Jesus > Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough

Jefferson Bethke

Oct 2013 · HarperChristian + ORM

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

Ratings and reviews

Jesus > Religion is a game changer; this book has the potential to shift how an entire generation knows Jesus and to clearly see when He's being falsified and used, especially in the name of religion. When Jefferson Bethke's video went viral in early 2012, what impressed me even more than his spoken word poetry was how he responded to his critics. My expectations therefore were high for Jesus > Religion and Bethke exceeded them all. Thoughtfully unpacking the message from his video and going much deeper, Bethke is open about his own struggles and shares his faith journey. Bethke's strength is in his gift for juxtaposition. He has the humility of someone twice his age, while speaking truth in today's vernacular. Between intersections of words, Bethke calls us all out on our hypocrisy with directness and grace. I would highly recommend reading this book yourself before gifting it to someone who isn't familiarity with the Bible. While Bethke does a great job of giving context to the stories he uses from the New Testament, especially in the later half of the book, not as much context is given for the Old Testament references. With discussion questions written provided at the end of

I absolutely love this book! Bethke has changed my view of what it means to be Christian and truly receive the gift of God's grace. Reading this will definitely broaden your objective horizons, understanding, and capacity to love. Give it a try because it's worth it. Just give it a chance. In my opinion, a definite must read.

This really gives you a new perspective on how to approach non-believers. It also makes you search within yourself to change habits you hadn't realized were wrong. Amazing description and stories!

About the author

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.