Haters of religion

There's a video on YouTube that has gone viral over the last few weeks.  The title of the video is "Why I hate religion, but love Jesus," and throughout the meat of the video, the creator is citing a poem that he wrote, which talks about how bad "religion" is, even though Jesus Himself is equally as wonderful as religion is bad.  (to see the original video, click below)

I understand what the author is trying to say.  By "religion," it seems to me that he really means false religion - he means the people who follow all of the rules but have no room for grace and mercy, the hypocrites and "whitewashed sepulchers" of this generation.  And I can understand why his video has gotten so many views so quickly - with its emotional message, pro-Jesus but con-organized religion stand, and slick camera angles, this is exactly the type of video that my generation wants to see.

But there's one minor problem with it.  It's wrong.  Jesus did not come to abolish religion.  He was a law-abiding Jew, one who went to the synagogue and observed all of the rules and holidays and festivals.  Jesus respected the pre-existing traditions and rituals in the church; He did not intend to do away with them.  He specifically said that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  

But therein lies the rub.  Jesus came to fulfill the law.  Which means that we don't have to.  We all know, if we are honest with ourselves, that we are not capable of obeying every law and precept laid down in the Bible.  Perhaps that's why we say we hate religion - we can't do it, it overwhelms us, so let's just say we love Jesus instead, right?  Jesus came to take the pressure to perform off of our shoulders.  He came to set us free.  And He came so that, eventually, He could mold us into the kinds of beings who could also fulfill the requirements of religion and the law - albeit after we have died and joined Him in heaven.  So the next time you say that you hate religion but love Jesus, just remember this...He came to fulfill the requirements of religion.  He came so that you would not have to.

Matthew 5:17-20

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish then, but to fulfill them.  18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will be any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.  19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.