Jesus > Religion

Hi, This book is everything I already thought about God/religion/churches/real Christians , but it was great to have someone write it down in a great way. He is a great writer and has great insights. He is not a pastor etc, but was on a journey to figure out God/religion/church etc. He had his upbringing in church which bored him. Model Christians may miss the mark and New age may miss the mark. Are there real Christians? Each chapter has questions at the end that summarize the chapter...good for group discussions or personal thoughts.He has some great insights. Trying to earn heaven? It is worth reading. I have not gone to church for awhile since I can't get up in the morning, but I agree...each church represents people who are about the same personality. I wonder what one of my churches I enjoyed would do if a motor cycle gang drove up to church for service. Can a person be ok without a church? All I know is I can feel the vibrations of positive energy like people who go to a foot ball game instead of watching it at home. People need people and love. God is about love and to be isolated is not good. Life is the school, love is the lesson is the bumper sticker on my car. I agree Jesus hated religion, but God is not religion. Man made religion to try to earn their way to heaven and feel safe/protection maybe. To me a real Christian will show love, not just follow rules to try to get to heaven. If they don't love they are not full of the Holy spirit in my opinion.My kids went to a christian school...they got a lot of religion and prayer/Bible learning and some love, but not positive thinking. The focus was too serious sometimes which attracts maybe sad things. I have never seem so many bad things happen. I read the whole Bible a few times...too serious and church didn't teach always the whole story and dark things in the Bible. Taking the Bible to literal each church may focus on a different part of the Bible. I like to read the words of Jesus...to me that is the most important part. I agree grace/love/forgiveness etc. is the new law more than rituals/Old testament. When I hear a sermon I don't want to hear man's wisdom and his learning curve, but God's wisdom.I went to one church where most of the songs were very depressing and can only be happy in heaven. The people were depressed also and had to force self to pray/go to church like it was a duty instead of enjoying it. They would call themselves Christians and other churches were not considered Christian. There were many good things about that church, and great fellowship, but right now I don't feel like I would "fit in" to any church so I watch on TV Joel Osteen talk positive. I know he is not talking much about the New testament, but think he is living the Christian life with more faith than others and wisdom. He knows to stay connected to God and give him the glory/praise/honor and thank God. Jesus did not come to judge, but teach people how to reconnect to God and how to live.I wanted to help at one church, but they said they didn't want people like me to help in the nursery. They run the church like a business and get to "hire" who they want...even though it is volunteer and they desperately needed nursery help, but didn't want me. I could only be a spectator there 99% of the time. They didn't want my help except with Bible school...didn't person in charge of that.Another church the pastor talks about sex/money too much and wants to be a famous preacher. He is like a comedian and many "down and out" people go there since they are sad and need his humor.Another churches...not my style of music/preaching/or what I believe.I need a church that I can be accepted/loved/listened to/lets me help and teaches what I believe. I don't go to church for entertainment, but to learn/songs/sermon/fellowship. I can pray/thank/praise God at home. I don't do communion since I can't have alcohol/gluten and I think God would understand. I have done full body under water baptism like Jesus did.This is an excellent book...gets people thinking. I have already had many discussions about religion versus God, but he adds new insights into the debate. People may decide to be atheists since they have not witnessed real Christians. All people sin, but where is the love? God gave a new law...grace/mercy/love/forgive. Kent Brantly to me is a real Christian. Religious wars...some will say God allowed killing in the Old testament. New testament...Paul's opinion 4X..man's wisdom? People may use against gay people? Where is the love?

