Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough
4/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
Abandon dead, dry, religious rule-keeping and embrace the promise of being truly known and deeply loved.
Jefferson Bethke burst into the cultural conversation with a passionate, provocative poem titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." The 4-minute video became an overnight sensation, with 7 million YouTube views in its first 48 hours (and 23+ million in a year).
Bethke's message clearly struck a chord with believers and nonbelievers alike, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged.
In his New York Times bestseller Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks similar contrasts that he drew in the poem--highlighting the difference between teeth gritting and grace, law and love, performance and peace, despair, and hope.
With refreshing candor, he delves into the motivation behind his message, beginning with the unvarnished tale of his own plunge from the pinnacle of a works-based, fake-smile existence that sapped his strength and led him down a path of destructive behavior. Along the way, Bethke gives you the tools you need to:
- Humbly and prayerfully open your mind
- Understand Jesus for all that he is
- View the church from a brand-new perspective
Bethke is quick to acknowledge that he's not a pastor or theologian, but simply an ordinary, twenty-something who cried out for a life greater than the one for which he had settled. On this journey, Bethke discovered the real Jesus, who beckoned him with love beyond the props of false religion.
Praise for Jesus > Religion:
"Jeff's book will make you stop and listen to a voice in your heart that may have been drowned out by the noise of religion. Listen to that voice, then follow it--right to the feet of Jesus." --Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody, Always
"The book you hold in your hands is Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz meets C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity meets Augustine's Confessions. This book is going to awaken an entire generation to Jesus and His grace." --Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, author of Limitless Life: Breaking Free from the Labels That Hold You Back
Jefferson Bethke
Jefferson Bethke is the New York Times bestselling author of Jesus > Religion and It's Not What You Think. He and his wife, Alyssa, host The Real Life Podcast and run FamilyTeams.com, an online initiative equipping families to live as a multi-generational team on mission. They live in Maui with their daughters, Kinsley and Lucy, and son, Kannon. To say hi or to learn more, go to jeffandalyssa.com.
Read more from Jefferson Bethke
To Hell with the Hustle: Reclaiming Your Life in an Overworked, Overspent, and Overconnected World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Take Back Your Family: From the Tyrants of Burnout, Busyness, Individualism, and the Nuclear Ideal Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This Thing Called Christianity: A Dance of Mystery, Grace, and Beauty Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love That Lasts: How We Discovered God’s Better Way for Love, Dating, Marriage, and Sex Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love Is: How Messy Stories Can Meet in the Heart of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/531 Ways to Show Her What Love Is: One Month to a More Lifegiving Relationship Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Jesus > Religion
Related ebooks
Through the Eyes of a Lion: Facing Impossible Pain, Finding Incredible Power Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When Faith Fails: Finding God in the Shadow of Doubt Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Anything: The Prayer That Unlocked My God and My Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It's Not What You Think: Why Christianity Is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swipe Right: The Life-and-Death Power of Sex and Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love That Lasts: How We Discovered God’s Better Way for Love, Dating, Marriage, and Sex Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Loveology Bible Study Guide: God. Love. Marriage. Sex. And the Never-Ending Story of Male and Female. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How's Your Soul?: Why Everything that Matters Starts with the Inside You Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Live in Grace, Walk in Love: A 365-Day Journey Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One Thousand Gifts 10th Anniversary Edition: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Loveology: God. Love. Marriage. Sex. And the Never-Ending Story of Male and Female. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Broken Way (with Bonus Content): A Daring Path into the Abundant Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Remember God Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn't Exist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5WEIRD: Because Normal Isn’t Working Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Divine Direction: 7 Decisions That Will Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Unashamed: Drop the Baggage, Pick up Your Freedom, Fulfill Your Destiny Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Life Is _____.: God's Illogical Love Will Change Your Existence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAll Things New: Heaven, Earth, and the Restoration of Everything You Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Christian Atheist Bible Study Participant's Guide: Believing in God but Living as If He Doesn't Exist Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Everybody, Always Bible Study Guide: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Scary Close: Dropping the Act and Finding True Intimacy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5PASSION: The Bright Light of Glory Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Daniel Dilemma: How to Stand Firm and Love Well in a Culture of Compromise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Jesus Is: Find a New Way to Be Human Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Epic: The Story God Is Telling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Christianity For You
The Book of Enoch Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mere Christianity Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Holy Bible (World English Bible, Easy Navigation) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind... Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Screwtape Letters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You've Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Wild at Heart Expanded Edition: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Law of Connection: Lesson 10 from The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Grief Observed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a Skeptical World Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I Guess I Haven't Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living When the Old Ways Stop Working Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Jesus > Religion
46 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5This book was a complete waste of time and utter nonsense. The author did a great job in demonstrating his naivety about the world, religion, the Bible, and yes, even about Jesus.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent. Lots of challenging things to think about.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5knowing more about Jesus it is indeed an awesome book
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The book is essentially the authors testimony and opinion on how other Christians behave and shouldn't behave.
He's got some things right, but we are all in different places in our lives and though he doesn't think there are Biblical scriptures on certain things there are he just needs to look harder, (or perhaps it's not time for him to see them).
Just because someone finds something sinful/unclean, then to that person it is. As a person's walk with God becomes more holy the filter gets tighter and sin is more obvious. So where he may not find anything wrong with listening to certain movies or listening to certain music or whatever, to another person they may. The other seemed to be judging these people as being judgmental. And it is true sometimes the person that has the tighter filter needs to be reminded that someone else's filter is different, but all should abide by His word.
In some places the author comes across pretty opinionated and doesn't have all the facts, (even included a tall tale as factual), and I won't even get into the scripture part of the errors, but I think overall his heart is in the right place and it will probably attract young people that think anything to do with Jesus is about religion or things you "can't do", perhaps "Sunday/secular Christians".
I still recommend the book. It ends on a really good note.2 people found this helpful