As a pastor, I get interesting responses from people when they discover my vocation. Some will immediately apologize for the language they’ve used. Some offer a forced smile and then come up with an excuse to change the subject. One line I hear often is: “Well, I like Jesus, but I don’t like religion.”
I understand the sentiment. People are leery of the church and religion because they believe the church to be greedy or fear-mongering or unloving. And it’s true that believers in Jesus have in fact sometimes exhibited those things. We have too often not lived up to our name and followed the way of Jesus.
“Religion,” however, is the practice of faith (James 1:27). The church is the physical way God has given us to practice the way of God’s kingdom. The problem with saying we like Jesus but not the church is that Jesus loves the church. He said it’s something He will build (Matthew 16:18). In addition, Paul uses the imagery of the church as Jesus’ bride (Ephesians 5:22-23). If we love Him, then loving the church is part of the package deal.
When we say that we like God but not religion, what we sometimes mean is that we like our individual, internal notions of “faith,” but we don’t want to be committed to any actual narratives, practices, or communities of faith. We want the vague notion of God (one that easily bends to our whims), but we don’t want to commit ourselves to the difficult work of living in real relationships guided by truths to which we must obediently yield.
Concrete actions (like caring for orphans and widows) done within a concrete community (the church) is good religion. We need it, and it will honor God and bring us joy.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Psalm 103:1-22
More:
Read James 1:19-27 again. How does our religion become worthless? And why do you think this would make us foolish?
Next:
Where might you be called to commit more fully to a concrete community of faith? In what ways do you need to begin living out a concrete practice of faith?
pjp on May 16, 2013 at 6:36 am
You nailed it Winn.
marvin williams on May 16, 2013 at 7:58 am
Great devotion, Winn. To love Jesus is to love his bride, warts and all. This devotion reminds me that The implanted word, not only saves me from separation from God and rescues me from ungodly choices in the midst of my trials and temptations, but it must supplant my will so I can practice God’s heart – caring for the weak, vulnerable and marginalized in the world. Thanks for challenging us to bend our will to his will.
winn collier on May 16, 2013 at 9:45 am
implant and supplant – I think I hear a sermon coming on?
winn collier on May 16, 2013 at 9:44 am
thank you. In my book, the word “religion” has taken too much of a beating.
love1234 on May 16, 2013 at 9:43 am
Praise the Lord Brother Williams:
Religion – The practice of Faith. As long as i’ve been a christian, that is a definition of religion that i could run away with. Bless you for sharing that seed.
winn collier on May 16, 2013 at 9:45 am
well, run away, as far and fast as you like.
mike wittmer on May 16, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Amen! I would be rude to say I liked you but not your wife, and it’s even worse to say I love Jesus but not his bride. Give me some of that old time religion!
roxanne robbins on May 16, 2013 at 10:52 pm
I would think that if someone said they like Jesus but don’t like religion (which in this context, religion seems to mean the practice of worshipping God) he or she may not have a personal relationship with Christ. In that case, it makes complete sense they would not like religion as it would purely mean going through motions that aren’t in tune with relationship.
daisymarygoldr on May 17, 2013 at 2:04 am
Good post and discussion, Winn Collier and all!
People hate religion because they don’t like dos and don’ts—just like Adam and Eve. Even many Christians bristle at the very thought of obeying rules. In fact I read about one Sunday school girl who was able to convince her teacher that it is not rules but about the relationship. That must be one chaotic class full of lawless kids. Thankfully, the 2-yr olds in my class diligently keep rules and know where to go potty or put the trash.
Jesus religiously observed all of God’s laws. He also encouraged others to practice and obey whatever the teachers of religious law tell them but not follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. (Matthew 23:3). The religious leaders were rebuked for teaching man-made ideas as commands from God. They ignored God’s laws to hold on to their own traditions (Mark 7:7-8).
So, simply attending church, singing in the choir and going on mission trips without pursuing a personal relationship with God is dead religion. And if the church is a liturgical, systemic organization of man-made teachings and observations, then it is merely a whitewashed tomb with a religion of their own making. It is not surprising if people resist this form of false religion.
Religion that is acceptable to God is to control the tongue, care for the needy and keep ourselves pure (James 1:26-27). Without the social and personal ethics of religion humans will become animals and society will crumble into chaos. Also, as long as the church exists on this planet, there is hope for unbelievers to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and be saved. But once she is removed from the earth there is no more grace but fearful judgment of God will be poured out.
Bottom line: those who love Jesus will also live by His rules to love others in His body as ourselves.
tom felten on May 17, 2013 at 2:04 pm
daisymarygoldr, good thoughts! I’m reminded of what Jesus said in John 14:21: “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”