I had always thought that something wasn't quite right with the churches we were going to. Something felt missing. Many times I didn't see the love we were called to live out. Coming out of a divorce family with two extreme belief ideas, God has given me a balance between them. My dad is very religious and zealous, while my mom was nonreligious yet I had seen love in her and not in my dad. She was a universalism and believe that everyone had some truth, every religion was right( not saying I agree with this, nor do I believe that. How can one say the door is open and one say no it's shut both be right, it's either or.) Anyway she had always told us that she didn't care what religion we were part of or what we believe. She just want us to think for ourselves and believe something because that's what somebody says to do. She said she would accept us regardless and still love us as our children. She didn't see the importance of going to the "church" and stop going altogether. She thought it was more important to visit your grandparents and to help out the needy. My mom isn't perfect but I have learn much from her. My dad was extremely strict and it had to be done such a way. With many rules and regulations No Halloween No NonChristian Music No Harry Potter and so on. On the other hand he did bring up into a "Christian family" and taught me about Jesus early on. We often had to do prayer chair (where one goes on to the chair and everyone prays for him. I really appreciate them and always felt good about them), "praise and worship time" where we would sing his made up songs to God, and daily bible reading times. Even though at the time I didn't like those and always thought they were boring, they help me with my foundations with Christ. So I have learn things that were good and things that were not with both of them, helping shaping me. One time I was arguing with my dad about not going to church on Wednesdays (which was super important for him. You can't miss church) I told how the youth group was dead and how I wanted to go to a different church one instead, but he refuse to listen and I had to go. This went on for awhile. I was also 18, a junior in high school. So one Wednesday evening when we were getting ready to leave, I told him I wasn't going and walk out. He was furious and said I command you to come back and if you don't obey than you are breaking the scriptures (or something like that, super controlling and manipulative, changing the words out of the context for his will) so ignore him and drove to my moms (since they were divorce) My mom told me how proud she was since I stood up for myself. Later he told me I couldn't go back to his house unless I go to Wednesday church with him again. I never did so I was kick out of his house. The thing was I was still responsible for my younger siblings and to drop then off but I was unable to go inside. Talk about pain. Not only that but a few weeks later I got into a pretty bad car crash but both the driver and me were safe. Our cars were pretty mess up. I would normally call my mom for help but she wasn't in town so I had to call my dad for help. I was terrified, but I eventually call him and him and my step mother came. I told him what happen and he offered to drive my car home(it was still drivable) and I got to ride home with my stepmother. I'm glad too because I was so shaken up that I couldn't drive even if I wanted too. So we went home (first time for me in weeks) and we ate dinner. Thinking everything was back to normal he ask me again if I was going to church on Wednesday. I said no and we both knew what that meant and I went more weeks with out seeing them. Eventually he realize how dumb it was and change the "punishment" to no watching tv or such and such, which I didn't really watch a whole too much. So I got to go back to the house. And eventually the "punishment" was completely remove. Right now we are good with each other and a side note we had a pretty good relationship with each other before the whole thing started. Another thing was I was going to church on my own and many times I was alone since I didn't knew a whole lot of people. I was extremely thankful the situation and trusted in God that everything was going to be okay. Because before that I didn't really had a way to understand those who had it worst than me and I could understand what my cousins where feeling a lot better.Sorry for getting carried away and writing nothing about the book. At first before I even read it I thought I was good enough and didn't need to read it, but after reading it I was really wrong. It help reminded me, reestablish, and change my paradigms. Some things I always new because they had always been on my heart. Other things were tear crying moments of I'm wrong. I started to see Jesus more clearly.Nevertheless the real question is should You read this book?Yes!I don't care where you are in your walk with Christ or don't even know him. Just do it.

The real Jesus destroys lives and presents a new completely remade person in light of the true gospel. Bethke makes this book so simple yet profound. STOP PLAYING RELIGION! Get done to serving the LORD God Almighty. The One who every knee shall bow and tongue confess on the day of Judgement. I strongly recommend this book to any one- skeptic, believer, or sit fencer. It leaves you humbly coming to the cross where the broken can find rest. Having Bethke's personal story flow freely through the pages adds meaning and depth as he states, 'he's just a regular dude, glorifying Jesus.' Do you what to know Christ? Do you want Christ to know you? When your encounter the real Jesus, your life will become transformed! That's what my story was. I was dead, dry and religious trying to follow the rules not my LORD.Here's my story: Before I met the real Jesus, I strived for attention and feared rejection. Everywhere I went I feared that ppl would look down on me in disgrace. I was lost in myself and at night I would wonder why I wasn't feeling loved or accepted. People who knew me would think I had everything together on the outside, doing good deeds, following all the religious ways. Inwardly, I was being destroyed by my own lust and self-centered desires. This has been a reoccurring pattern most of my life up into this year. I was miserable. I escaped the pain by burrowing it with alcohol, social, and being busy. When I didn't have anything going on, I was left to my thoughts and that scared me. I didn't want to face who I really was. I didn't want to reveal what was in my heart. I wanted to pretend everything was going to be ok. My wounds would heal on their own. This lie had its hold on me for a long time. Earlier this year I began digging into my insecurities and talking to wiser men. I felt an aching to desire Christ.Then boom I met Jesus. I was on the road to Idaho. Truly, felt His presence. All I could do is humble myself and weep in His presence. I held on for so long. My whole life I have been battling taking my life in my own hands, not letting go and surrendering everything to Him. I have pride in my God now, and boast in my weakness. I fear Him not man. I long to share this truth to everyone I know. Because I came to the end of myself before I began to truly live. I had to give back the throne I stole from the creator of the Universe. Only He can be Lord of my life. Scripture means the world to me. Glorifying Him in everything is the most important thing in our short lives. 1Cor. 10:31Buy this book please! Discover God's Radical plan for your life!

