This is so good 🙌🏾. My thing with religion is I felt so restricted. I felt like I had to follow laws just like the Pharisees in the Bible. Now, as a follower of Christ…I want to follow him because I care about our relationship. I don’t have to feel bad about sinning because that was the purpose of Jesus dying in the first place. I don’t have to be perfect to be loved. I’m loved unconditionally. God pays attention to our hearts not the rules we follow.
Fellowship is not "people" either. It transcends identity. It's the work we put into our conversations, listening, and the love we either share or deny.
he is NOT talking about the dictionary definition of "religion" he is talking about the modern-common secular definition of religion that religion is this big ol' book of rules that you have to follow step by step OR ELSE YOURE GOIN TO HELL!!!! But the truth is, when we put emphasis on the rules we forget what theyre for. If you love God you'll listen to what He says and follow what He says to do. His most important commandment? LOVE. If you love someone you wont be insulting them because of how they act or dress. LOVE. And prey they figure out what they need to fix. BUT BEFORE YOU PREY FOR THAT prey God tells YOU what you're doing wrong, because I assure you, right at this moment, there is something weighing you down. WE ARE NOT PERFECT NOR ARE WE EXPECTED TO BE. That thing weighing you down wont keep you out if heaven, because you love Jesus. BUT fixing new-found faults does improve your overall life and happiness. just saying, quit expecting perfection, ESPECIALLY from other people. Only God is good, we should work towards being good, but we will ALWAYS fall short! God bless.
+BlqhK If you don't believe in your god yahwehs rules then why do you say you practice his religion? why not just make up your own...sounds like you already have
Wrong But you have something right these people PREY on others for Money nothing more than business as usual and really have no idea of who God really is or his plan for bringing forth Sons
I strongly dislike that others are being so hateful towards you. On a positive note, I absolutely LOVED this. All of your videos are really helping me through tough times. Thank you so much. You are amazing.
Yesterday god preformed a miracle... i found my long lost brother whom i never met, and I'll be meeting him soon. I just want whoever is reading this and doubts god to know, god exists and his miracles work in your greatest time of darkness. After all no star can shine without darkness. Please be a better person and Christian than me and do whats right.. i struggle so badly on a day to day basis even though i know gods truth, my prayers go to whoever is struggling and needs gods intervention.. i doubt anyone will.see this,.but yeah..
+John Walge I would focus on Romans 8 where it says "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
I am 42 years old. I love Jesus. You hit the nail on the head. Keep on sharing. God has given you a gift to reach so many .... especially the young people....but you even speak to my ol heart. God Bless you!
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” Isaiah 52:7
What he says about hatefully submitting is so true. Since I heard God’s call and let Him in, I am literally always feeling His love, like happy, and I know it shows. I had one person smile at me as I talked about Yeshua and he said, “you’re on fire for Him!” I was like, that’s it, thats the way I feel.
This is so true. I have been christian my whole life and always thinking don't do, that don't do this. Oh no i just did that sin again and again. I tried to change but it was so taxing. Then i realised i can't change. I said to God change my heart i can't do it. I never though i could stop drinking. Now i just don't feel like it. I don't have to fight it all my desire for that is gone. I never thought i could be happy. Now i don't have depression anymore and i wake up nearly every morning feeling good and go joyfully to my morning coffee. I never thought i would stop swearing. Well i haven't complitely but it just doesn't come out of my mouth so often i don't have to fight to NOT swear. I never believed i would be able to love my enemies. Now that guy that always purposefully beast me up at boxing gym. I smile to him and ask how his day was. I stopped trying and turned to Jesus and now my life is turning upside down. Bless God!
Watching and listening to this guy... I was born into a roman catholic family, not very practiced. Converted to Mormon, and I admit, I'm not very practiced with them either. The more I listen to this guy, the more I realize that religion isnt as spiritually important as just believing in Jesus. No matter what denomication you are in.
religion is man made with each one thinking it's better than the other with their own rules , regulations, and having had a taste of most in my younger years, which don't get me wrong, because GOD had been My personal savior since before I ever knew what any of this ever really made any sense.Any time I stepped foot in a church of any "religion" as a child, I felt a sense of peace , my home life was any thing but peaceful. . My step monster used to call me a hypocrite. When in actuality, it was the other way around. I used to dream nightly as a child probably like age 7 maybe 8 that I was falling off a high cliff and I would wake up right before I hit the ground with a violent jolt to my body like I was actually falling, I talked to our preacher and got baptized, they stopped.
Man I really like what you're doing. Spreading the truth of Jesus and how aggressive his love is brings joy to my heart. You have no idea how much joy this video has brought to me, how much joy your words have given me. I wish you the best to you and your beautiful wife and kids. I just want to say thank you, your words are addictive and powerful. God bless.
Um, the whole debacle over circumcision is in Acts 15, and he isn't about faith and works, it's about whether non-Jewish converts have to first become religiously observant Jews in order to be welcomed into the church. Ultimately the answer is no they don't but that doesn't mean that as Christians we don't have to walk the walk morally speaking, justification is just the beginning, once we're justified, we need to be sanctified, and that's a journey, not a one-time event. It's an ongoing, lifelong relationship with Christ that slowly changes us, molds our character into who God intended us to be. That too, is part of grace, don't cheapen it to justification alone. As James said "Faith without works is dead"
+NovelistVampireGirl With all due respect, did you watch the video? If so, where did you get the idea that the speaker is cheapening grace to "justification alone"? And where did you hear him say Christians don't need to walk morally? Please clarify.
+TRUTHINLOVE pretty much the 16:00 - 16:40 when he talks about justification as this magic nature changing moment and good behavior just magically following it. That's not how it works, believing it is, is where the judgmental hypocrites come from.
Your exactly what we need this moment in time to speak the truth which is the gospels.i ran from religion myself because what I was taught growing up is your never going to cross the finish line.once I stopped trying so hard that's when he changed my heart.alot of people still want to bring up the old testament and the law and it's just defeating.we live under the new convenient and that freedom I have now is amazing.so thank you sir.one last thing it seems the crowd your talking to is a younger crowd and i think your gift is for those who are a little older and have really battled some spiritual and physical battles out here.ive been a paramedic for 20 yrs and suffer alot of ptsd and your message I just heard will get me through another day.so thank you sir.
Jefferson Bethke I thihnk you are doing good and like how you express your love for God. We must pray for all these people hating on you and the Lord. God Bless!!
drzpapi1985 why are you here? Whining about how Christians are ignorant. He even said in the beginning "this is not about me. " do you not see? Christianity isn't a bunch of rules that God has set for us to obey he is here to help you. You may blow off other people trying to come to you. Well maybe that's god reaching out to you. Pray and the heavens shall open and the kingdom of the Lord shall be open to you.
Chris Oakley do not be angry With drz. Your attacking him sending him further away from the Lord. Do not focus on him being confused and find forgiveness
Thank you so much for sharing your heart! I've known the Lord for several years, but I have been weeping listening to you. You are so right on, I hate religion too and it grieves me that I saw myself very religious after hearing this. This video led me to repentance and renewed my deep love for Jesus! It is all about Him!!! Thank you so much for reminding us! God Bless you!!! Keep preaching!!!
***** anong pinaglalaban mo? If you choose not to believe then do not say things that are pure nonsense. Use your words wisely, kuya. You do NOT know what you are talking about
I enjoyed this video. And you had a great way to make an analogy towards one of the questions "why should I stop having sex if I'm already forgiven?" It's one of the questions I ask myself, but I also receive an answer. I get an answer because I ask God as well and He answers me. He says something similar to what you said.. He compared it to drinking for me, I felt to make the comparison "why should I stop drinking if I'm already forgiven" and He tells me, you still get the hangovers correct? You still aren't in a sober mind are you? You still get sick and are ruining your body aren't you? So just because you can't SEE the negative effects of open sex doesn't mean there aren't any. And because right before I'm about to have sex with someone I probably shouldn't or just about to take a drink when I know I've gone days without being sober, I feel "something" (God) inside tell me that I shouldn't be doing that, and after I do it anyway that same voice comes back to tell me "I told you so". But that is just what I feel when I ask myself that question. But it makes me feel good to know that my question was answered by the Holy Spirit because I know that God is in me and He wants me to live right.
