I don’t question Bethke’s motivation and I appreciate his focus on Jesus Christ. However, I do question his message that places Jesus over against religion. If I tell an atheist or agnostic friend that, even though I’m a Christian, I don’t have a religion but have a “relationship with God” they will think that I’m not being straightforward with them or living in denial.

In fact, I would argue that religion is all about relationship (the root meaning of the word is “to bind together”). But to claim a relationship with Christ while denying that Christianity is my religion is like trying to distance myself from my extended family because of that strange relative. It is not all about me and Jesus. I was baptized (a religious practice) into the one body of Christ, i.e., the church (1 Cor. 12:13). To piggy-back on Bethe’s Facebook comments you have referenced, to say that I love Jesus but hate religion is like saying that I love my dear friend but cannot stand his spouse.

Even though religion is a dirty word for many, I cannot claim to be non-religious. I am a Christian because my religion includes Jesus Christ.

Thanks for reading my blog, Blair. It is great to have even an audience of one

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.”

but i also think there is much good about the video. i think it gives hope to many who have been hurt by religion (people who follow a religion, as a religion can’t literally hurt someone), of which there are many. i think it lets them know that Jesus does not endorse the views of everyone who claims the title ‘christian’, myself included along with folks like westboro baptist. i think it offers hope.

i had written off church as a bigoted, ignorant and irrelevant place to go on sundays when i was embraced by the people of Glen Elm here in Regina. it changed me. i know that Jesus changed me, but them showing me the love of Christ made all the difference. i guess my hope is this video might inspire people to look deeper, and that it could have that same impact on them. i don’t think it’s simply a guy who is calling out people who don’t think like he does. and i fail to see how it does more harm than good.

anyway, just a couple thoughts/wonderings. thanks for the blog. much love to you and darlene!