About a month ago the video, Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus || Spoken Word, went viral on youtube. A lot of people I know were watching it. They were part of the 17 million who saw it in the first 17 days... although it has slowed down some and sits around 19 million or so. People, whether or not agreeing with his message, were giving this guy a few minutes of their time. Was it the style, his confidence or the message that got so many people's attention?
When I first saw it I couldn't help but feel that although the message was a good one— in many respects it had a lot of truth in it— it was still leading many people in the wrong direction... away from religion. According to the poet, religion is bad and Jesus came to abolish it. I just don't believe that's true. I can't even begin to explain how much religion has blessed my life.
What is religion in the first place? (Here is one definition) What makes people think religion bad? Is there no such thing as a good or true religion? Is religion man-made or does it come from God? Did God give us religion and we have just distorted it? Is religion just a formal way to worship God with it's rites, rituals and rules? Who makes these rules? Why do we need any of it? Can't we just have a relationship with Jesus? Does religion take away from our relationship with Jesus or does it make it stronger? If it weren't for religion throughout the history of time, would we even know of Jesus?
Ask yourself: How do you even know of God and Jesus in the first place?
I think any Christian would answer: The Bible. Passed down through time. Written by prophets of God who testified of Jesus before He was born. It was also written by the apostles that lived during Jesus' time and after; making up the later part of the New Testament.
Have you ever wondered, with all the evangelist, pastors and teachers today, where are the apostles and prophets? What are their roles? Without apostles and prophets can we achieve what Ephesians 4:5 teaches we should be seeking after?
The Book of Mormon is another powerful witness of Jesus Christ. This scripture truly testifies of Christ and also how God has used religion to shape a people and draw them closer to Him.
Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of Christ. They both also establish the need of religion for those who seek to follow Christ. Maybe it is our imperfection that requires us to be guided and molded by religious practices, or maybe it is God's way of teaching us.
I know that Jeff's message is a good one if we can see past the blunt assumption that all religion is false.
The question is: Which religion/religions are true? Do they all have a piece of the puzzle? Or is there one true religion?
I believe that we all worship the same Jesus Christ. He is my Savior, Redeemer and Friend as He is yours! And He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe He has called a prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who leads and guides The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under His direction like He did the prophets of old. I believe this is Christ's church. His true religion.
I appreciate what Jeff was aiming to do with this message and I am thankful he got me to stand up a little taller and share what I believe. Honestly, my hope is that one day, no matter our differences, we will all be unified in faith and glorify our Savior in love and band together rather than put each other down.
Ephesians 4:11-16 is a great scripture on how religion can bless our lives:
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Have you ever wondered, with all the evangelist, pastors and teachers today, where are the apostles and prophets? What are their roles? Without apostles and prophets can we achieve what Ephesians 4:5 teaches we should be seeking after?
"One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
The Book of Mormon is another powerful witness of Jesus Christ. This scripture truly testifies of Christ and also how God has used religion to shape a people and draw them closer to Him.
Jacob 4:7-11
4 For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.
Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of Christ. They both also establish the need of religion for those who seek to follow Christ. Maybe it is our imperfection that requires us to be guided and molded by religious practices, or maybe it is God's way of teaching us.
I know that Jeff's message is a good one if we can see past the blunt assumption that all religion is false.
The question is: Which religion/religions are true? Do they all have a piece of the puzzle? Or is there one true religion?
I believe that we all worship the same Jesus Christ. He is my Savior, Redeemer and Friend as He is yours! And He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe He has called a prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, who leads and guides The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under His direction like He did the prophets of old. I believe this is Christ's church. His true religion.
"I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell." 2 Nephi 33:6
If you watch the video and read my comments, let me know your thoughts. I am also happy to answer your questions:) But please refrain from being hurtful and mean spirited. God is love!
6 comments:
I agree with you Wendy, in Christ came to bring religion and order to this world. I liked the video that Jeff did, but like you said there is truth in his words, but it's twisted. Religion when taught as Christ taught without judgement and ridicule is pure and can help you come closer to Him. I know that religion when shared with others can help you grow. You learn from each other, you help each other grow. So while he is condifent and sure of the words he is saying and has a way of reaching people who might not even know Christ, those same people need to understand that not all religion is bad.
I hadn't seen this until now. I appreciate Jeff's message and some of it makes sense. We are killing religion...by our example and words.
My thoughts are somewhat different because of my experiences. What makes me sad though is how we are so caught up in thinking that going to church, doing our VT/HT, and all those other good 'mormon' acts, makes us think we are 'good LDS people', yet we are doing and saying things to the contrary in public which non-members see and hear every single day, and leads them to believe religion/mormonism is wrong. I am embarrassed because of the actions of those LDS leaders/members who have embarrassed Christ's name. They hurt missionary and religion of every kind.
I am involved in Scouting in the community. Everyone knows I am LDS and I have heard horror stories of how Bishops, Stake presidents, etc have embarrassed Christ's name by their words and actions. Not once, but more fingers than I can count. They are ruining the good name of Christ and misusing sacred tithing funds by not being trained, not using sound judgement when taking youth backpacking. This is just one aspect of how religion is being killed by the actions of the LDS members and Leaders.
This is how religion is being killed. By you, me, our Bishops, the Elder's Q President, Brother and Sister So and So. We need to really practice what we believe in.
Great, thought- provoking post, Wendy! And a good response. Just a couple of editorial things: I think you mean "powerful" witness, not power, unless I read it wrong and towards the end: your, not you. Take care!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!
Amen!
Finally saw that I had comments on this blog! Where have I been! I really appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts with me. I hear what you all are saying. I see what "you" are saying about our actions killing religion. I see that all the time too, but I can't carry their shame with me, I can only do my part to constantly apply the atonement in my life and strive to live according to what I know to be true, and that is to try to become more like Christ every day. I may not be perfect and those in the church or any religion for that matter and that is why we need Christ in our lives.
Some people may measure themselves by their home teaching and others by how they feel at the end of the night when they reach up to heaven through prayer. It is sad when people publicly do things that offend or put off others from Mormonism, but that is where the problem lies. We aren't Mormons, rather we are Christians and thus should act accordingly. And yet we are all still very human and make mistakes.
On top of all that, he definitely isn't pointing a finger at any one religion, although we may take it a little personal. Honestly, I just felt that in this instance, I needed to stand up to the false ideas in the video because so many I knew of were being swayed completely away from religion in general. I couldn't stand by and not share my testimony. The Church is true even though there are those who belong to it that are terrible examples.
Don't carry the shame of others who have let others down by their examples. We are all at different places in our lives. And all those wounds will one day be healed through our Savior. I have faith in Him.
Thank you again for all your comments back in February!!!
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