If you are truly walking in the Spirit, you would want to PLEASE God. You wouldn't abstain because of fleshly consequences, but because you don't want to sin against God. This teaching is low key selfishness. Test the spirits to see if they are from God.
@@TSeeker1 Everything is God or is God's, his flesh is also God.'s So in fact, through his care for his physical self, he is still pleasing God. It's not selfish to care for the physical because doing this puts us in a better frame of mind and that in itself allows us to have the will to do God's work.
I want to thank you for posting this video. It has changed my life. It has changed my view on Religion, I feel closer to Jesus and I am starting to realize he has always loved me even when I was own my own way living for myself. I want to seriously thank you for pulling me back to reality and helping me make God the number one person in my life. Thanks so much.
+CRazY Dude Well, you know why those bad things happen? Because of sin, God is testing us if we can still believe and love God even if God is not showing or talking to us.
I have been having a feeling about religion for awhile now. Some describe Jesus as what he ain't. I see him as a average guy that wants us to love him and come to him. Jesus had problems with religious beliefs and leaders and hung around gentiles and sinners. Another thing that gets me is Sunday is not the Sabbath but all these churches say it is. Can't find nowhere that the Holy Father sanctified the first day of the week. God bless this man
The reason why i follow GOD and not RELIGION is because i know that the bible has been made into millions of other bibles that contradict eachother, let alone i cant tell which Bible is real. People kept Changing it over and over and over again, which is why i seek god for guidance. That is why i follow god and not religion. So i said "Nope! Im going directly to god himself. Not some book that has been written over and over again until it grew more confusing than enlightening". So now i just seek god. Not the Bible. And im very paranoid of trusting the king james version because it has a symbol other than a cross on it.
I consider myself a TRUE believer, not a Christian. I follow the path laid before me. It's all about treating people with the kindness and love you would want them to give you, cause everyone wants to be loved.
Sean.......that is a admirable thing to say, but there is a flaw. A man made flaw. And as we know man is far, far from perfect, including myself. You are following YOUR rules/doctrine, not God's. Your beliefs again are of a most positive nature. But let me ask you....... What set of beliefs would a serial killer follow if he followed your game plan. The serial killer would see nothing, nothing wrong with what he was doing. After all, it is his game plan, not answering to God. And therein lies the problem with your belief system. No ..... we must follow doctrine according to God and the Bible.....NOT our own. Otherwise, everyone is going to do their own thing according to their plan (which of course they see as one hundred percent correct.) I'm correct, you're correct, he's correct, she's correct. One can see the resultant confusion. Only one game plan......NOT man's, but God's plan.
@@stressbelden4478 Beneath thy compassion, we take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one. Are you
21:49 I had to stop and pray. This was the first time I have been able to pray for the salvation of the person I try so hard not to hate. The first time I prayed for his salvation and God's grace. Thank you Jeff for following God's plan for you. And most importantly, thank you God for using Jeff to help me soften my heart. Thank you and thank You
Jesus established many of the very dictates of Christian religion: repent (Mt 4:17) follow the commandments (Mt 19:17) be baptized (Jn 3:3-5) receive the Eucharist (Jn 6:53) obey Church authority (Mt 18:17) serve the poor (Mt 5:42; 25:40) fast (Mt 9:15; 6:16-18) do not be angry with your brother (Mt 5:22) do not look at a woman lustfully (Mt 5:28) do not swear (Mt 5:34) love your enemies and pray for your persecutors (Mt 5:44) be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48) "Knowing Jesus" means following these commands, which are at the very heart of the Christian religion and what it means to be "religious."
Dawood Goga Nope thats teaching us , you see He came down personally to teach His desciple and the people! Thats investing your time in this people now thats awesome
***** One is that death allowed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins because he was tortured and then murdered. Then the famine allowed many people to believe in Joseph and his trust in God. Overall God has a plan for us all and he will keep us safe. Then you are also stating that God exists and therefore you acknowledge that he exists but refuse to accept his wonderful gift of Jesus. Please try to understand why things happen before you make accusations.
***** I'm assuming because you didn't bring up any of the other examples up you agree with God's work their so I'm making progress. As for famine and I can relate it to poverty; I have talked to many homeless people and they are very blessed with the resources that they have. They understand that God has a plan for them. However I do feel sad for the people who are starving and that is why mission trips are made to help those people. If you complain so much please go on a mission trip to help the broken world. Another thing to point out is that they don't have much food because many wicked people refuse to help others and God's ministry needs to help in this sad world. TBH I cry inside thinking about the brokenness of this world and I want to help everybody I can but I know that it is all in God's hands. Am I correct to say that you are an agnostic?
***** Please reframe from cussing please. Thanks. Who said that God tortures them? Are you against God because of all the examples that you brought up? Remember God said that he will bless the wise, shame the fools, and fight the wicked. He has a plan for everyone to see this. A counter-example would be if you got a fever should we just kill you. NO! That is not what God wants to happen. Then if you fail a test because you did not study is that God's fault? You choose to take these selfish desires and not to think about others.
Too many pray for the wrong things...I told a counselor about 11 years ago..I wanted to be a little old lady with a smile on my face...That is a good thing to ask for..I am 64 yrs. old now and still haven't got all the answers....God is in all of us...
I just want to say that this truly impact me deeply and know now that is not about religious but having a relationship with God and that he loves me no matter what and that his awesome and he just wants the best for me and my heart.
So the shirt somehow gives this person an "awesome" aurora? What does his shirt have to do with his message? Would you think he was just as awesome if he had worn just a plain T-shirt?
This guy gets it. This is the Gospel, man and his denominations have done their best to make Christianity about their own version of it. But denominations are not sustaining, you end up serving the denomination first and God second. More focused on your brand of religion, than focused on God. The older I’ve gotten, the more I like how Christianity’s first description was “the way” there is no dividing the way, it’s just the way. The way of following God.
Kris Orozco religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, in our case God. The issue often times and what he's referring to is religious denominations / self righteousness views, which as you contested the former can lead you to God, but often leaves you sitting at the doorstep, because although often well meaning, it can allow men to put thier interpretations and rules before that of which God truely intended for us in His pursuit for a personal relationship with us.
Kris Orozco "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Test your churches teachings against the word of God, go where you feel led, learn the scripture for yourself so that you will not be led astray and open yourself up to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I'm not that far into the video and I already feel the conviction, I felt like I've had to be the good person to be loved by God. Deep down inside, that damaged my self worth. "If I'm not a good person, how can God love me when I'm doing everything wrong?"
he knows how hurt that made you feel and how broken as well, He knows how it made u far from knowing who He truly is. its the same for me, even still. I just got done crying and telling Jesus, i dont know who you even are, it just hit me, typing this i can feel my heart squeezing. heck, im still struggling with the thought that He loves me even when i sin. but, God lead us both (ALL) here because He loves us and wants us to be bounded by chains of lies no more.
Breanna Juarez BOOYA yeah haha, seriously, when i started listening to this guy in the video, it touched my heart. when u said u felt a conviction, i think it was more of a condemning. you prolly felt that God wasnt to happy with you, but nope, he loves you and always has and will.
Breanna Juarez see, so that sets you apart from God, they have a bible verse that God showed me just yesterday that says: Sin sets us apart from God," I thought that meant like (Hell) but God showed me, no it means, your condemned, now your scared of God and ashamed, like if u cheated on your boy friend or husband, u dont wanna be around them cause your ashamed. or if u ever hurt a friend and u didnt meant to, Instead of going to them and saying your sorry, you avoid them cause you feel like (your a horrible person and there right to judge you and to think that, your mess up and failure is who u are.) u dont wanna hear that, but u accept it in your mind and now your ashamed to see them. Thats not who God is. and you knew that already something inside of you knows who God truly is thats why u accepted this message. God is lifting your chin up while there are tears in your heart and hes smiling and saying: IM STILL VERY PLEASED AT YOU, YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER. and I know You.
