A few months ago, the viral video “Why I Love Jesus, but Hate Religion” soared through the internet. One could hardly, log on to Facebook without seeing the video reposted, either by those who align themselves secularly or religiously. The topic itself was nothing new. Many of us have often heard the words “Its about a relationship, not a religion.”
I struggle with the language in this video and the ideologies of the this anti-religion movement. Sifting through the various responses to the video both in agreement and in criticism gave me a lot to think about and reflect on.
Often, this discussion has simply become a discussion of semantics rather than a meaningful discussion about the “relationship” Christians have with Jesus Christ. It is interesting to hear that what some people describe as religion, is in reality the Church, while others seem to have a vague concept of religion as tradition and practice. I, however, do not think you can separate a relationship with Jesus from a relationship with His church and the “religious” practices of that church.
The question I believe that needs to be asked is “How do we have relationship with God?” Is it possible that we have relationship with God through action? That sounds an awful lot like religion to me. Can we worship God without actions or without practices?
This becomes an interesting question when we look at how God has entered into relationship with people throughout the scriptures. God is a God of covenant relationship. “I will be your God, and you will be my people, and I will dwell among you.” This is not a bartering agreement and the emphasis is communal. We cannot, have part of the covenant and leave the rest. Therefore, if God is going to be our God, and we are going to be His people, and He is going to dwell among us, we must understand that this will take place in community.
It is also interesting to note, that those who entered into covenant relationship with God, put that faith into action, bringing forth righteousness and justice. One just need only look at the “Heroes of Faith” in Hebrews chapter 11 for examples.
Jesus himself, was also not opposed to religion. Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. He himself, was religious, and fulfilled that religion by the most religious of actions when he himself became an atoning sacrifice. Furthermore, even in his criticism that the religious leaders were following their religion by tithing but ignoring justice and righteousness, Jesus explains that they should have sought justice and righteous without stopping their religious obedience (Matthew 23:23.)
So let us examine, covenant relationship so that we may understand how religion fits in.
First, how is God our God? How is Yahweh the God of the Jews and the Gentiles? The answer to this question is found throughout the scriptures. It is in the mystery of God that the answer lies. The mystery, that the promised Jewish Messiah would be God incarnate, human and divine, and become the one sufficient sacrifice for all time on behalf of humanity forging a new covenant that would be for all people. (Hebrews 11) It is in this New Covenant, that humanity has access to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:14-16, 9:19-25)
Second, how then, are we God’s people? We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), we have been washed, sanctified, justified and we now stand as a royal priesthood and Holy nation (I Corinthians 6:11, I Peter 2:9). Not only, are we God’s people, but a people who have been prepared to worship Him and do good works through action (Eph. 2:10, James 1:27)
Lastly, how then, does Christ dwell among us? Have we not been given the Spirit of God, which not only seals us, but also breaks down communal barriers and in gifting us, makes us a body of Christ in which we dwells? Were we not commanded to repeat the actions of Jesus himself, who at the Last Supper, took the bread and after blessing it said “This is my Body broken for you” and took the cup saying “This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins?” How did the disciples recognize Jesus on the road to Emmaus? It was in the simple Eucharistic actions repeated before them. Christ took the bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it, and their eyes were opened.
Christ dwells among us in his people and he becomes present to us in the Lord’s Supper. How then, can we have relationship with Christ by leaving the church he established and the sacraments he instituted behind? How can we worship our Lord, without religion?
Yes, religion can become motions without relationship. Just as sexual actions can become devoid of relationship. Should, we therefore hate sex? Of course not! Just because religion can become devoid of relationship does not mean that the actions we take to worship God (i.e. communion, singing songs, prayer, taking care of the needy, creating, tithing, hearing confessions and confessing, etc.) should be thrown out. Someone can just as easily help the poor devoid of relationship with the Lord, as participate in a high church Eucharistic liturgy devoid of relationship. However, both of these things require actions. Both point to relationship and can be full of relationship.
We must stop being afraid of religion and we must stop being afraid of relationship. The fact that there are those who make religious practices into empty motions, is not the fault of religion. Therefore, we should stop finding an excuse for our spiritual struggles by blaming religion. We must realize that the church, religion, and relationship cannot be separated.
