Jesus > Religion: Have We Listened?

Have you seen that video on YouTube? That really sleek video poem that features a charismatic young man enumerating his reasons for loving Jesus and hating religion? The one that went viral on Facebook and Twitter and has over 200,000 likes on YouTube alone? What did you think about it? How did you feel when you saw it? Now let me ask you another question – how do you imagine Jesus would have reacted to it?

There are many Catholics who are understandably upset about the video. They see the video as promoting a “Jesus and me” only kind of Christianity, and as a not-too-thinly veiled attack on the Church. Many Catholic responses to the video that can be found online makes a defence of the Church, for example, by pointing out scriptural evidence that Jesus instituted the Church (Mt 16:18), and how Jesus instituted the Eucharist (Mt 26:26-28,Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20) and empowered certain men to ‘bind and loose sins’ (Jn 20:23, Mt 18:18).

There are certainly many theological loopholes and problems in the video. You can find some very well thought-out and well-researched responses to the Jesus > Religion video and I’d recommend that you read these if you watched the video. BUT… If all we can think of is how to prove the video wrong, then I think we have a bigger problem: We are not acting as Jesus would. Why do I say that? Because Jesus always listened beyond what was apparent. That’s what made him able to look beyond the surface to recognize the good and true in even the worst sinners whom the religious leaders of his day condemned.

Let me paint you an image: If a young Catholic person came up to you and told you that she is struggling with her faith because she doesn’t agree with what the Church teaches about homosexuality, how would you respond? Would you be tempted to give her the perfect argument of why the Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality is grounded in scripture and why the Church is right while she is wrong?  Or would you be interested in knowing what it is that she has experienced that makes her feel this way? For all you know, she or someone very dear to her may be struggling with sexual identity. Would proving to her that the Church is right help this young person encounter the loving presence of Christ – which is probably what she needs most?

Jesus – the heart and soul of the Church – was always more interested in loving and healing people than in proving to them that he was right. The source of his authority was compassion – not rhetoric. It was his compassion that gave sinners the courage to face up to their brokenness and seek forgiveness. It was his love that enabled him to wield the sword of truth and break the chains that had been keeping people captive.

There are many Catholics who are hurting and struggling but who feel the need to keep their struggles secret for fear of being judged. There are many who are active in parish ministries and groups but who are angry, bitter and self-righteous because they have not personally experienced the unconditional love and forgiveness that God has for them. There are many children who go to church and are taught about love and forgiveness on Sundays, but from Monday to Sunday they live in a house devoid of parental presence and love. Some of them are even living in a climate of domestic violence, infidelity, and revenge. This IS the reality of the Church – the Body of Christ – the People of God!  And yet, is it not true that we all feel the need to ‘appear holy’ when we are around fellow Catholics? How many of us can honestly say that we have never judged a brother or sister who does not outwardly abide by the laws that we ascribe to God and the Church? Do we experience the Catholic community as a ‘hospital for the broken’ or do we subconsciously behave like it’s a ‘museum for good people’?

The law without Christ is dead for the law is meant to be in the service of love. If we know and love God and God’s people deeply and truly, we would be able to appreciate the beauty and truth inherent in the Church’s rituals and doctrine and use these to bring people to God. But the fact is that we – the Church – always fall short of loving God and God’s people, and that is why many of us do not experience ‘religion’ (defined here as the set of beliefs and practices that we adhere to) as life-giving.

I believe that it would do us a serious disservice if we were to simply dismiss the Jesus > Religion video as plain wrong. How would that transform us or make us more like Christ? You may scoff at the idea that this video could bring you closer to Christ. But you see, I believe that God speaks to us all the time. I believe that if we ask him, he will give us the grace to see the world through his eyes and to hear him in even the least expected places. I believe that if we are secure in God’s love, we would know that Mother Church is not so interested in being defended against attack from her children as she is in forgiving, embracing, and comforting them.

In the light of Christ’s love, this video contains a lot more truth than error. If we fail to acknowledge that, we would be driving more people away from God and his church than we would be evangelizing. So let’s pray for the love and courage to really listen – not only to this video, but to everyone who expresses unhappiness and doubt in God or the church.  May we listen not just in order to rebut or counter-argue – for that is not genuine listening. Rather, may we listen with a humble and loving presence as Christ did. Conversion in others can only happen if we let ourselves be converted first. So before we preach, let’s learn to listen.

Note:
[Jefferson] Bethke, the young man in the video, clarifies that he loves the church and the Bible but he wants to expose the hypocrisy and legalism apparent in many houses of worship.

He wrote on his Facebook on Friday, “If you are using my video to bash ‘the church’ be careful. I was in no way intending to do that.”

“The Church is Jesus’ bride so be careful how you speak of His wife,” he stated. “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 word. A hospital for sinners. Saying you love Jesus but hate the Church, is like a fiancé saying he loves his future bride, but hates her kids. We are all under grace. Look to Him.”

According to the Washington resident, he loves Jesus and is just trying to make Him famous. It’s a feat that appears well on its way as the video keeps racking up hits and commentary.

- Excerpt from Ravelle Mohammed, 2012 -01-13, ‘Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus’ Viral Video Sparks Faith Debate’, The Christian Post, http://www.christianpost.com/news/why-i-hate-religion-but-love-jesus-viral-video-sparks-faith-debate-67119/