Jefferson, I'm not sure why this video showed up on my youtube home page, but I have reason to believe that the Lord wanted me to see it. I needed to watch this--thank you for this SO much! In HIM!
***** Hey brother, just wanted to address your comment. I appreciate your use of Scripture and honestly a lot more people need to do this as you are doing. However, when Bethke is referring to religion, he is talking about how people try to reach God by doing all these works and rituals to please Him (and reach salvation, but that is only through believing in His Son, Jesus Christ) rather than actually doing the "religion" He finds acceptable: the verse which you had referred. So in that context, the idea to hate religion and love Jesus is totally reconcilable and acceptable! :) With love in Christ, denimsaint
***** Of course there is sanctification and glorification in salvation. Not sure about the glorification, but for sure the sanctification is experiential (after sanctification in Christ Jesus). As for the rest of your response, I am not quite getting how you are trying to relate your intentions through the "one may" phrases. Are you saying these things dogmatically (like, are you laying some kind of rule?) or saying it as if some people and some people don't do such things?
***** Sorry, I should have clarified, when I said experiential, I meant it as opposed to a declaratory sanctification in Christ Jesus. So as opposed to being sanctified in Christ before God (Christ righteousness is ours), there is also the sanctification we experience in becoming more like Him. I thought the term "experiential sancitification" was commonly used in that sense, but I guess not everybody holds to that. But I see where you are coming from friend, and I agree with you. Yet, I also agree with Bethke. The way he is presenting his message allows him to hook people in, because to those people that are in unbelief, it is different to hear a Christian say such a thing. To them, Christianity is just like any other religion. In that context, how society today defines religion (man to God), Bethke is relating to those around him. He is in Rome and thinking as the Romans do. He is sitting with the prostitutes, tax collectors, and relating to them. He is presenting the gospel in a fresh and new way. Do not get me wrong brother, you are definitely right in the way you are thinking religion to be, but it does not relate to the culture we are in today. Theologically, however, it is sound semantically. So, personally, I do not think he needs to brush up on his theology in that sense. He is simply presenting the gospel in a fresh and new way.
***** Hehe, friend, you misinterpreted what I had said. I am saying he is delivering the Gospel in a way that is relatable. He did not change the Gospel to fit the culture. He just delivered it differently so peoples' ears would perk up and take a closer listen. Jesus delivered his messages in parables that were relatable to the people during those times so they could understand the principle He was teaching in terms they could understand. Bethke is doing the same thing here. And friend, last thing, the Good News of Jesus Christ IS simple just as Bethke represented it. We trust Jesus and His righteousness for our salvation than our own righteousness because of His life and work on the cross dying for our sins and taking our sins upon Himself to satisfy the wrath of God by faith. If the Gospel was complicated, only so many could grasp it. But to each their own of course. I respect your opinions. Thank you sir. May you and yours have a wonderfully Christ-centered holiday as well and a Happy New Year!
***** Thank you. I see now that even Bethke saw the flaws in his theology during this part of his life. Hopefully now he has grown a lot more since then. As for me, I see my learning curve as well. Grace and peace to you brother, thank you very much.
***** Amen to your first statement! And wow, yes, I believe then he does need to take it down and at least make a new one. Thank you again for all your responses. Also, I think I had caught that you are a senior pastor?
I still think that you should obey Lord's words. God is not only about being. The most important stuff is that you must open your heart for Him to be saved. When you love someone you listen to what he'she says so we have to obey some things - as much as we can. Jesus is the power of everything and He can help us all!
dagoose109 Who says He's dictator? Your lefites and Illuminati are dictators. God is a friend who wants to help you, but you're too butthurt to see the truth..
This video is amazing. I started losing my faith for God, I was wondering why I was brought up into giving myself up for someone I never knew; turns out, I see him every time I look at anyone. Thank you for opening my eyes again, may God grant you the love you've always wanted, because you strengthened mine with the man above all
what he is trying to say is God gave us the law so we can realize how sinful we are, He knew we were going to break it but he gave it anyway so Jesus could come and fulfil it. He was the only one who fulfilled the law. like why would God give us something that He knows we will break anyway and the answer is in the question so we can know that a we will never fulfil it. Remember where there is no law there is no sin. And it's not only written in the bible but in our hearts and conscious too, so we have no excuse.
All scripture either points to human brokenness or God's love and forgiveness, usually hand in hand. Jesus did say he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, so he could be the FIRST and ONLY person to ever fulfill the law. That's why he was the perfect lamb, and that's why by grace we are forgiven.
At 3:41 in this video, he goes from simply being mistaken to being an agent of evil. Jesus said we must obey God to be saved. Jesus set before us an ideal of God's Righteousness and tells us "Follow me" (Mark 2:14) and "Obey my teaching" (John 14:23.) God chose and sent Jesus as our perfect ideal, and tells us to follow Jesus - in whom He was "pleased" (Matt. 3:17.) We are to put his words INTO PRACTICE (Matt. 7:26) so that we do not end up in the shifting sand of man-made doctrines and beliefs that tell us that obedience to God is an impossible ideal.
You totally misunderstood what he is saying. He is stating the theological truth that all biblical laws, both old and new covenant, were put in place in a way that is literally impossible to follow. Jesus effectively makes it even more difficult when he tells us that merely having sinned in our minds is the same as carrying out the act. The entire system of offering and ritual in the old testament was meant to display that even our best was dirty rags to Christ. What he is saying here is that Jesus gave us rules knowing our sinful human nature made it impossible to follow them completely. Hes not saying that you shouldnt try, hes saying that failure is inevitable... As Andy stanley puts it, It's the tension between the real and the ideal. We strive and work towards perfection, knowing that all our best efforts are in vain. We are called to live a Godly life, yes, but the point here is that we are also to understand that we can never be godly, and therefor should never put ourselves above anyone else. God put rules in place that he knew we could not follow to prove that only HE is pure and righteous.
tiggetty "God put rules in place that he knew WE COULD NOT follow to prove that ONLY HE is pure and righteous". So why is that the priest Zacharias and his wife did follow all the rules; therefore, they were seen as righteous by God: "And they were both RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, walking in ALL THE COMMANDMENTS and ordinances of the Lord BLAMELESS" ( Luke 1: 5-6)
tiggetty If I believed what you say is true - that God and his servant Jesus is telling us to obey commands that they knew we could NOT obey, considering that both have said in scripture that we will be judged according to our DEEDS - then I'd have to reject the words of both God and Jesus as immoral and unjust, and assume they were moral monsters, because they would be condemning us for what we cannot possibly obey. But luckily for me, and for all of us, what you're saying is a mixture of ancient speculation and excuse-making (so we can continue to blatantly sin) with a bit of modern Western psychobabble thrown in, none of which actually came out of Jesus' mouth.
No one gets saved by obedience. Salvation is given by grace so that no one should boast that they did A,B, C or D to get it. Salvation and perfection come only in Christ, since it through him that all sinners are made the very righteousness of God (2 Corinth 5:21). Even so, it's close to impossible to think that you can live up to God 'standards when men's attempts at righteousness are found as filthy (Isaiah 64:6). The standard that god operates on is by his son, because before your good deeds and before your attempts at obedience, his sacrifice that was without blemish always came first.
Simmiebird In regards to James 1:19-20; Robert A. Sungenis says: "Here it is clear that the 'righteousness of God' is a quality that God desires to see in man. Being slow to anger is how one produces the righteousness that is pleasing to God. Since God infuses his own righteousness into the individual, then it is only logical to understand that as God 'reveals' his righteousness to man, as taught in Romans 1:17, he disseminates it not by mere gospel proclamation but by the actual implantation of that righteousness into the hearers and believers of that gospel. In essence, God 'reveals himself to man. . ." ("Not By Faith Alone" pg. 318). HE reveals Himself to Zechariah and Elizabeth and says of them: "And they were both RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, WALKING IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES OF THE LORD BLAMELESS" (Luke 1:5-6).
Jeff your video is a tremendous blessing to the church of Jesus Christ. I see a modern day apostle bringing clarity to the word of God for the younger generation. You display a freedom in the spirit that only Jesus can give. I'm old enough to be your grandfather, but say amen and amen to everything I've heard in this presentation. Love the shirt, God bless you brother.