Jefferson Bethke has experienced God's grace so profoundly that God couldn't help but use him in this generation. I have had the opportunity to converse with Jeff a couple of times and have been impressed with his humility through his explosion of popularity. Based off of his spoken word poem, "Why I hate Religion, but love Jesus" this book is an in-depth look into his life and heart behind the writing of the poem. It reads more like a conversation than an exposition of scripture. While it is beneficial to all, I think this book can impact the younger generation due to his ability to relate given his age and methods of communication. The title gives off the premise of the book, of coarse, but here are a few highlights of the book:He points to the real Jesus.He starts off in the right place, with Jesus. It would be difficult to explain why Jesus was greater than religion if we didn't have a proper understanding of who the real Jesus is. He explains how, as a kid growing up, he developed "the religion of moralism dressed in Christian clothes" and contrasts this with the truth of scripture of who Jesus really is. In his words, "The Jesus of the Bible is a radical man with a radical message, changing peoples lives in a radical way." And of religion he states, "what one must do, or behave like, in order to gain right standing with God" "Religion says do. Jesus says done" and "Religion is pursuing God by our moral efforts. Jesus is God pursuing us despite our moral efforts."He invites us all to drop our religious tendencies and embrace Jesus.We are all prone to add our own moralism to God's word. But no matter where you're at in life, Jesus has grace for you. Jeff reminds us throughout the book this truth: "No matter how we come to Jesus-whether we are coming to him for the first time or finding our way back to him after faking it, or even if we have tried to be righteous by adding our own rules to the Bible-we are all in need of his grace and truth."He finishes by pointing out what the church really is.The church is not a building or a "museum for good people." Jeff explains on a very practical level that the church is the people of God, the body of Jesus. Here are a few quotes: "the church [is not] a place to act good but a place to drop the act," "The church is a place to be transparent and vulnerable," "...a place where his children could be healed."For a 23-year-old writer who's not a pastor and doesn't have a seminary degree, this book is packed with truth and wisdom. I believe his writing will only continue to improve as he grows in Christ.God Bless!It's all about Jesus.

This book is a must have for every living person on this planet.I don't say that just because I received a pre-release copy of the book, or because I became part of a Street Team to help promote the book. Both of which are true. However; this book both transformed, and reaffirmed what Grace truly means in my personal life.What first made me fall in love with this book was they style it was written. It was open, candid, and personal. I almost felt as if I was in a coffee shop in the great Pacific Northwest (cause that's all the exists there, amen?), having a conversation with Jefferson as he poured his heart out about Jesus."The Jesus of the Bible is a radical man with a radical message, changing people's lives in a radical way."Jesus. The focal point of this book; Jefferson has a convicting, and convincing way of painting who the real Jesus is. The passionate, hungry, fiery, dangerous all loving man who we can have a real and personal relationship with. As Bethke writes, we understand that Jesus isn't a cookie-cutter cute baby that we sing about during Christmas, but a an all-powerful God who has set us free from bondage."And when He said `It is finished,' I believe that He meant it."Grace isn't something that we earn, achieve, or work for. We see that common thread throughout the book, and Bethke doesn't shy away from the tough topics that have many Christians, and non-faith based leaders in controversy.Alcoholism, homosexuality, pornography, tattoos, sex, and similar topics are on the forefront of debate in this book. This is what hit hard with me, and what Jefferson so simply articulates: it doesn't matter what we deal with. Grace isn't extended to those who struggle with some sin and not others. Through Christ, we are made righteous. Period. Regardless of your situations or circumstances.If my college student budget (essentially $0.00) would allow, I would purchase this book for everyone that I love and care about. Everyone needs to hear the message of God's grace, and his unmerited favour. Without understanding this concept, we are just God's employees; putting in our good work to receive our good pay.We're God's sons and daughters, not someone under contract. The Bible says "God so love the world," not "God will love the world if." He already loves us. And the battle has already been won. We are His, and He is ours. We just need to accept the grace he gives us, and live in it.Jesus redeems us. Jesus makes us righteous. Jesus makes us blameless. Jesus makes us holy. Jesus makes us perfect.Religion does not.Jesus > Religion? Not just a book, a life changing experience. And the most quotable book of 2013. And years to come.

