Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word
Spoken Word Lyrics (source: http://rapgenius.com/):
"Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"
What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion
What if I told you voting Republican really wasn't His mission?
What if I told you republican doesn't automatically mean Christian
And just because you call some people blind doesn't automatically give you vision
I mean if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor
Tells single moms God doesn't love them if they've ever had a divorce
But in the Old Testament, God actually calls religious people whores
Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice
Tend to ridicule God's people, they did it to John The Baptist
They can't fix their problems, and so they just mask it
Not realizing religion's like spraying perfume on a casket
See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the core
It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores
Like lets dress up the outside make look nice and neat
But it's funny that's what they use to do to mummies while the corpse rots underneath
Now I ain't judging, I'm just saying quit putting on a fake look
Cause there's a problem if people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook
I mean in every other aspect of life, you know that logic's unworthy
It's like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey
You see this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me
Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography
See on Sunday I'd go to church, but Saturday getting faded
Acting if I was simply created just to have sex and get wasted
See I spent my whole life building this facade of neatness
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness
Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean
It's not a museum for good people, it's a hospital for the broken
Which means I don't have to hide my failure, I don't have to hide my sin
Because it doesn't depend on me it depends on him
See because when I was God's enemy and certainly not a fan
He looked down and said I want, that, man
Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools
Don't you see so much better than just following some rules
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the bible, and yes I believe in sin
But if Jesus came to your church would they actually let him in
See remember he was called a glutton, and a drunkard by religious men
But the son of God never supports self righteousness not now, not then
Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrum
See one's the work of God, but one's a man made invention
See one is the cure, but the other's the infection
See because religion says do, Jesus says done
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see
And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans
Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man
Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits but Jesus's obedience alone
Because he took the crown of thorns, and the blood dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, I guess that's why you call it grace
And while being murdered he yelled
"Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
And he absorbed all of your sin, and buried it in the tomb
Which is why I'm kneeling at the cross, saying come on there's room
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said it is finished, I believe he meant it
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This man certainly has some strong convictions and thoughts to share.
- What do you think of this video and its message?
- Do his thoughts stand up to and reflect Biblical teachings and the message of the Gospel?
We would love to hear your input and you can share with us and others by leaving a comment below or on the Facebook link for this blog-post.
Points well taken.
I actually like how he is very even in his presentation and not 'glitszy'. He knows what he believes and states it matter of factly, because it IS fact. That nothing mere man can do can make us righteous before God. It is Christ alone who is our Righteousness.
I personally find the Muslim version to make a much more coherent and persuasive argument than this one. I guess I don't really understand what this guy is subtracting from religion, because he explicitly states that he agrees with all the main tenants of a Christian religion. But then, I'm not a religious person, and the issues I have with religion are deeper than the point that this guy brought up.
I don't agree with this guy 100%. I think in our society, "religion" has become a nasty word. It does not create positive feelings when heard. Societies definition of religion, I think, is much closer to religiosity or religious piety. His statement at the end that goes along the lines of "When Jesus said 'it is finished' he meant it" implies that religion is something that requires work and dedication in order to achieve a goal. This definition of religion boils down to, "If I do A and B and C and so on, I will get to heaven, reach enlightenment, etc." If this is your definition of religion, then this man is correct. That is NOT what Jesus came to do.
Jesus did not want us to be pious and to do a bunch of works until we satisfy a checklist. What Jesus did want us to do is enter into a holy union with himself and with each other. THIS IS THE RELIGION JESUS WAS TALING ABOUT. I think Jesus did come to set up a religion. But this religion is not about working toward anything. It's about accepting something that's already there. A free invitation to rid yourself of the burdensome crap that the world throws on you and enter into New Creation. Christians call this "grace." When Jesus said "it is finished" I believe he had just finished his inauguration of the New Creation. He inaugurated it and we're all currently in this middle stage when the Old Creation is being forced out and the New Creation is being ushered in. This middle stage is violent and painful. That is why Paul compares it to child labor when he says that creation is groaning.
He has welcomed us all to join in this birthing process. And it is a religious and holy thing to be a part of. But this religion is about fellowship and love. Eating bread and drinking wine does not mean anything by itself, but eating together in fellowship and building one another up in love so that we may strengthen our faith and bear through this world until the labor pains have stopped? Now that is something that means something. Religion, according to the Bible, is caring for people who need care. It's holding fast together against the storms of this life. It's encouraging each other to keep fighting the good fight even when it seems impossible to win. It's convicting one another when we stray from the path. It's loving all people no matter what.
This is not possible through an individual's own willpower or a vague sense of spirituality. This impossible task of standing firm in this world and loving one's enemies is only possible through the help of Jesus and his Holy Spirit. And the power of that spirit is amplified when we come together as one and we pray and worship. That is why Christ asked us to love one another as he loved us. That is why he asked His church to be united. That beautiful, unconditional love through community is the religion Jesus had in mind.