I’ve had that question posed to me on and offline about a dozen times over the past week. The video itself is quite a phenomenon. I like the video. It makes some powerfully compelling points and is well done art. It does what art is supposed to do, it invokes an emotional reaction. But it has sparked quite a debate online. As with anything, I think we should always be very cautious about letting a single source – be that a news outlet, a friend, a pastor, or poet/rapper – form our entire opinion on a subject.
I came across a great critique of the video last week, but I didn’t post it. (When I say “great,” that does NOT mean that I agreed with everything that was said.) And then this week I saw that there had been a conversation between the artist who made the video and the blogger who critiqued it. We can learn SO many lessons from this whole thing – not the least of which is how to deal with each other when we disagree. So, I BEG you to follow the link below to the “Gospel Coalition Blog.” In the blog he provides the video so that you can watch it. Notice at the top of the blog he provides a link to the “Follow Up Post” that he wrote AFTER he spoke with Bethke. I encourage you to read the blog, watch the video, and then scroll back up to the top and click on the “Follow Up” blog and read it also.
After all of that, you will be well informed on both sides of the debate this video has stirred, and I trust the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth.
[...] Jesus Hate Religion? Kinda, Sorta, Not Really – A good friend of mine, Brian Walton, shared this link in his blog earlier today. I loved it, and thought it worth sharing with my [...]
I’m finally catching up on the blog world and I thought you might appreciate this response that’s gone around the Divinity School here. Points for presentation as well.
“Why I Love Religion and Love Jesus”