claim to really believe that and yet still have the audacity and temerity study nature and copy into their designs what they say shows no evidence of being designed! That makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? Talk about irrationality.
And check out their relatives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZieSsxPkM...Oh, and don't let E.T. send a couple of blips from space either. You'll have a stampede to telescopes, Geiger counters and testing equipment that will outdo the best stampede on Black Friday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUcOaGawI...Religious zealotry at its best. That's word.
There are other folks who claim to hate religion, and to HATE Christians and Christianity in particular. Their lens tells them -- Religion is a crutch; Religion is the opiate of the people; God is a delusion; religion is for the weak; blah, blah, blah.
Yet, they too are religious. Yes, believe it or not they are. But you say that to them and they want to fight you.
They don't even realize that they just confessed the tenets of their faith. No God, but still religious. They are on the throne. They are their own gods. The ultimate in self-righteousness. Religion at its zenith.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-righte...There is a religion which often times doesn't even understand, much less admit that there is something seriously wrong with us. Or if admitted, the problem is always with someone else, not with them. "I don't murder, cuss, steal, don't beat my wife, or gossip, so I'm okay." They are deceived.
There are other pragmatic souls out there that are simply reticent to stick their neck out in any way. So they choose to live a life of spiritual ambivalence or ambiguity. "You can't really know for sure until after you are dead, so why bother? Live a good life and hope for the best." Sounds good. Very religious.
Some would call Christianity a man made religion, but it is not.
Jesus did not bring religion, He did not bring deception. He brings REALTIONSHIP. There is a huge difference. Only He is willing and is able to get us out of the hole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WCTltHR-...The condition of the soil where the Word is planted is extremely important. It's a matter of our hearts.
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/sower.htmWhat kind of soil do we possess? Are we hard hearted and hateful or at least open to His words? Words of love, forgiveness and acceptance; but on God's terms not ours.
Religion says DO. Jesus say DONE. Religion says SLAVE. Jesus says SON.
Christianity IS based on a person, but it IS NOT an invention of man; it is a revelation from God. Not everyone believes this. Not everyone sees this. However, that does not stop it from being the truth.
There is no such thing as your truth and my truth. Truth is not relative. Truth is objective. Truth is truth.
God's plan for human kind's salvation and for being right with Him has been revealed. Revealed ultimately in His Son.
God's plan is not based on people's efforts and good works, but is based on His amazing Love and amazing Grace for us. He lived the life the best of us could never live and He paid a debt for us the best of us can never pay.
G.O.S.P.E.L.
God. Our. Sins. Paying. Everyone. Life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b28JIoP-r...Did you watch? Did you listen?
That's the Good News. One may not like it, but at least don't hate.
Christian's who don't understand it, spiritual folks who don't understand it, and so-called secular folk who don't understand it need to wake up. We should at least make it that far in understanding where Jesus is coming from.
Religion is like spraying perfume on a casket. One can even put clean clothes on a dead body, but there still going to be a stench. White washed tombs filled with dead men's bones. RELIGION.
If we are counting on our deeds to merit eternal life, we are in serious trouble.
Religion says do, Jesus says done.
The choice is always ours. Do we have it right?
Thank you for reading,
HN