My opinion on the "why I hate religion..." video.

SEVEN MILLION VIEWS IN THREE DAYS.
That is the amount of people that have watched the “Why I hate religion, but love Jesus” video on YouTube.

This production has stirred the waters of religious debates once again. Held with such esteem as “is it okay for Christians to drink alcohol?” this public display of a hurt Christian has brought out the ugly within most people.

When I watch this video, and I have almost a dozen times, I hear the voice of a semi-hurt and inconsiderate church leader.
I think most of us can relate to at least one of the points he makes in this poem. There was the Republican slam, the grace, the spraying of said perfume on said casket, the ineffective ability for religion to get to people’s core, etc.

I have read various comments saying things such as “The whole anti-religion trend is over and done with.” My first thought on such comments is, “are there trends in Christianity or are there simply various stages of Christian development?”. For example, around 3 years ago I read “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller. In the book Mr. Miller wrote of stories where he and his friends set up a confession booth on their college campus and apologized to the student body for things like the crusades, judging others, and all the other blemishes associated with Christianity. After reading this book and studying things out myself I held a similar resentment for the neo-Republican evangelical church. But this was a phase, a step in the development of a young Christian church leader.

Are there and have there been issues with “religion”? Yes, there are and there have been issues. I don’t believe this is a shock to anyone, anywhere.
I see fault with the person who made this production as well as fault with the people that continue to aggressively slam him in public.

Religion is led by hurt individuals, it always has been and it always will be.
The author of this poem said ‘the church is not a museum for good people, but a hospital for the broken.’ And this is a very true statement. However, everyone is broken. In some way, shape, or form, we all are sick either outwardly or inwardly. Therefore, instead of bashing and breaking down the institutions led by broken individuals, why not approach things in a different light? Why not love the broken pastors, priests, Christian leaders that have led churches and religion down a broken path? Along with the author of this poem, the people that comment against him should be showing love and understanding for his brokenness instead of placing themselves in the same boat in which he floats.

We must remember this is a fellow brother in Jesus. Instead of judging and condemning him we should view his expressionism from his unfortunate place of hurt and not his unfortunate place of ignorance.

And yes, I do realize that by suggesting we not judge him, I myself am judging those whom have judged him.

Take care everyone and may the blessings of our Lord and Savior follow you always.