I don't get why there is arguments about what he is saying. Why are Christians and Atheists fighting about what he is saying. Stop it! This video is a guy speaking his faith. I mean come on why put down someone's faith down? I don't judge people about their faith. If you don't believe in god, that's what you believe. I'm not going to tell you that you need god in your life. I myself am a Christian. My family and friends know I have a strong faith. Tell me how wrong Christians are. I'm going to tell you I'm different. You don't believe in what he says. He is brainwashed. Well all I have to say let him speak what he believes in. Cause no one wants someone to turn down what you believe in. Go ahead and tear me down, but I'm going to forgive anyone who does. Cause it wouldn't be the first someone tries tearing me down. If you don't agree what this man is saying then why speak up? Why start arguments and fights on these kinds of videos. You're all arguing who is right in their beliefs. I say if you didn't like it, don't say anything just hit the dislike button and leave the video. Don't leave a comment just walk away.
As an atheist, I'll say that we have no problem with what anyone believes, but christianity (and religion as a whole) is innately 'in your face.' One of the biggest parts of being a christian (as I know from formerly being one) is spreading the message and witnessing. So christianity isn't a quiet belief kept in the homes of believers, it's knocking on your door with pamphlets, it's stopping you on the street to see if you know the "good news," and most importantly, it seeps into legislation and government action. So when us atheists debate and discuss with people on these kinds of videos, it's not because we want to put people down, it's a response to the forthrightness of christianity (and all religion).
In all honesty I don't get why some Christians force pamphelts and "good news" on others. Cause people say no and they should back off, but they don't. I'm a Christian and I don't do anything like that because I don't have a church telling me. It's annoying I know. But that is something that bothers me as well. If we want to speard the word just don't do it in a forcly matter. My friends and family knows I won't force cause it's not in my nature to do so. I just don't get why othes do that. But if thats wha they want to do so be it. I don't want to do it. If others on here hate me or other things bout what I said. I don't care, I know where I stand and I know where my heart is. I understand where you are coming from but it is just not all Christians do that. Some might, but not all.
***** You as an Atheist want to show your outward belief just like Christians want to show their outward belief. Is either wanting to spread their outward belief wrong? But just as atheists get involved in politics, Christians and other religious groups do as well. Each side believes they have something important say. To say one group shouldn't get involved because you, someone else, me, general culture, or some majority doesn't agree with them isn't right either (not that I agree with everything Christians want to legislate). Christianity was also never meant to be a quiet behind doors belief. But it was also never meant to be a bash someone over the head and forcibly make them follow a set of rules type deal because that's not what becoming/ or being a Christian is either. The gospel itself is offensive because it tells people that all of us suck and need Jesus. Nobody wants to hear they suck and are bad people. I do think the pamphlet handing out isn't a good approach either. But I think a lot of people that claim or think they are Christians aren't really, which adds to making all of us imperfect people that do give a rip about Jesus look even more hypocritical. I don't usually respond to things on youtube, because you know as well as I do that it's usually a waste of time, but I can tell you're a smart person and do think and care deeply about things even if we disagree.
A seminary education and experience as a Christian don't automatically make you wiser, but Mr. Bethke would benefit from both I think. He relies heavily on strawman argumentation that paints all of "religion" with a broad brush. He needs to read Martin Luther, St. Augustine, C.S. Lewis, and realize that the the Church and "religion" are a lot bigger than his experience with the church and religion. I think this is part of why Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, directed Timothy not to appoint recent converts as pastors (1Tm 3:6). Mr. Bethke knows something about the Bible, but very little about those he is falsely putting in opposition to the Bible, and his teaching as a result is unfortunately divisive (and would be offensive were it not easy to forgive a young man who obviously means well but just doesn't know any better).
+Matt Priem Paul was the only self proclaimed apostle not selected by jesus and he was also a roman citizen at odds against the beliefs of those who walked with jesus....not that i believe in any of this stuff...just saying
Hey yooooo. I did my senior thesis last year on the topic of predestination. It was a huge controversial idea at my small Christian school. So much so, they referred to it as the "P word." I would love to hear what you have to say about this. I personally believe that the Lord has a plan for every human being and He gives us a choice to walk in His calling or reject it. My goal during my senior thesis was to seek the truth. I really have a lot of respect for all that you say, and I would love to hear how you feel about this topic. Thanks so much. I love you and your family so much. Y'all are great. I hope you know the effect you're having and also know that you have people praying for you.
Oliver Charlesworth I'm just using you to edify the other non African black people/Israelites who might look to follow this heathen. Christ didn't teach the heathens. That's why this devil don't know wth he's talking about. Psalms 147:19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. 20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD. Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Jeffersons!! Lets see what you know. What color is Christ according to the Bible? Lets see who's false! Color and race is in the Bible. White people don't like to deal with it because your Edom. Red, the race of the wicked! Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
SKILLvsPILLS for the record "brotha" i'm black as you,second you fake Hebrews are stuck in the old testament and the scriptures you posted,u haven't the slightest clue of the correct interpretation...1 Corin.2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. meaning you can't even attempt to understand scripture because you are LOST and do not have the Holy Spirit to even understand the TRUE GOSPEL of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,and I can care less what color He is ,all I know is He died for me and "whosoever else" believes in Him....I'll keep you in prayer....
Jeff is truly blessed by God! It's not only he's saying all this! It's simply God that's using him as a tool to spread God's word, it's amazing how God shares his word through people and thoughts!! Jeff keep praising God he'll bless you and your wife throughout your life!
guys make sure you love jesus and tell your friends about him, and what ever you dont worship any other gods besides him because god is an insecure jealous teenage girl.
***** it doesnt matter, we are sinners because a woman who was made from the rib of a man was tempted by a talking snake to eat a fruit from a tree that was placed somewhere that god knew adam and eve would eat from it before he ever made them. then he send his son to be tortured to death for our sins. now a hitler can just repent and realize that gods son was tortured and then go to heaven but you an i will be tortured forever for not believing this drama queen who needs blood sacrifice to forgive sins is the creator of the universe because god is perfectly "just".
Why? Do you feel bad for those that don't believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy?...I feel bad for those that claim "truth" to a "belief" based on outdated, unsubstantiated, unproven, contradictory, hate filled, genocidal, racist, slavery promulgating, elitist, homophobic stories of which none of the authors nor dates written are known & have been translated multiple times for multiple reasons throughout the ages...not to mention the audacious claims of magical rituals performed unto "god" & the physical impossibilities performed by him & by his "chosen" people, as well as the cannibalistic ritual called communion where once a month, you people pretend to eat the flesh & drink the blood of your savior, all the while being indoctrinated that you are nothing but a worthless, wretched sinner, not fit for the sight of "god" & ready to burn in "hell", until you sell your soul to Jesus...not until you start living a good life, performing good deeds, respecting your brothers & sisters, spreading love...no, none of that will suffice to get you into heaven, it's the verbal act of professing that you are a slave to, & property of, Jesus....What an ignorant & illogical fear induced ideology, why anyone with common sense would choose to follow this system of belief & pledge allegiance to the emotionally unstable, psychotic universal dictator of the bible, or any other religion for that matter, is beyond me....you poor, poor people...the blind leading the blind.
