This video has gone viral in the last few weeks. I have seen it a dozen+ times on my mini-feed within the last week. The irony of it all is that it has mostly been friends I would consider conservative posting the video. The whole thing kind of annoys me and gives me hope at the same time. I also saw a post with Willie Wonka that read "Oh you hate religion but love Jesus. You must be so much smarter and open minded than other Christians." I will admit that I chuckled the first time I read it, but cynicism isn't the proper approach either.
Jefferson Bethke says the video is designed to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. I give him a C- for this assignment(includes bonus points for style).
Where Jefferson gains points:
- Churches are often as consumed with materialism as the culture that surrounds them.
- Religion can often become nothing more than behavior modification.
- There is a disconnect between many peoples actions and stated beliefs.
- Church should be open to people with broken lives.
- God does not favor self-righteousness
Where Jefferson looses points:
- Bethke understanding of the issue (Jesus vs. Religion) is too black and white. It is more complicated than saying 'Im all spiritual but not religious'
- He is from Seattle, yet feels the need to take cheap shots at Republicans with lines like "Being Republican doesn't automatically mean Christian."
- Accuses the church of not feeding the poor or taking care of single moms.
- "Religion has do, Jesus says Done. Religion says Slave. Jesus says Son." Fact check: Jesus said all those things.
- Narrow view of the Gospel message as sin management.
Yes let us never forget that Jesus had to abolish and reject aspects of the very religion that prophesied his coming, but he did so in order to create the church as the Renewed Israel.
I'm afraid Bethke is as much a reductionist as the false religious people he rebukes.
I am glad Bethke is trying to overcome the perceived gap between his actions and stated beliefs, but I wish he would listen more carefully to his own advice.......
'Just because you call somebody blind, doesn't automatically give you vision'
Ah, yes, this. “I’ll call everything you do that I don’t like ‘religion,’ and I will call everything I like about what I do ‘Jesus.’”
ReplyDeleteThis video is a great example of what happens when hipsterism and Calvinism collide… And although I sound judgmental, it’s only because I’m sad that this thing has gone so viral and been given credibility by so many people.
+1 for the fact check.