I Like Religion... What About You?

[childofdust]

There's a video going around in Protestant circles about some dude who loves Jesus, but hates "religion" (Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word - YouTube).

??????

To me, it seems like nonsense. But then again, I'm not Protestant. Or, at least, I don't equate "religion" with "hypocrisy," I never got the whole false dichotomy in Lutheranism between works and faith, and I don't believe in monergism.

Anyway, if you've seen the video and want some avenue to vent your frustrations with it, please use this thread to do so (if you want to say something nice about it, feel free, so long as you point out your criticisms of it as well).

There are already a number of responses out there. Although I don't endorse everything in this post (or its blog), I do like a lot of what this Orthodox guy has to say: Why I Love (True) Religion Because I Love Jesus « Roads from Emmaus

 

[whitetiger1]

I like Religion too. I hate the phase the most which goes something like "I'm not Religious just Christian" they don't realize Christianity is a Religion, indeed the Religion.

 

[Incariol]

I think it's cute when people try and act hip by saying "I hate religion, but love Jesus" or "...have a relationship with God!" or some nonsense. They don't realize that what they said makes absolutely no sense in the English language.

tl;dr: people don't know what "religion" means. I agree with the blog other that the kid in the video is just giving the typical feel-good spiel. Father Andrew makes some great points in that blog though.

 

[eachallberg]

Some people don't use the dictionary so they make up there own definitions.

Peace.

 

[PaladinValer]

It is theology from the 1960's to try to attract Hippies...and only led them into some of the worst theology in centuries...

 

[Airman Of Christ]

I believe what that man is trying to express is that there are so many different beliefs wthin the religion of Christianity and due to that, people think I'm right you are wrong. Christians with that mentality can be dangerous for non believers, and even some new believers. When we are told we are never good enough and that we always need to be better to be a christian, it undermines the love Jesus has for us. If we first come to find His love through scripture, the feeling of "amazing grace", and Christs love through Christians, we will be driven by that love to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Also, tons of people claim to be Christian just because they go to church on Easter and Christmas and say they believe in Jesus. I am not Jesus so i can not say if these people will be saved or not, but when the New Testament calls us to be the light of this world, to die to our flesh, to turn away from our sin, refrain from the sinful nature we once partook in, and telling us to be an example to the non believers... I ask the Lord to have mercy on them.
John 14: 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be [c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

So in saying this, I believe this man wants to be in a different catagory then the hypocrites in Christianity. If people claiming to be Christian still live as if they are of this world, when we admit our belief in Christ, the world will see us as hypocrits.

 

[Ishraqiyun]

I think people who say that are trying to let people know that they love Jesus but they also disagree with the Christian establishment. It's just not the most sensible way of expressing that sentiment though. It might be more appropriate to say " I love Jesus but I dislike much of what has been connected with the term "Christianity" over the years". Or maybe go with the famous Ghandi quote.

 

[MrPolo]

Hey, I wrote "Christianity is a Religion" on my blog just to try to clear up the attempt to redefine the word religion!!

 

[New_Wineskin]

There's a video going around in Protestant circles about some dude who loves Jesus, but hates "religion" (Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word - YouTube).

??????

To me, it seems like nonsense. But then again, I'm not Protestant. Or, at least, I don't equate "religion" with "hypocrisy," I never got the whole false dichotomy in Lutheranism between works and faith, and I don't believe in monergism.

Anyway, if you've seen the video and want some avenue to vent your frustrations with it, please use this thread to do so (if you want to say something nice about it, feel free, so long as you point out your criticisms of it as well).

There are already a number of responses out there. Although I don't endorse everything in this post (or its blog), I do like a lot of what this Orthodox guy has to say: Why I Love (True) Religion Because I Love Jesus « Roads from Emmaus

I didn't see the videos . However , I very much dislike religions . Yes . one could misquote me and use a different definition than the one that I am using . So be it . I will take that as their being a religious person .

 

[ViaCrucis]

I'm unabashedly religious, I'm a fan of religion. Last I checked the Lord organized twelve apostles into this community called His Church, which is gathered and assembled with Him as center. This Church was further organized into more communities throughout the ancient world, and they regularly gathered to discuss the preaching of the apostles, pray, break bread and worship together.

That sounds a lot like religion to me. Organized religion at that. And Jesus started it rather directly and deliberately.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

I'm Lutheran. Why can't I like religion?

 

[Nanopants]

I think the semantics of his poetry are being misinterpreted for the most part here.

In my opinion, his message seems to be aimed at those who have built up a prejudice against Christianity because of the mentality of the fundamentalist Christian Right of the the United States, but not at any institution in particular. Not to offend anyone just because they align themselves with a conservative agenda, but when even a small percentage from that group has persisted in openly spreading messages of hate and condemnation, I'm glad people like this guy are stepping up to the plate to help balance out the perceptions of the public.

 

[Jpark]

I am neither religious or Christian. Nor am I a Christian mystic. You could say I am spiritual, in a semi-orthodox sense. I view myself as a simple believer (not necessarily a practitioner). I am only Christian in accordance with the Nicene Creed. Otherwise, I'm persuaded one must be called a Christian (in recognition of one's good deeds/behavior, not just mere jeering or accusation). Remember, the first Christians were called Christians. The persecuted believers were to rejoice when they were called Christians for their good behavior (1 Peter).

Anyways, I hate religion. It is a distinction, built from the ruins of the ancient wall set between Greek (including Samaritans, Romans, barbarians) and Jew which Jesus tore down.

The only acceptable religion is the one that instigates a search for God (Acts 17:26-27), not one that merely identifies God. Is Jesus ever explicitly identified as God (and I believe He is God)? Or is Jesus the one the Scriptures point to as salvation and deliverance? Phil. 3:8-11... therein lies an example of true religion.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Whenever people bring up this phrase, I immediately think of the Daniel Tosh joke:

Person: "I'm not religious, but I'm spiritual"
Tosh: "I'm not honest, but you're interesting."

 

[Incariol]

Whenever people bring up this phrase, I immediately think of the Daniel Tosh joke:

Person: "I'm not religious, but I'm spiritual"
Tosh: "I'm not honest, but you're interesting."

You win.