***** Clearly you have not read the bible, attended many church services nor have much of a clue what christianity teaches at all. I am an ex-christian of 27 years who studied the bible to be a preacher, let me shed some light for you. We are told that we are natural born sinners due to the original sin of Adam & Eve, that's why we are "unclean" & "make mistakes" & must accept Jesus as our savior to become "saved", not simply b/c we are "human" as you are presuming. On that note, you MUST profess Jesus as your savior to enter into heaven, he didnt die for every one to get a free ride to heaven, & if you don't profess him as your savior, you most certainly will go to hell, which is talked about by Jesus himself in Matthew chapter 9 & is reiterated in Luke 13 & in the book of Revelations. Jesus gives the stereotypical definition of hell in Matthew 9, with the fire & brimstone, wailing & gnashing of teeth, & he makes it more than clear that only through him can one get to the father, so don't sit there and try to tell me that the teachings of christianity state that every person is going to heaven just b/c Jesus died & that there is no hell, if anyone is misinformed, it's quite obvious it's you. Christianity states emphatically that no one except for saved christians are entering into heaven. Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Athesits, etc...no matter how good of a person they are, according to christianity, will all burn in hell. Christianity is not a religion that preaches love & joy, that's the facade they use to suck you in, there are 81 verses in the bible, from genesis to revelations, that state very clearly that in order to be obedient & to love our "heavenly father" we must FEAR him, does that sound very loving? Not just that, but this very same "heavenly father" is an advocate for racism, slavery, inhumane treatment of slaves, prostitution, selling your daughter into prostitution, incest, murder unto his name & by his command, lying in his name...right after giving his "chosen" people the 10 commandments, telling them not to kill or steal, he turns around & commands them to raid a bunch of cities & kill off all the inhabitants including nursing children (and in some cases he told his "chosen" to keep the virgin girls for themselves) then steal all of their belongings. Exodus chapter 20 is littered with evil & illogical laws spoken directly from the mouth of "god", like the buying and selling of humans (including your own daughter), the inhumane way one is allowed to treat slaves by tricking them into serving their master forever & the beating of a slave as long as the slave doesn't die, the stoning of children that talk back to their parents, the killing of anyone who is caught working on the sabbath...these, plus many more tyrannical & sadistic rulings, are all waiting for you to read within the bible, of which you obviously need to read prior to the next time you have the urge to spout off at the mouth about stuff you have no clue about.
Christianity regards the bible as "god's spoken & infallible word"(if you don't believe that, then you aren't a true christian) so if there are horrible parts of the bible, then that's part of "god's word", it isn't religion. Religion is manufactured by man, the bible is "god's spoken word", to say that the bible verses you & your pastor don't like to read is the problem with religion is a rather ignorant statement to make, & as well, indicates that you & your pastor are cherry picking the bible. Furthermore, to say it was written by man to excuse the horrible parts you don't like, yet say that the parts you do like are divinely inspired & are true, is even more ignorant! Who decides which parts of the bible are inspired & which aren't? Where is the line drawn? Picking & choosing the parts of "god's spoken word" that makes you guys feel comfortable is called making your own religion. As for Bethke, he does the same thing, equates the bad parts of the bible to religion & tries to recreate it into something that makes him feel good...how absolutely absurd that mentality is! How one could take "god's spoken word", pick and choose which parts of it to adhere to, then discard the rest & say it's religion! You people are the blind leading the blind...Read the bible however you want, but don't call yourself a christian if you don't meet the criteria & certainly do not defend christianity as you are not only confused, but uneducated as well....I always find it rather amusing that the first people to speak up in defense of the validity of christianity are the ones that know the least...you people.
There are fanatics out there that hold to every word, like the Westboro Baptist church...but don't you find it concerning that you claim it's a good thing that practicing christians do not follow the entire bible & the those parts you speak of, you described as "sadistic"? Why would you feel there is anything worthy to glean from a codex that teaches & promulgates such atrocious behavior? Why do you feel it's ok to cherry pick the bible, then to go the extreme of claiming it to be truth? How is that even logical? If parts of the bible don't apply to today or are just straight sadistic, why are those parts even in there for us to read?....Point blank, no matter what parts of the bible you believe & which parts you choose to discard, you are still living under the control of fear, as you believe that if you do not accept Jesus as your savior, you will reap an eternal consequence of being tortured in hell for a petty finite crime of not professing servitude to an individual who (if he did exist) lived thousands of years ago, and if that's how you want your ideology guiding you, then perhaps you are one of those people that are unable to discern morality & need to be guided, or more properly, coerced, by the intimidation of punishment.
His whole message at the beginning is a gross misrepresentation of John Piper's Christian Hedonism. Interesting.... Gods desire is for us to be holy. The New Testament is clear on that. Grace brings us to holy lives not letting us stay in sin.
I hate religion to I was deceived by religion for 12 years Jesus has opened my eyes I prayed to Jesus and ask him to help me love what he loves and hate what he hates God word is truth religion is not truth
I wonder how many of the pissed off atheists in the comments section have actually watched this? It's not actually a bad description of Christianity and the benefits of Christian virtues. Come on now guys, even if you're atheist (or agnostic, like *me* - i.e. This is NOT proselytizing) Jesus was a good guy. He had some good ideas about ethics. You don't have to accept anything point-blank - but why not be a little open minded?
***** some can only be loved by a far, they can pull you down quicker then you can help them up and as much as your Mom or dad loves you, he loves you so much more and in my opinion love would not be with in our parents if his love was not placed with in them but putting any thing before the lover of you soul is not a good thing I would say.he wants your heart my friend and when he changes us from the inside out our love and concept grows at least it has for me.
I will say it is written The Father is a jealous God but if any one should be high and lifted I am going to say it is him, he loved us first, gave his heart first even gave us his Spirit he dose not want you to kiss his ass that is fake he wants your heart, your love and he is a gentalmen about it, never by force dose he make us love him, but by free will, he just once a real relationship thats all lol. I use to feel the same exact way to be honest but I guess I had to go what I went threw to find a relationship with him, to put him fist because he put me first.
Jude 16 These people are always grumbling and blaming others, they follow their own evil desires, they boast about themselves and flatter in others in order to get their own way Romans 12:12 Every one of us, then, will have to give an account of ourselves to God.
Jefferson, I've followed you for a while and when you mentioned how God does things to us to make us more like him it's like when my aunt died from something tragic but at her funeral I got saved.
AMEN JEFFERSON! thank you so much for posting this video, whoever did it. it has turned my life around as a Christian, and i finally feel like i don't need to worry about what other people think. thank you sooooooooooooo much
hey brother, idk if you will read this. but imma just tell you for changing my point of view on religion. All my life i was taught that religion is the way to go. People who are Christians would always tell me or try to convince me to go to church. I replied "why should i, I love him and i know he loves me" that makes them mad and hate me. Thank you for those kind words brother, because i really thought that going to church and doung good will lead me to jesus, when clearly he loves us all the way we are.
I have no job and no car at the moment I’ve struggled with my faith lately but my God has taken such good care of me it’s like I’ve lost nothing He really does love us despite our works
Many good points, I agree on so many levels, and we must apply the love of Christ along with edifying the Church, the Body of Christ and not allow it to separate us from others who are religious. Take this message to lead you to love Christ, to want to know Him, but still keep in mind to love one another, as He loves us, not to lead to the sin of offensive defensiveness. We cannot place boundaries of anger and hatred for any other people, as I once heard, even Hitler was worthy of saving before he died. After listening to the whole thing, I really like this guy's message. So in line with my experience with Christ. I can tell he knows what loving Christ is about. AMEN BROTHER
I've moved away from a so called "Christian church" when they started to preach about how bad others who are not in that particular church... "if you dont go to our church you are not serving God". I mean, how bad it is to think and judge other people so quickly, using the name of God...?
Jefferson, I am gonna go through a very special event in my life in few days and this explanation helps me a lot to figure out a lot of things. I am writing this comment in public to encourage you to give us more explanations on this view. Thank You !
Good word Jeff, thanks for preaching in profound poetry, and keeping it real for today's generation. Lord bless you and keep using your gifts mightily....with a fresh new anointing that would break every yoke.
