Jefferson Bethke, a
twenty-three year old man, published Jesus>Religion:
Why He is so much better than trying harder, doing more, and being good enough.
I want to take this time to analyze his YouTube video Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus because his argument in its
entirety is a false dichotomy, which resides as the introduction to his book.
Bethke’s argument in Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus is
very black and white. The entirety of his argument is flawed. In his own video,
he makes both invalid and valid points to defend why he “hates religion, but
loves Jesus”.
Invalid points:
1. “Why
does religion build huge churches, but fail to feed the poor”
Bethke
claims religion builds huge churches but fails to feed the poor. This statement
is invalid because some churches do feed the poor. Although some may not, it is
up to the people in the church. It depends on whether or not the people in the
church are being faithful to their mission.
2. “Tell single moms God doesn’t love them, if
they’ve ever had a divorce”
Some
religions or churches can preach why divorce is wrong, but this does not mean
God will not love them for it (John
4:1-26, Jesus talks with a Samaritan Woman). Bethke should not group
together all teachings in religion and present them as the same.
3. “Religion
is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man”
This
statement depends on who is interpreting it. For me, Christianity is my
religion; therefore, this argument would be contradictory. It is true that
Christianity is God searching for man, but it is also a religion.
Valid points:
1. “He
looked down and said I want that man”
God
wants us to fulfill a relationship with Him. He says, “I want that man” to
those who are broken because they are without his love and glory. God wants
those on Earth to find him and remain faithful in their relationship.
2. “It is
much bigger than following some rules”
This is
why Jesus is greater than religion. We must realize that religion is more than
“following some rules”; it is about pursuing a relationship with the Lord.
3. “Jesus
is a man of God, the other is a manmade invention”
Bethke
says, “Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrums” because man established
religion. James 1:26 says, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do
not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion
is worthless”.
4.
“Forgiveness is my own, not based on my merits,
but Jesus obedience alone”
Jesus
is the only one who can judge us on Earth and grant forgiveness. Jesus said to
him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me” (John 14:6).
Although Bethke has a good
argument, he should not say, “he hates religion” but “loves Jesus”. It would
have been more concrete and valid for his argument to defend why Jesus is GREATER
than religion. It is true that fulfilling and pursuing a relationship with the
Lord goes beyond any ritual or religious practice, but it does not mean that
all religious sermons or preach from every preacher prevent us from having a
healthy relationship with Jesus. I enjoy going to church to worship God, and I
don’t just go when I need forgiveness. His argument is too general and targets
people for the same sin. Below I have shared John 2: 1-29 because it represents
a teaching from BOTH religion and Jesus:
“My
little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But
if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but also
for the sings of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know
him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep
his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his
word, in him truly the love of God if perfected. By this we may know that we
are in him” (1 John 2:1-29).
Bethke, Jefferson. (2013). Jesus>Religion: Why He is so much better
than trying harder, doing more, and being good enough. Nelson Books:
Nashville, Tennessee.
Bethke, Jefferson. Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY
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