Sacreligious... or just Anti-Religion...either way....

"Sunday Mornin' wake up early,
skip church service to find my Jesus.
I know it sounds so sacreligious,
but I just don't belong in a place like that.
I love the cause but NOT the ACT.
'cause Jesus was a friend and not a judge.
He loved the sinners as much as he loved the little ones.
the man was love and not an act.
I sing Hallelujah;
Hallelujah, I'm set free.
Sunday mornin' wake up early,
skip church service to find true meaning.
I know it sounds so disappointing,
but I just don't belong in a place like that.
I love the cause but NOT the ACT.
I sing Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah;
Hallelujah, I'm set free."

These are the lyrics from a secular artist, Never Shout Never. I had never heard of this guy until I volunteered at the concessions at a show he played a few months ago. Before he played this song he described the typical teenager who had been burned by the church at one point or another and decided to put on the attitude of "just screw it, I dont need this junk anyway". This young man is reaching many with his music, they idolize him for his ability to entertain on a stage, and connect with him as he has empathy for the outcasts because he too was once considered one. Now, the first time I heard this song, I was a mix between totally agreeing with him and being slightly offended. As a training pastor, I should be able to say, "No way, the church is the most accepting and loving place on the planet!" but I would only be fooling myself to try to believe something that is so false. The part of me that wanted to agree with the radical statements being sung, was the side that is fed up with religious people. The ones who judge people on outward appearance, thinking they are better, looking down on sinners forgetting that whole love thing. That makes me sick from the inside out. Who are we to judge? As Jesus said when referring to the woman caught in the act of adultry, "He who has no sin may cast the first stone..." meaning, "hey- if you really think you are 100% sin free, then feel free to judge away...but if not...HOW DARE YOU!!!" loosely translated that is :) anyhow...back to my point...religious people, haven't we all been there at one point or another? Not saying that in anyway it is acceptable, but that it definitely is a mindset that is easy to fall into. Just think, Pharisees didn't set out on a mission to be so religious that even the son of God was disgusted by them, did they? I'd have to say that probably wasn't their original plan fresh out of seminary. Just sayin.
But whether it was the intent or not, starting with Pharisees and trickeling down the line church people have become quite religious and judgemental when we were simple called to love sinners and leave the judging up to God....afterall He really is the ONLY perfect judge, we are nothing but dirty old sinners anyway.
Religious people wear their good deeds on their sleeves, they dont really care for the sinner,they would actually prefer a church of 'good people' like themselves, they bring people to church just because it is what is right, they dont feel bad about casting their judgements on all those around them, the are simply into the religion of it all...rules and regulations, not so much a relationship.
Christ followers should be just that, little Jesus'... we need to capture the character of Christ. Friend to sinners. Now, he didnt live a reckless life just to fit in with all his sinner friends, but on the same hand he didn't judge them with the same measuring stick as those who have made the commitment to live a life for Christ above reproach. Finding the balance is key, to be a person of influence in a world that so hates the church. We need to show people the love of God, and allow him to do the life transformation, because...really, he is the ONLY one who can.
These are just some thoughts that have been stirring in my heart for some time now.
be commissioned to hate sin, but LOVE LOVE LOVE the sinner
cause it wasn't that long ago when you were in their shoes needing to be introdued to a life transforming Savior... love.....