I agree with Mr. Bethke, about preachers who say or imply God owes us things in return for our trust in Him...but that's the abuse of the so-called "prosperity gospel". The real core of that ministry is about obedience, and Scripture does say those who love God will keep His commands. But God also said to test Him about His willingness to bless us, and that he would pour out the windows of Heaven to the point we can't contain it. (Malachi 3:10). I think a big reason why "prosperity" doesn't work for a lot of people, is because the church keeps insisting that poverty equals holiness. We keep thinking we don't deserve good things from God, even after we're saved...and in the strictest sense, we're right. But God's gifts aren't sourced in "deserving"; He does it because he loves us. Why is it so easy for some of us to receive salvation, which we also don't deserve...but if God wants to give us a new car we choke? How arrogant is it of us, to essentially tell God, "I receive Your blood and Your grace, but I don't want anything else You may have for me"? I'm no saint on this, struggling to receive even the simplest things like a new shirt...and I think this "poor equals righteous" idea has a lot to do with it. Jesus also said the rich would have the hardest time entering Heaven, because they place their trust in their possessions instead of Him...but that's a heart issue more than anything else. I've heard the account of the "rich young ruler" so many times, it sometimes make me want to throw up...because people use it to say that God or Jesus wants everyone to forsake all material wealth in their pursuit of Him. But nowhere did Jesus require that from everyone, across the board. Yes, He said if anyone loves anything more than Him, even their own family, they're not worthy of Him...but none of us are. Why do we keep thinking we have to deserve something, in order to receive it? If God told me He would give me a million dollars tomorrow, I'd want to receive it...but I also wouldn't know what to do with most of it. I think that's one reason, why it hasn't happened yet. I'd want to bless other people, more than myself...but the specifics are largely lost on me.
I agree with your arguments, but I wish you didn't attack the word "Religion" which in itself is neutral and innocent. Definition of Religion: "human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence." Are you against this definition? No, you yourself fit into this definition (right?), nothing wrong with that. You are against bad leadership and bad doctrine, not religion.
I hate religion, but love Jesus is like saying I believe in health and exercise, but I don’t follow and exercise routine or diet. See religion (Catholic Church the only church that Jesus established) gives you a set of rules (diet & exercise routine) in order to reach union with God after death (being healthy). One that does not practice prayer, meditation, fast, sacrifice, and rejection of the concupiscence of the flesh only only entertains the thought of spirituality and Jesus, but does not truly follow it. Why many young people hate religion is because they truly never took the time to study it, follow the church that Jesus established or it doesn’t fit the sexy narrative the world and Satan wants us to live. I was there... Now I try and educate myself and follow our holy doctrine. It’s not easy, but it’s what God wants from us. It’s not as easy as saying Jesus loves and and forgives us. That creating a God of your liking. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk. GOD BLESS!
you are amazing, these videos really help build people up and give wisdom and knowledge to all and answers to those who seek it. im glad i got to meet you this weekend it has changed me.
I love this man so much! I share of him everyday. he really helps where I am lost. he really spreads the word of God in many of ways I understand. and last he inspires me to be more holy for the glory of God. I thank God for making him this wonderful person cause this guy sharing his word has opened my eyes unto the Lord and I now know who I live for. He died for us I live for him.
Well what can I say but keep preaching . I watched this just recently you actually made sense to someone like me . Many of the next generation are living in a world where sin and failure are everywhere . What your saying just might open the door to many of these people and that is in my opinion fantastic . You know there are always haters and people who just do not like what your saying but there are many of us that take solace in the fact there is a new generation of men and women willing to speak in a way that the next generation understand . I am 42 years old and have been a person i wish I was not but reality is I was . Now I have found redemption inside of me but I struggle to listen to many so called preachers because they just do not get it , they live in cocoon of protection and self indulgence . Try not to go down that path brother for it will only end badly . From a old man who has seen and done too much praise god and may you truly get more youngsters to walk the path even if they slip over occasionally .
but back to religion, and Christianity is NOT a religion. it's more of a spiritual journey. and the church is not just a building, it's the people , the PEOPLE
God will meet you where you are no matter what you have have done where you are in your life, if you ask Him to come into your life and in your heart , even if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, that is enough for Him to. Ask Christ Jesus for forgiveness, and it is given by the grace and mercy of God .All of our sins are not just forgiven, they are forgotten, never to be mentioned again. BEAUTIFUL right?
There are some valid points but be very careful not to take what he says literally. He was trying to be relatable and emphasize that you don’t have to be perfect to give your life to a perfect Savior!
In no way am I judging, criticizing, or anything else about anyone’s beliefs here, but man watching this reminds me of my younger years how I was forcefully spoon fed these exact ideas down my throat. As a very curious kid, I always asked why, what if, and other questions pertaining. “Because it says so in the Bible”, or because “Jesus died for your sins” were universal answers , I couldn’t really get much out of it and then got bored. Parents continued to get me to go until I was 18. I’m 24 now, after watching this it reminded me why it’s been 6 years.
There is true revelation power in His words, but only when understood in a personal way. There are True answers with interlaced explanations for every attempt throughout your life to keep you from His Truth. Your absolutely right, there should only be His direct, intentional answers for our deepest questions as opposed to generic "just because" responses.
When Jefferson mentioned his first question it reminded me of what God told me at some point in time last year: „I don't want you to feel like you need to earn my affection.“ To be honest with you: I struggle with believing that I'm unconditionally loved by God. I always think I need to prove something to him; sometimes it gets so bad that I think He's standing with a rod in front of me. I don't know how to change this. When I say this to people or come up to them with similar things, they often times tell me to speak out truths from the bible over myself, but I usually think: „That already sounds like my parents. They also believe that as long as you say the right thing everything's gonna be fine and if you don't, a big, terrible calamity will come. “ But they can't even define this themselves! The worst thing to me is that in some sense they still believe in Christ - they are confessing Christians - but this teaching I told you about before, has become more important to them than the real Christ. At least that's what I have observed and when they are near me I always feel that religious spirit they are radiating, pretty much like the Pharisees. They don't radiate the light & the love of God like the other Christians I met.
i struggled finding god, but i knew there was a god, i was just denying him because of church telling me that in order to find god i need to stop with all of my addictions and that god was not going to accept me until i did so, and then i realized this is between god and i not the church, and the bible tells me that gods gonna accept me no matter what and to allow him to help me make the changes. I'm 16 years old, and so stoked to say that i've given everything to god and bethke really helped.
This is so good 🙌🏾. My thing with religion is I felt so restricted. I felt like I had to follow laws just like the Pharisees in the Bible. Now, as a follower of Christ…I want to follow him because I care about our relationship. I don’t have to feel bad about sinning because that was the purpose of Jesus dying in the first place. I don’t have to be perfect to be loved. I’m loved unconditionally. God pays attention to our hearts not the rules we follow.
The church isnt the bluiding or the place it is the people .
isabella vaughn and the sex
How do u listen to the people?
Jesus said
“If your brother won’t listen to the church”
Fellowship is not "people" either. It transcends identity. It's the work we put into our conversations, listening, and the love we either share or deny.
Josiahsoto🙏
@PInk77W1 This is a perfect example church means people. How could you listen to a building, a non living thing?
he is NOT talking about the dictionary definition of "religion" he is talking about the modern-common secular definition of religion that religion is this big ol' book of rules that you have to follow step by step OR ELSE YOURE GOIN TO HELL!!!! But the truth is, when we put emphasis on the rules we forget what theyre for. If you love God you'll listen to what He says and follow what He says to do. His most important commandment? LOVE. If you love someone you wont be insulting them because of how they act or dress. LOVE. And prey they figure out what they need to fix. BUT BEFORE YOU PREY FOR THAT prey God tells YOU what you're doing wrong, because I assure you, right at this moment, there is something weighing you down. WE ARE NOT PERFECT NOR ARE WE EXPECTED TO BE. That thing weighing you down wont keep you out if heaven, because you love Jesus. BUT fixing new-found faults does improve your overall life and happiness. just saying, quit expecting perfection, ESPECIALLY from other people. Only God is good, we should work towards being good, but we will ALWAYS fall short! God bless.
+BlqhK If you don't believe in your god yahwehs rules then why do you say you practice his religion? why not just make up your own...sounds like you already have
He is relating religion to works! Ephesians 2:8,9.
Wrong But you have something right these people PREY on others for Money nothing more than business as usual and really have no idea of who God really is or his plan for bringing forth Sons
I strongly dislike that others are being so hateful towards you. On a positive note, I absolutely LOVED this. All of your videos are really helping me through tough times. Thank you so much. You are amazing.
Yesterday god preformed a miracle... i found my long lost brother whom i never met, and I'll be meeting him soon. I just want whoever is reading this and doubts god to know, god exists and his miracles work in your greatest time of darkness. After all no star can shine without darkness. Please be a better person and Christian than me and do whats right.. i struggle so badly on a day to day basis even though i know gods truth, my prayers go to whoever is struggling and needs gods intervention.. i doubt anyone will.see this,.but yeah..
