How one simple phrase stirred a generation

Let’s take a trip back in time for a moment.

It’s January 2012, I’m in eighth grade, and an interesting video goes viral.

The video shows a young man delivering an impassioned spoken word poem about Jesus.

More specifically, the video is about why he loves Jesus but loathes religion.

“Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus”

Despite having a mother who worked devotedly in the church, I wasn’t really sure Christianity was my thing. I thought I had the general vibe down and, honestly, it wasn’t scratching the itch.

But this video presented a new perspective.

Loving Jesus and hating religion? Isn’t that like loving espresso and hating caffeine?

The answer from Jefferson Bethke, the man in the video, is a resounding “No.”

In fact, he makes the point that Jesus and religion are actually quite opposed to one another.

Religion is man-made and, in Bethke’s words, “either ends in pride or despair.” 

Jesus, on the other hand, is full of grace and love. Our worth comes from Him and is not won by what we do, but by who He is.

…but is it, though?

Bethke’s poem gave traction to a popular phrase in the evangelical church:

“Following Jesus is a relationship, not a religion.”

Maybe you’ve heard this phrase before? Maybe it was appealing to you? Maybe it even led you to follow Jesus?

Or maybe you heard it and had the opposite response.

Perhaps it comes across as fluff? Or dismissive of centuries of church tradition that has helped countless men and women?

Personally, I find it to be a phrase that does possess truth but, at the same time, lacks nuance.

We must examine phrases like this. That we bring them back to God in prayer and through Scripture. 

After all, reality is hardly black and white, and this phrase is no different.

So, over the next week, we’ll look at “It’s a relationship, not a religion” to find both what is helpful and not so helpful in this popular slogan.

I can’t, however, promise any slam poetry (I take a different approach myself) but what I can promise are some thought-provoking posts.

That’s all for now. Be blessed.

Jon,

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