Friday, January 27, 2012

Jesus vs. Religion: A Response


By now, most people have seen this video pitting Jesus against religion. I know that a lot of people have already made their various responses to it but I thought I would also join the masses and sharing what I thought about this video.

My friend wrote this as a response:

"I totally oppose this video. It is hate crime. It contains the logic of Hitler. Contrary to the arrogant speculation of our semi-transgressive wanna be Linkin Park narrator, the Christian New Testament is not ashamed to self-identify as a religion (James 1:27), and most good inner city work done to feed the poor is done by Christian, religion based, missionary initiatives (Salvation Army, Covenant House, Yonge Street Mission etc). Unfortunately, the moment we begin to see our practices as normative, pure, or more "authentic"--the moment we think our practices are not practices--that is when the ideological language of hatred is used to delegitimize the "Other". Not surprisingly, this video ends with a statement of hate, and that is what this video is, a hate video."

I had to really think about the comment my friend made. This is a man who I admire and I definitely would define him as a thought-leader. He knows his stuff. And so, while it is too easy to dismiss his claims as too "overboard" or "way out there" at first glance, I really took the time to think about what he said. And so, while the comment may seem excessive, I would heartily agree with it. 

First, I have a big problem with the way "religion" is often portrayed in today's mainstream society. This video merely adds to the current misconception that "religion is bad" or that "religion has started wars". Religion, however, has often been hijacked by religious people and have been twisted and manipulated to be used to further their own selfish, sick ambitions and desires. How much of it is the "religion" and how much of it is the result of evil people who pervert a religion to benefit themselves? 

Religion comes from the word "re" and "ligio", with the word "ligio" meaning "to bind" or "to mend". When you break a bone and have to re-set it, this is the meaning imbued and hidden in the word. Religion, then, at least in its purest sense, is a way to re-bind the cosmic separation between humans and God. It is a way to re-connect, to fix the great divide that separates the creation from its Creator. Religion is the attempt of man to experience the divine unity that was severed by sin. And so in humanity's attempt to fix this cosmic break-up, it has come up with different, alternative ways to connect with God. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism are but some of the names that humanity has come up with to connect with the Higher Being we are connected to. I'm not saying that Christianity is the same as other religions (I am not a relativist...) but I guess I don't understand why so many Christians are insecure about the fact that there are other religions. If anything, it is but a testament to the fact that we are all image-bearers who long to be with the One who created us. 

Some North American Evangelical Christians are completely offended that Christianity is lumped in with other religions. Christianity is not a religion, it's about a relationship with Jesus Christ, they say. Why can't it be both? Jesus didn't seem to be uptight about it. While Jesus did get mad at "religious" people, it is important to note that He was mad at "religious" people who tried to subvert religion to suit their needs. The main "villains" in the Gospel were Pharisees and Sadducees who were intent in the "law" rather than the "spirit of the law." (The law is actually amazing but the way that we understand it has been so twisted! But that's for another post...) What I find ironic is the fact that so many evangelical Christians point to this example and yet their attitudes are rather similar to the attitudes of the ones they're attacking. 

And here is probably my biggest problem with this video: it sets up a false claim that Jesus is against religion when in fact, Jesus is against FALSE religion. While I understand that this is not what he was trying to say (based on published exchanges between Kevin DeYoung and Jefferson Bethke), it is important to differentiate between the two. Being religious is not the same as being a hypocrite. Hypocrisy is the antithesis of what religion means and aspires to be. At the same time, there's this underlying insinuation that if you disagree with what he said, you are in the wrong and probably not even a Christian. Of course, he doesn't do this explicitly, but I have been around enough North American Evangelical Christians to know that it is true. Evangelical Christianity must understand that its own practices, rituals and particular way of understanding Christianity is subject to the same criticism that it levels at other groups under the Christian banner.

Maybe the reason why I am so riled up by this video is because I could see myself saying and thinking the same thing a few years ago. Maybe the reason why I am so riled up by this video is because I'm forced to face my past ideas and be humbled at how wrong I could be. And maybe the biggest reason why I am so riled up by this video is because I see the lack of humility in the way the Gospel is presented and think, wow, how could I have gotten it so wrong?

I agree that Christ is the only way, the truth and the life. I agree that without Him, I am nothing. I agree that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works, lest any man should boast. But I guess what I don't see is the heart of Paul when he said that he would rather be accursed and separated from God if it meant the salvation of the Jews. Where is the heart of compassion that weeps for the lost and mourns for them? Where is the heart of grace we're supposed to extend to everyone? Am I saying we should sin so that grace may abound? May it not be so! But for a video that talks a lot about grace, I just didn't find it that gracious to begin with.






1 comment:

  1. thanks for sharing your perspective, Sid - much appreciated and I agree that the way in which the gospel is communicated (in grace) needs to be limelighted.

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