RELIGION

Is it tearing us apart?

Karl Marx famously stated, "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people."

Every time I hear that said, I can't help but sigh and say to myself, “It's true.”

Some people act as though they actually LIKE religion. Others are so programmed by religious oppression they actually can't imagine life without it.

Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Wiccans, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Secular Humanists and, yes, Christians, are all guilty of embracing manmade religions over choosing a relationship with God.

Throughout the world, for example, many who ascribe to Islam - the so-called "religion of peace" - are being taught to “kill the infidel," the Christian and the Jew in their mission toward world domination. Most of these people do not read Arabic and are, therefore, unable to read Islam's Holy book, the Qur'an. As a result, they take as "gospel" every hate-filled word taught them by some wild-eyed cleric with an AK47 slung over his shoulder, even killing their own daughters and wives when situations warrant.

Jefferson (Jeff) Bethke is a 20-something year old Christian whose YouTube video on "Why I hate Religion, but Love Jesus" has attracted over 10 1/2 MILLION viewers. Think about that! Millions of people worldwide are shouting a hearty 'amen!' to this kid's video. Why? Because he's saying exactly what they are feeling but cannot seem to verbalize.

But not all people are lovin' Jeff's message. His video has spawned numerous counter-videos expressing why religion is so important and why Jeff is SO wrong. The titles include “Jesus loves religion,” and “Why I love religion AND love Jesus”, even “Why I hate religion and Jesus, too.”

I heard one minister counter Jeff by saying, “After Katrina, who were the first boots on the ground? Religious people!” He added, “Who builds all the hospitals and cares for so many people all over the world? Religion!”

That man of the cloth is so blinded by religiosity he can't even hear what he's saying. It's NOT “religion” doing those things; it's “Christ in us,” people driven by the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus was moved with compassion to help people who were hurting. It wasn't the Judaism under which He was raised. It's not semantics; I'm not slitting hairs. Referring to “Following Christ” as another mere manmade, or even man-REQUIRED, religion is simply a gross error!

Let's consider this: the word 'religion,' according to the dictionary, stems from the Latin “re” which is a prefix meaning "return," and “ligare” meaning "to bind." In other words, "return to bondage."

That's odd. Jesus said He came to set us free.

He called the most religious people of His day “hypocrites”, “white washed tombs”,” a brood of vipers” and said they were making their followers “twice as much a son of Hell” as themselves.

Whoa, Jesus! Show some respect to these religionists, would ya?

True, Jesus, Himself was raised as a religious Jew and He practiced all the traditional Jewish stuff. I get that. But the fact remains, He didn't put aside His godhood in order to establish a religion or an institution that would express religion toward Him. If anything, He was the “institutor.” We, His followers, claim Him as the “Head of The Church,” the Founder of a Jewish sect (later referred to as “Christians”) that was based upon “a new and better covenant,” according to Paul, still based upon the loving God, of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but centered around the Lordship of the long-anticipated Messiah of the Old Covenant who happened to be Himself. Though we CLAIM Him as such, religion causes us to act in a completely contrary manner, serving denominations, hierarchies, traditions of man more than we do our God.

His followers who penned the letters which make up the Bible finally wrapped their minds around that message. Unfortunately, because the nature of man is to always try to measure up, to win the blue ribbon, to be in charge, to hold positions of authority, and to be led around by the nose by those in charge, religion was invited into the mix and manmade systems of hierarchy and institutionalism reared their heads.

Tah-dah! Another religion was born.

If only we could grasp the concept of grace – the unmerited favor of God. It's unattainable. It's undeserved. It goes against our DNA to have been given such a merciful, forgiving, indescribable gift! Religious activities might appease one's conscience, but they do NOTHING to draw us any nearer the Father than we already are.

Followers of Jesus don't hear this message often enough.

Religion itself is, quite frankly, an enemy of mankind that we who love God should not embrace. It separates us from God and from one another. Cain hated his own brother, Abel, because he didn't approve of the manner in which he worshipped God. Mankind does the same thing today as evil acts continue taking place in the name of religion. In fact, religion has caused multitudes to detest their own Creator and the manmade institutions we've established in His Name as well, Christian and non-Christian.

Please understand this: Christianity is NOT a religion; it's a lifestyle based upon a relationship with our Creator, made possible because of a sinless Jesus who came as a sacrifice for all the rest of us upon a cross. His blood atoned for the sins of evil mankind – sins that had separated us from a Holy God - once and for all time. “Double Jeopardy” is a legal term defined as “the subjecting of a person to a second trial or punishment for the same offense for which the person has already been tried or punished.” Since our guilt was atoned for at the cross, making us justified and sanctified, why do we continue accusing ourselves of anything we've done?

Sadly, it's in our DNA to desire to appease our Creator with acts of pious deeds, sacrifices, ornate temples and all the institutional trappings going to services and trying our best to “be good.”

I hate to break it to ya – God is NOT impressed. Man looks at the outside but God is looking at our hearts (I Samuel 16:7). Truth is, He cannot be any MORE impressed with you than He already is WITHOUT all that religious stuff. Why is that? Because He sees you as HOLY.

You are RIGHTEOUS.

You have been JUSTIFIED.

You are now SANCTIFIED.

All these attributes were made possible for you the moment that first drop of Jesus' blood was shed. It's not a matter of how “good” you are. Scripture says “there is none good but God.” Just as He did when He established His covenant with Abraham, putting Abe to sleep and cutting the covenant while he snored, God KNEW we would be unable to maintain the NEW Covenant as well... so, He did all the work by Himself through Jesus.

Does humanity STILL attempt to reach and appease God by acting RELIGIOUS towards Him? Do you REALLY think He enjoys that? I'm a father, and I would MUCH rather my children spend TIME with me, nurturing our RELATIONSHIP, than putting on a well-rehearsed show for me any day! I get that attitude from GOD. I'd rather share a meal with my kids than have them burn a fatted calf to express their love.

Listen closely to what Jeff is saying in his popular video on YouTube. Are you one whose religious addiction makes you unable to hear what the Spirit is saying through His message? Millions from every denominational stripe are agreeing with Jeff's words, all of which can be backed-up with Scripture. While Religionists are gnashing their teeth – clenching their fists – over what he is saying, all he ever did was tell the truth.

Hmmm. Sounds a lot like what happened to Jesus.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

Founder, The Church @ Work (TCAW)

miketummillo@me.com