It was written by Christian evangelist Jefferson Bethke.
A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures, Jesus received the most opposition from most religious people of His day. At its core Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/ self-justification. Religion is man-centered, Jesus is God-centered. The poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can’t do your own list of rules and you feel not good enough for God. With Jesus, though, you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don’t represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect, putting us in perfect standing with God!
This isn’t a poem to criticize the Church.
The Church is Jesus’ bride so be careful how you speak of His wife. If a normal dude has right to get pissed when you bash his wife, it makes me tremble to think how great the weight is when we do it to Jesus’ wife. The Church is His vehicle to reach a lost world; A hospital for sinners. Saying you love Jesus but hate the Church, is like a fiancé saying he love his future bride but hates her kids.
THE POEM
What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion? What if I told you voting Republican wasn’t really 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 caused 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 a behavior modification, like a long list of chores Like let’s dress up the outside make it 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 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 façade 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 for 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 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.

vickyO:

Religion is man-centered, Jesus is God-centered.

And i don't think Jesus told his Disciples this one that i'm seeing.
The poor disciples just went inside the Temple to knock their heads on the floor three times a day practising man-centered religion which may nt give them salvation.

Victims of fraudulent, isn't it?

Only God knows their present conditions. :'

harbiola1:

And i don't think Jesus told his Disciples this one that i'm seeing.
The poor disciples just went inside the Temple to knock their heads on the floor three times a day practising man-centered religion which may nt give them salvation.

Victims of fraudulent, isn't it?

Only God knows their present conditions. :'

Did they?
And doesn't it seem a little to early to derail?
Are you a Christian?

I hate christianity and I hate jesus.

Our ancestors were wise.

PAGAN 9JA:
I hate christianity and I hate jesus.

Our ancestors were wise.

Thanks for airing your views.

vickyO:
Thanks for airing your views.

you are welcome.

PAGAN 9JA:


you are welcome.

vickyO:
Did they?

Didn't they

vickyO:
And doesn't it seem a little to early to derail?

Derail don't u knw the meaning of "Derail"?
I'm still on the topic, man-centre and God-centre.

vickyO:

Are you a Christian?

Must i be a christian b4 i can say the facts i knw about the Disciples of Jesus(as)

harbiola1:
Didn't they


Derail don't u knw the meaning of "Derail"?
I'm still on the topic, man-centre and God-centre.


Must i be a christian b4 i can say the facts i knw about the Disciples of Jesus(as)

Every man's entitled to his opinion.

I couldn't read erything

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY

I love doctors but hate sickness

@OP

To be more accurate, you actually love what is said about Jesus by the Gospel

There is a danger that the image you so much love is idealized and mythified

mumumugu: I love doctors but hate sickness

is that analogy really perfect?

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

Desmond Tutu

This says it all...christians....nigerian christians are soo fanatical about this jesus 'fraud'... it disgusts me