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  • Jesus > Religion

  • Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough
  • By: Jefferson Bethke
  • Narrated by: Jefferson Bethke
  • Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (17 ratings)

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Jesus > Religion

By: Jefferson Bethke
Narrated by: Jefferson Bethke
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Publisher's Summary

Abandon dead, dry, rule-keeping and embrace the promise of being truly known and deeply loved.

Jefferson Bethke burst into the cultural conversation in 2012 with a passionate, provocative poem titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.” The four-minute video of Bethke’s spoken-word performance literally became an overnight sensation, with seven million YouTube views in its first forty-eight hours (and 24+ million within a year). The message hit like a blizzard on social-media sites and in forwarded e-mails, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged.

In Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks the stark contrasts that he drew in the poem - contrasts 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.

Bethke is quick to acknowledge that he’s not a pastor or theologian, but simply a regular, twenty-something, soul-starved searcher who cried out for a life greater than the one for which he had settled. Along his journey, Bethke discovered the real Jesus, who beckoned him beyond the props of false religion.

©2013 Thomas Nelson (P)2013 Thomas Nelson

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Mate, hit the nail right on the head.

Gonna have to read this one again with a pen and paper next to me. So much to take in, so much to think about, so much to change about me living for jesus.

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Relevant and thoughtful

Jefferson has presented a well thought out treatise of his view of the malaise being felt by the community at large, in developed countries? with main stream religious organisations. His own story and views are relevant and I resonated with the distinction between Christ and the organisation that is the church of today. The story did come across at times sounding a bit like a sermon which I didn’t really want but then it’s not easy to communicate a spiritual message using the spoken word which can be so easily misinterpreted by our own world views and filters.

Overall if you’re looking for a non mainstream view of the church it’s a good listen which can raise a few spiritual conundrums for the listener to ponder/wrestle with

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great read for any age seeking truth

Loved the book, the author reading it, the humour and the honesty. It's a timeless book and great gift.

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Very good

Very insightful and encouraging words towards faith and Jesus for the 21st century believer. Awesome

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love it!

this is such an amazing book! it has helped me so much in my faith and it's a great book for every one just to see a different point of view . Thanx so much for the book Jefferson!

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