This book was amazing and has transformed my life and relationship with God. I am hoping to do a bible study on it in my church.Thank you for sharing your perspective

When Jeff first posted his "Why I hate religion but love Jesus video", I was amazed to see how many people it resonated with. People that I know for a fact aren't Christians were reposting it and saying how much it impacted them. That video was just a teaser to what Jeff is capable of doing with the help of God. I have been following his videos and postings ever since and I was very eager to read his book.Now let me tell you I am NOT a big reader, especially of "religious" books. I am in my mid twenties and yes I am a Christian but I keep an open mind when reading such things. That being said, I thought this book was AWESOME. I literally couldn't put it down and plan on reading it again and again. He is not a writer and I think that helps the book. It is written very simply and its not very long so anyone can enjoy it without struggling through. He is real and shares some deep stuff from his life about his struggles and experiences that you won't find in most books about Jesus.Honestly I think that no matter what you believe or don't believe, this book is worth reading. I feel comfortable recommending this book to anyone ranging from my Christian friends, to my atheist friends, to my old school Catholic grandma. Jeff tells you about the real Jesus, not the one in the media or the one religion tries to portray. Even if your an atheist I suggest reading this. I'm not going to say it will convert you but at least you'll really know who this Jesus guy was and what he is all about.So in summary: Great book, easy to read, not to long, actually interesting and full of Jeffs deep personal experiences, almost guaranteed to give you a whole new twist on Jesus and Religion. I promise it will leave you thinking.

This is a book about knowing Jesus. Jefferson doesn't use words on a page to get your attention, he talks to you directly through his writing and brutal honesty. He is both engaging and encouraging. If you are struggling with your faith, get this book and dive in.

Everyone must buy. Brilliant.

Thanks Jeff for writing this book.I appreciate your words and I agree with you.God bless you! And keep using you in such a great way!

Originally inspired by a short YouTube video on the same subject that went viral, this book is an awesome surprise. One of the best books I've read in a long time. Straight-forward, contemporary and on point. For someone that's exploring what Jesus is all about, this book lays it all out in a simple, humble way. No fancy jargon. Not long-winded. No deep theology. No fire and brimstone. (In fact, the opposite.) Bethke writes likes you're sitting across from a good friend having coffee and talking about this topic. He openly uses raw personal experience to bring his points home in each chapter and they are unbelievably effective. Bethke has a firm grip on what grace and faith in Jesus are all about...hopefully after reading this book, others will gain some of that insight too. Highly recommend.

A book full of truth. Real practical christianity. I enjoyed and sucked up every word of it. I completely agree to Jefferson and loved his blunt and forthright writing. More of God's pure grace and His love and less fabricated, man-made, and hypocritical religious attempts. Super awesome. Thank you so much for this book Jefferson, definitely what today's world needs!

Un libro muy interesante, escrito con un lenguaje claro y directo (además de con una gran sinceridad) y que se esfuerza por limpiar el polvo depositado por las religiones sobre la imagen de Jesús, para mostrarnos de nuevo el corazón de su mensaje de salvación y cómo -incluso aún hoy en día, dos mil años después- sigue siendo completamente válido y reconfortante. Una lectura muy recomendable.