A couple days ago, a YouTube video called "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" was really popular on Facebook; these are my thoughts on it.
The video? Awesome.
The message? Right on.
The application? Has been missed.
"What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion?"
What this guy said about religion, false religion, or hypocrisy, whatever you want to call it, has been on my heart for the last year and a half. I'm glad he found a creative, understandable way to get the point across. I fully agree with what he said. I mean, the pharisee's were the religious people of the day, but they were the ones that had Jesus killed. He came to love, not rule. But I think that many people, myself included, just watched the video, "ooohed and aaahed" a little, said "Amen, that's so right!" but then we re-posted, and forgot about it.
"Religion is like spraying perfume on a casket"
Yep. I think this has to be my favorite line he used. But you know what? Just because we liked this video, and agreed with what he said, doesn't mean we have risen above this idea of dead religion. We can nod our heads and Amen! all we want, but until we actually live out what we say we believe, that phrase is true for us as well. Our words are the perfume to our dull spirits that don't see who Jesus really is. We can share this video all we want, but it's just like he said "They would dress up the mummies who were rotting underneath".
"There's a problem when people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook"
^ That should speak for itself. I'm going to ask you a question, not to judge, but to make you think. Did you watch the video, "like" and re-post but then go back to living life as normal? Never giving Jesus a second thought or word throughout the day?
"Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography"
No, I'm not perfect. I never have, and I never will claim to be. But honestly, I'm sick of hypocrisy. I have so many people dear to my heart that hate the thought of God, because of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, put simply, is re-posting that video, saying Yes and Amen! and then going back to live a life that does not represent Jesus.
Yeah, I make mistakes, but my whole goal in life is to show Jesus in such away that people would desire to run to Him, not away from Him. And when you do this in your secret life, like not watching pornography even when nobody else knows it's happening, people will see the difference in you.
"I want that man"
If we were to truly understand what this video was about, we would understand that following Christ is about a relationship. A literal fellowship with the Creator of the universe. If we want people to know that Jesus and religion are on opposite teams, we need to take the step to join His team. He died, because He wanted you with Him, not because He had to or because "it is written". But because He loves you, it's as simple as that. Jesus is the kindest, most gentle, most joyful, funniest, bravest, sweetest person I know, and my heart's desire is for everyone to get that too. But you won't understand that by hearing someone else talk about it. Get off Facebook, and go spend some time with Him (I hope you know that I'm talking to myself too!). You know your best friend because you listen and talk with them. Let Him show you who He is...it's not something you can do all by yourself. It's a two way street, not a one way road. Christianity might not have been meant to be your typical religion, but it was meant for way much more than a yes and amen! It's a lifestyle, a heart posture, a kind of love this world cannot fathom.
So what I'm saying is, posting, re-posting, sharing...whatever. If we don't live it out, we are just as dead as this religion that we are fighting.
"When He said it is finished, I believe He meant it"
The video? Awesome.
The message? Right on.
The application? Has been missed.
"What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion?"
What this guy said about religion, false religion, or hypocrisy, whatever you want to call it, has been on my heart for the last year and a half. I'm glad he found a creative, understandable way to get the point across. I fully agree with what he said. I mean, the pharisee's were the religious people of the day, but they were the ones that had Jesus killed. He came to love, not rule. But I think that many people, myself included, just watched the video, "ooohed and aaahed" a little, said "Amen, that's so right!" but then we re-posted, and forgot about it.
"Religion is like spraying perfume on a casket"
Yep. I think this has to be my favorite line he used. But you know what? Just because we liked this video, and agreed with what he said, doesn't mean we have risen above this idea of dead religion. We can nod our heads and Amen! all we want, but until we actually live out what we say we believe, that phrase is true for us as well. Our words are the perfume to our dull spirits that don't see who Jesus really is. We can share this video all we want, but it's just like he said "They would dress up the mummies who were rotting underneath".
"There's a problem when people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook"
^ That should speak for itself. I'm going to ask you a question, not to judge, but to make you think. Did you watch the video, "like" and re-post but then go back to living life as normal? Never giving Jesus a second thought or word throughout the day?
"Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography"
No, I'm not perfect. I never have, and I never will claim to be. But honestly, I'm sick of hypocrisy. I have so many people dear to my heart that hate the thought of God, because of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy, put simply, is re-posting that video, saying Yes and Amen! and then going back to live a life that does not represent Jesus.
Yeah, I make mistakes, but my whole goal in life is to show Jesus in such away that people would desire to run to Him, not away from Him. And when you do this in your secret life, like not watching pornography even when nobody else knows it's happening, people will see the difference in you.
"I want that man"
If we were to truly understand what this video was about, we would understand that following Christ is about a relationship. A literal fellowship with the Creator of the universe. If we want people to know that Jesus and religion are on opposite teams, we need to take the step to join His team. He died, because He wanted you with Him, not because He had to or because "it is written". But because He loves you, it's as simple as that. Jesus is the kindest, most gentle, most joyful, funniest, bravest, sweetest person I know, and my heart's desire is for everyone to get that too. But you won't understand that by hearing someone else talk about it. Get off Facebook, and go spend some time with Him (I hope you know that I'm talking to myself too!). You know your best friend because you listen and talk with them. Let Him show you who He is...it's not something you can do all by yourself. It's a two way street, not a one way road. Christianity might not have been meant to be your typical religion, but it was meant for way much more than a yes and amen! It's a lifestyle, a heart posture, a kind of love this world cannot fathom.
So what I'm saying is, posting, re-posting, sharing...whatever. If we don't live it out, we are just as dead as this religion that we are fighting.
"When He said it is finished, I believe He meant it"
