Does Jesus Hate Religion? Kinda, Sorta, Not Really – Kevin DeYoung

Does Jesus Hate Religion? Kinda, Sorta, Not Really – Kevin DeYoung:

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Hello.  I read this article after watching the video and can't stop thinking about how far people can take such little things about our faith.  I wrote what will follow in response to what some folks said about the church and religion being against Christ.  It was hard to hear being that I work in a church and feel i practice religion because of my love for Jesus.  This is no doubt an excellent article, worth the time to read even if you don't care much for my response.  Much Love Peeps of the world!



I really enjoyed this article. I believe it was a well thought out and a very appropriate response. I was incredibly disheartened by the response. It seems that Kevin merely responded with biblical insight to a poem. Being inherently human, people saw it as a personal attack or an attempt at justification (of which, none is needed). There were many truths about this poem and it undoubtedly has effected those who have heard it. But to say that Jesus HATES religion is irresponsible, unless your definition of religion is established. In my mind, religion is not hated by Jesus, but religion is how we act out our love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on this Earth. Everything that is in existence, is actively living out in response to the cross for it is by grace alone that we are in a position of salvation. While reading the responses, I noticed a lot of judgement and outcry against the church and religion because of Jesus’ words and actions towards the pharisees. Was it their religion that he hated? Or was is in fact their lack of understanding of who He was. If you want to sit here and tell me that Christ loves you but hated the pharisees, then you are one with them as I am now one with you. Christ loves you through your sin as he loves me through mine, and the pharisees through theirs. In my mind, religion is not something you HAVE to practice, it is something you WANT to practice because you want to know Jesus more intimately. I am discouraged at the negative response towards rules and the idea of being a slave. Was it not Christ who practiced obedience in all circumstances? Was is not Christ who was a slave to righteousness and refused to do wrong? Was it not Christ who through prayer, Gods word and discipline, drew from the the Heavenly Father in order to do what was necessary for our salvation? In no way am I saying I need to be a certain way or have earned my salvation, because none of us have, but I want to be a light for Jesus in the world and that goes hand in hand with the way I live out my relationship with Christ. To those who think your relationship with Christ is between you and Him, refer to the Greatest “commandment” that CHRIST gives us which is to “Love the lord your God with all your heart, your soul and your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.” As far as the rejection of the church, open your eyes. Can’t you see that it isn’t the church, or its mission, or its foundation that is faulty; but the corruption of man within it that is broken. I used to be against the idea of church, thinking that spiritual survival outside the body was achievable. I along with many others have had poor church experiences where faith was put in the leadership rather than in Christ. I am now a youth pastor and I urge you to remember who created the Church and why is was created. The church was created to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19) I also challenge you to provide me with an answer as to why the church still stands after 2,000 years if religion and Church are terrible by nature? You can say what you want about mega churches and the money that flows through them, but I tell you this, there is more money flowing out of them in attempts to feed the poor, provide fresh water wells for those without, schooling, sex and hygiene education, and providing sanctuary for the hungry, sick and needy in their community than almost any other organization. In the church I serve in now, our goal isn’t to bring people into the church, but as a body of believers, bring Jesus to people! In the end, we are all just speculating on a complexity that none of us will fully understand until the day we receive our judgment. But when writing responses, posting videos or articles, remember that this walk is not an easy one and be thoughtful in your declarations because Jesus tells us that it is better for one to have never existed than to lead any of Gods children astray.