I see this thank you for your prayers I know for certain I need it.
You are a modern urban city dweller.An earthling.. . .like 7. 3 billion other human peoples.congrats on your miracle
That's a sucky comment moxon
God told me to do it
+John Walge I would focus on Romans 8 where it says "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
I am 42 years old. I love Jesus. You hit the nail on the head. Keep on sharing. God has given you a gift to reach so many .... especially the young people....but you even speak to my ol heart.
God Bless you!
amen I watch this 12 years a go
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!””
Isaiah 52:7
Jesus is not god
What he says about hatefully submitting is so true.
Since I heard God’s call and let Him in, I am literally always feeling His love, like happy, and I know it shows. I had one person smile at me as I talked about Yeshua and he said, “you’re on fire for Him!” I was like, that’s it, thats the way I feel.
This is so true. I have been christian my whole life and always thinking don't do, that don't do this. Oh no i just did that sin again and again. I tried to change but it was so taxing. Then i realised i can't change. I said to God change my heart i can't do it.
I never though i could stop drinking. Now i just don't feel like it. I don't have to fight it all my desire for that is gone.
I never thought i could be happy. Now i don't have depression anymore and i wake up nearly every morning feeling good and go joyfully to my morning coffee.
I never thought i would stop swearing. Well i haven't complitely but it just doesn't come out of my mouth so often i don't have to fight to NOT swear.
I never believed i would be able to love my enemies. Now that guy that always purposefully beast me up at boxing gym. I smile to him and ask how his day was.
I stopped trying and turned to Jesus and now my life is turning upside down. Bless God!
Watching and listening to this guy... I was born into a roman catholic family, not very practiced. Converted to Mormon, and I admit, I'm not very practiced with them either. The more I listen to this guy, the more I realize that religion isnt as spiritually important as just believing in Jesus. No matter what denomication you are in.
Read what the Bible says about those with itchy ears?
Thats true, religion is useless in our lives, it just gave us problems, why dont we become christians?
Exactly.
DUDE YOU HAVE MY SAME LIFE STORY : from a family of catholics, to mormon phase, and finally to the true gosple
religion is man made with each one thinking it's better than the other with their own rules , regulations, and having had a taste of most in my younger years, which don't get me wrong, because GOD had been My personal savior since before I ever knew what any of this ever really made any sense.Any time I stepped foot in a church of any "religion" as a child, I felt a sense of peace , my home life was any thing but peaceful. . My step monster used to call me a hypocrite. When in actuality, it was the other way around. I used to dream nightly as a child probably like age 7 maybe 8 that I was falling off a high cliff and I would wake up right before I hit the ground with a violent jolt to my body like I was actually falling, I talked to our preacher and got baptized, they stopped.
Thank you for this video. Just thank you. I needed it!
Man I really like what you're doing. Spreading the truth of Jesus and how aggressive his love is brings joy to my heart. You have no idea how much joy this video has brought to me, how much joy your words have given me. I wish you the best to you and your beautiful wife and kids. I just want to say thank you, your words are addictive and powerful. God bless.
I love this preacher learned about him through Carlos PenaVega and I loved his teachings! This is everything I believe in
People come and go but Jesus ALWAYS comes through 🍷
Um, the whole debacle over circumcision is in Acts 15, and he isn't about faith and works, it's about whether non-Jewish converts have to first become religiously observant Jews in order to be welcomed into the church. Ultimately the answer is no they don't but that doesn't mean that as Christians we don't have to walk the walk morally speaking, justification is just the beginning, once we're justified, we need to be sanctified, and that's a journey, not a one-time event. It's an ongoing, lifelong relationship with Christ that slowly changes us, molds our character into who God intended us to be. That too, is part of grace, don't cheapen it to justification alone. As James said "Faith without works is dead"
+NovelistVampireGirl With all due respect, did you watch the video? If so, where did you get the idea that the speaker is cheapening grace to "justification alone"? And where did you hear him say Christians don't need to walk morally? Please clarify.
+TRUTHINLOVE pretty much the 16:00 - 16:40 when he talks about justification as this magic nature changing moment and good behavior just magically following it. That's not how it works, believing it is, is where the judgmental hypocrites come from.
Your exactly what we need this moment in time to speak the truth which is the gospels.i ran from religion myself because what I was taught growing up is your never going to cross the finish line.once I stopped trying so hard that's when he changed my heart.alot of people still want to bring up the old testament and the law and it's just defeating.we live under the new convenient and that freedom I have now is amazing.so thank you sir.one last thing it seems the crowd your talking to is a younger crowd and i think your gift is for those who are a little older and have really battled some spiritual and physical battles out here.ive been a paramedic for 20 yrs and suffer alot of ptsd and your message I just heard will get me through another day.so thank you sir.
Hey guys! You can get my audiobook for free right now when u sign up for free trial at jeffbethke.com/audible
Is your audiobook about hypocrisy?
Jefferson Bethke I thihnk you are doing good and like how you express your love for God. We must pray for all these people hating on you and the Lord. God Bless!!
Denisse Kimball
Yes, please look down upon us from your throne of spiritual pride!
drzpapi1985 why are you here? Whining about how Christians are ignorant. He even said in the beginning "this is not about me. " do you not see? Christianity isn't a bunch of rules that God has set for us to obey he is here to help you. You may blow off other people trying to come to you. Well maybe that's god reaching out to you. Pray and the heavens shall open and the kingdom of the Lord shall be open to you.
Chris Oakley do not be angry With drz. Your attacking him sending him further away from the Lord. Do not focus on him being confused and find forgiveness
Thank you so much for sharing your heart! I've known the Lord for several years, but I have been weeping listening to you. You are so right on, I hate religion too and it grieves me that I saw myself very religious after hearing this. This video led me to repentance and renewed my deep love for Jesus! It is all about Him!!! Thank you so much for reminding us! God Bless you!!! Keep preaching!!!
***** anong pinaglalaban mo? If you choose not to believe then do not say things that are pure nonsense. Use your words wisely, kuya. You do NOT know what you are talking about
I enjoyed this video. And you had a great way to make an analogy towards one of the questions "why should I stop having sex if I'm already forgiven?" It's one of the questions I ask myself, but I also receive an answer. I get an answer because I ask God as well and He answers me. He says something similar to what you said.. He compared it to drinking for me, I felt to make the comparison "why should I stop drinking if I'm already forgiven" and He tells me, you still get the hangovers correct? You still aren't in a sober mind are you? You still get sick and are ruining your body aren't you? So just because you can't SEE the negative effects of open sex doesn't mean there aren't any. And because right before I'm about to have sex with someone I probably shouldn't or just about to take a drink when I know I've gone days without being sober, I feel "something" (God) inside tell me that I shouldn't be doing that, and after I do it anyway that same voice comes back to tell me "I told you so". But that is just what I feel when I ask myself that question. But it makes me feel good to know that my question was answered by the Holy Spirit because I know that God is in me and He wants me to live right.
If you are truly walking in the Spirit, you would want to PLEASE God. You wouldn't abstain because of fleshly consequences, but because you don't want to sin against God. This teaching is low key selfishness. Test the spirits to see if they are from God.
@@TSeeker1 Everything is God or is God's, his flesh is also God.'s So in fact, through his care for his physical self, he is still pleasing God. It's not selfish to care for the physical because doing this puts us in a better frame of mind and that in itself allows us to have the will to do God's work.
@@mindymoore618 What does caring for the physical body have to do with abstaining from sin????
I want to thank you for posting this video. It has changed my life. It has changed my view on Religion, I feel closer to Jesus and I am starting to realize he has always loved me even when I was own my own way living for myself. I want to seriously thank you for pulling me back to reality and helping me make God the number one person in my life. Thanks so much.
this video has made me feel liberated. thanks jefferson
jeff your analogies are truly amazing you have a amazing mind! God Bless:)
Mark Elderson hi brocca
+CRazY Dude Well, you know why those bad things happen? Because of sin, God is testing us if we can still believe and love God even if God is not showing or talking to us.
