A recent you tube video went viral a couple weeks ago getting almost 15 million hits in one week alone entitled, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus”
Needless to say, this video had it’s supporters as well as critics. It also sparked backlash videos with some entitled, “Why I Love Religion, and Love Jesus”
I’m not here to pick apart any video, that would take too long, but I do think there’s a notable difference in each video's definition of the word “religion”. This issue can get more theological when you examine the soteriological views of Christianity. “ie. Sola fide vs. sacramental” However, I will focus on the definitions of religion here.
The term religion can have two primary meanings:
1. A body of person’s adhering to a particular set of beliefs.
2. Ritual observances of faith.
One could easily see how these definitions could spell out extra-biblical components of grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."
Jesus didn't hate religion because he was a good Jew who established a church and instituted specific ordinances. (ie. Baptism, Lords Supper) If the definition of religion has to do with a set of beliefs, then Jesus surly doesn't hate religion; but, if religion means self righteousness, then Jesus hates it just as much as any other sin.
Jesus didn't hate religion because he was a good Jew who established a church and instituted specific ordinances. (ie. Baptism, Lords Supper) If the definition of religion has to do with a set of beliefs, then Jesus surly doesn't hate religion; but, if religion means self righteousness, then Jesus hates it just as much as any other sin.
Romans 8:1-2 says "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (not for those who "do good"), because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."
According to Romans 8, the greatest part about Christianity is not necessarily what goes on around us, but what goes on inside of us. Therefore, behavioral modification is not the means to grace, but the natural result of grace.
Doctor Alvin Reid alluded in a recent blog that many American churches have taught todays youth a therapeutic moralistic deism instead of biblical Christianity. He uses this quote from the National Study of Youth and Religion:
“The National Study of Youth and Religion reveals a theological fault line running underneath American churches: an adherence to a do-good, feel-good spirituality that has little to do with the Triune God of Christian tradition and even less to do with loving Jesus Christ enough to follow him into the world.”
May we be overwhelmed by grace through faith pursuing not grace through legalistic performance.
While I don't think there are biblical grounds to say Jesus hated religion, I do think it's important that we trust in the scandalous grace of Christ and not in our self-righteousness as the video suggests.
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