Day 4: Your Views on Religion

Now, this is a blog challenge question I can get behind! Any time someone asks me about "religion," a very clear picture comes into my head: There's a scene in the movie "Jesus of Nazareth" where He is teaching at the temple, when the Pharisees ask Him what to do with some chick who was caught in the act of adultery (John 8:1-11). He doesn't say a whole lot; rather, He bends down and draws something in the sand.

This is the scene from "The Passion," but you get the point. Evidently, in that film, Mel Gibson's Jesus draws a line in the sand. Not biblical, but I understand his point...Anyways, when I hear the word "religion," that's what I think of: Pharisees, AKA "Painted Sepluchres," throwing accusations and stones at people, when the One Who is right, the One Who is kind, loving, just, gracious, and merciful, simply stands there and offers forgiveness.

Religion is rigid. It's harsh and commanding, judgmental and cruel. It's regime and ceremony, it's habit and hard lines. "Religion" is why the gay community is almost unreachable by Christians--we offer NOTHING when we go to people with brutality and condemnation.

My husband once preached a sermon about the difference between condemnation and conviction. Religion preaches condemnation; love gently convicts. When you go to people with your list of "should nots," you beat them down. Love meets people where they are, and gently builds them up into lifestyle changes. The Holy Spirit works on them from the inside, out--not beating them down from the outside, in. That's love. Religion is NOT love.  Religion is a well-used tool from the enemy that Christians have used in horribly misguided attempts to cause people to "come to the Lord" under a mantle of feeling like crap about themselves. 

When Jesus knelt down and doodled in the sand, He spoke volumes. He didn't jump up and yell at this woman (which, BTW, we have no idea why she was caught in the act of adultery, or where in the world was the guy!?!?!?!?). He didn't grab a stone to throw at her. He kind of physically turned His back on the Pharisees and on the situation, as if to say, "You are so petty." I mean, HE DREW IN THE DIRT. That was His reaction--to doodle! I can't get that image out of my head. Religion grabs rocks. Love acknowledges the situation, but puts it into perspective. Love awakens us to the reality that we are all equal--equally messed up, but equally redeemable.

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” [John 8:1-11].

He had so many things that He could have said, and the Pharisees would have jumped on it. They were looking for a way to trap Him. He could have responded in judgement; He could have responded by grabbing a brick. Instead, He responded with simple, uncomplicated love.

The woman--she is me. She is all of us. She was confronted with death, but given grace, and she has no idea what to do with herself. Rather than run off as soon as the Pharisees began to go away, she's shell-shocked. Jesus stands up, looks her in the eye, and gives her that beautiful reality of freedom and forgiveness...That's what Love does.

So, that's my view of "religion." I don't like it. I'm guilty of playing that role, of living that lifestyle...but I don't want to be. Religion leaves no room for Love, and since God is Love, well, looks like those two are diametrically opposed.

"It's not a religion, it's a relationship." Yeah, that quotes' been overplayed. It's Christianese 101...but my relationship with God brings me closer to Him, and the closer I get to Him, the more I learn to love, which is right about where I think I'm supposed to be. Love all. Be Jesus. Judge none.