I posted this video a few days ago, and while I appreciate it, there are a few ways it should be nuanced. Wiser men than me have written helpful thoughts (and even talked to Jefferson Bethke, the performer.
Kevin DeYoung (who took time to swap a few emails and phone calls with Jared) writes:
This video is the sort of thing that many younger Christians love. It sounds good, looks good, and feels good. But is it true? That’s the question we must always ask. And to answer that question, I want to go through this poem slowly, verse by verse. Not because I think this is the worst thing ever. It’s certainly not. Nor because I think this video will launch a worldwide revolution. I want to spend some time on this because Bethke perfectly captures the mood, and in my mind the confusion, of a lot of earnest, young Christians.
You can read his thoughts here.
Jared Wilson writes:
It’s important not to push back on Jefferson Bethke and his video simply to be contrarian or to avoid liking something because everybody else does. The heart displayed in the video is solid, and he says a lot of right things. But he says a few wrongs one too, and while they aren’t wrong enough to overreact, they are wrong enough to note with some cautions.
You can read the whole thing here.
Tullian Tchividjian wrote:
Wary of the trend amongst younger evangelicals to justify their jettisoning of the institutional church and theological traditions and the importance of obeying God in favor of a vague, individualistic, a-theological, a-historical, version of modern licentious spirituality by saying “All of that other stuff is religion…and Jesus hates religion”, is a point of contention for those who questioned the fruitfulness of Jefferson’s video. If that’s what people think when they hear the word “religion”, then I understand the concern. I too am concerned by the individualistic, church despising, “moralistic therapeutic deism” that seems so palatable and popular amongst some younger evangelicals today.
You can read his thoughts here.
Responding to
these critiques, Jefferson (from Tacoma,WA) wrote:
If you are using my video to bash “the church” be careful. I was in no way intending to do that. My heart came from trying to highlight and expose legalism and hypocrisy. The Church is Jesus’ bride so be careful how you speak of His wife. If a normal dude has right to get pissed when you bash His wife, it makes me tremble to think how great the weight is when we do it to Jesus’ wife. The church is His vehicle to reach a lost word. A hospital for sinners. Saying you love Jesus but hate the Church, is like a fiancé saying he loves his future bride, but hates her kids. We are all under grace. Look to Him.
He also took time to thank his critics:
Thankful/humbled for these men! Humbled by Tullian’s (shar.es/WO2ur) and Deyoung’s (ow.ly/8txbYjP) words to me. Hebrews 13:17-18!
I’ve grown from this godly exchange of ideas, and I know all the men involved have as well. May God raise up more passionate spokespeople for the Gospel, and more young people open to godly counsel.