I have been having a feeling about religion for awhile now. Some describe Jesus as what he ain't. I see him as a average guy that wants us to love him and come to him. Jesus had problems with religious beliefs and leaders and hung around gentiles and sinners. Another thing that gets me is Sunday is not the Sabbath but all these churches say it is. Can't find nowhere that the Holy Father sanctified the first day of the week. God bless this man
I just replay this video every day! Changed my life! THANK YOU! Bless you!
Really enjoyed this talk, thank you and God bless!
'Why I hate critical thinking but love hyperbole'
i love you lol
Run and gunner, think you need a phd to be a critical thinker? Is that why you make your claim with no argument?
The reason why i follow GOD and not RELIGION is because i know that the bible has been made into millions of other bibles that contradict eachother, let alone i cant tell which Bible is real. People kept Changing it over and over and over again, which is why i seek god for guidance. That is why i follow god and not religion. So i said "Nope! Im going directly to god himself. Not some book that has been written over and over again until it grew more confusing than enlightening". So now i just seek god. Not the Bible. And im very paranoid of trusting the king james version because it has a symbol other than a cross on it.
i like it how you suddenly stop in the middle of something serious and say
"It's awesome".
I consider myself a TRUE believer, not a Christian. I follow the path laid before me. It's all about treating people with the kindness and love you would want them to give you, cause everyone wants to be loved.
Sean.......that is a admirable thing to say, but there is a flaw. A man made flaw. And as we know man is far, far from perfect,
including myself.
You are following YOUR rules/doctrine, not God's. Your beliefs again are of a most positive nature.
But let me ask you.......
What set of beliefs would a serial killer follow if he followed your game plan.
The serial killer would see nothing, nothing wrong with what he was doing.
After all, it is his game plan, not answering to God.
And therein lies the problem with your belief system. No ..... we must follow doctrine according to God and the
Bible.....NOT our own. Otherwise, everyone is going to do their own thing according to their plan (which of course
they see as one hundred percent correct.) I'm correct, you're correct, he's correct, she's correct.
One can see the resultant confusion. Only one game plan......NOT man's, but God's plan.
@@stressbelden4478 Beneath thy compassion, we take refuge, O Mother of God: do not despise our petitions in time of trouble, but rescue us from dangers, only pure one, only blessed one.
Are you
This guy is amazing, for those who don't see it, perhaps you're still blind. Hearing this speaks to my heart.
No hes not...bible says tht no man is good amen. 👊📖🔥
He is a deceiver
21:49 I had to stop and pray. This was the first time I have been able to pray for the salvation of the person I try so hard not to hate. The first time I prayed for his salvation and God's grace. Thank you Jeff for following God's plan for you. And most importantly, thank you God for using Jeff to help me soften my heart. Thank you and thank You
Jesus established many of the very dictates of Christian religion:
repent (Mt 4:17)
follow the commandments (Mt 19:17)
be baptized (Jn 3:3-5)
receive the Eucharist (Jn 6:53)
obey Church authority (Mt 18:17)
serve the poor (Mt 5:42; 25:40)
fast (Mt 9:15; 6:16-18)
do not be angry with your brother (Mt 5:22)
do not look at a woman lustfully (Mt 5:28)
do not swear (Mt 5:34)
love your enemies and pray for your persecutors (Mt 5:44)
be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48)
"Knowing Jesus" means following these commands, which are at the very heart of the Christian religion and what it means to be "religious."
Dawood Goga Nope thats teaching us , you see He came down personally to teach His desciple and the people! Thats investing your time in this people now thats awesome
Wow God is good
Wow god is fake. Wow people are ignorant.
***** Do you know for 100% sure that God does not exist?
***** One is that death allowed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins because he was tortured and then murdered. Then the famine allowed many people to believe in Joseph and his trust in God. Overall God has a plan for us all and he will keep us safe.
Then you are also stating that God exists and therefore you acknowledge that he exists but refuse to accept his wonderful gift of Jesus. Please try to understand why things happen before you make accusations.
***** I'm assuming because you didn't bring up any of the other examples up you agree with God's work their so I'm making progress. As for famine and I can relate it to poverty; I have talked to many homeless people and they are very blessed with the resources that they have. They understand that God has a plan for them. However I do feel sad for the people who are starving and that is why mission trips are made to help those people. If you complain so much please go on a mission trip to help the broken world.
Another thing to point out is that they don't have much food because many wicked people refuse to help others and God's ministry needs to help in this sad world. TBH I cry inside thinking about the brokenness of this world and I want to help everybody I can but I know that it is all in God's hands.
Am I correct to say that you are an agnostic?
***** Please reframe from cussing please. Thanks.
Who said that God tortures them? Are you against God because of all the examples that you brought up? Remember God said that he will bless the wise, shame the fools, and fight the wicked. He has a plan for everyone to see this.
A counter-example would be if you got a fever should we just kill you. NO! That is not what God wants to happen. Then if you fail a test because you did not study is that God's fault? You choose to take these selfish desires and not to think about others.
This is amazing. I really needed this. Thank you for being a messenger of God
Too many pray for the wrong things...I told a counselor about 11 years ago..I wanted to be a little old lady with a smile on my face...That is a good thing to ask for..I am 64 yrs. old now and still haven't got all the answers....God is in all of us...
Truly amazing, you words are what I needed to hear...pray God keeps you strong in what you doing!!
I just want to say that this truly impact me deeply and know now that is not about religious but having a relationship with God and that he loves me no matter what and that his awesome and he just wants the best for me and my heart.
Exactly! 🙂
Can we just take a moment to acknowledge his awesome shirt?!
Oh haha, "Bear Fruit"
So the shirt somehow gives this person an "awesome" aurora? What does his shirt have to do with his message? Would you
think he was just as awesome if he had worn just a plain T-shirt?
This guy gets it. This is the Gospel, man and his denominations have done their best to make Christianity about their own version of it. But denominations are not sustaining, you end up serving the denomination first and God second. More focused on your brand of religion, than focused on God.
The older I’ve gotten, the more I like how Christianity’s first description was “the way” there is no dividing the way, it’s just the way. The way of following God.
Without religion i would have never come to know about God
me too
:)
Kris Orozco religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, in our case God. The issue often times and what he's referring to is religious denominations / self righteousness views, which as you contested the former can lead you to God, but often leaves you sitting at the doorstep, because although often well meaning, it can allow men to put thier interpretations and rules before that of which God truely intended for us in His pursuit for a personal relationship with us.
ru2b4real So to look for answers at the church would be wrong because they might be made up?
Kris Orozco "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." Test your churches teachings against the word of God, go where you feel led, learn the scripture for yourself so that you will not be led astray and open yourself up to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Simply brilliant, the way you delivered "the message". Very nice :-)
I'm not that far into the video and I already feel the conviction, I felt like I've had to be the good person to be loved by God. Deep down inside, that damaged my self worth. "If I'm not a good person, how can God love me when I'm doing everything wrong?"
he knows how hurt that made you feel and how broken as well, He knows how it made u far from knowing who He truly is. its the same for me, even still. I just got done crying and telling Jesus, i dont know who you even are, it just hit me, typing this i can feel my heart squeezing. heck, im still struggling with the thought that He loves me even when i sin. but, God lead us both (ALL) here because He loves us and wants us to be bounded by chains of lies no more.
+Bubba Bear you know this made me feel hella better
Breanna Juarez BOOYA yeah haha, seriously, when i started listening to this guy in the video, it touched my heart. when u said u felt a conviction, i think it was more of a condemning. you prolly felt that God wasnt to happy with you, but nope, he loves you and always has and will.
+Bubba Bear I just never felt worthy to have his love cause the things I do are never good enough 😞
Breanna Juarez see, so that sets you apart from God, they have a bible verse that God showed me just yesterday that says: Sin sets us apart from God," I thought that meant like (Hell) but God showed me, no it means, your condemned, now your scared of God and ashamed, like if u cheated on your boy friend or husband, u dont wanna be around them cause your ashamed. or if u ever hurt a friend and u didnt meant to, Instead of going to them and saying your sorry, you avoid them cause you feel like (your a horrible person and there right to judge you and to think that, your mess up and failure is who u are.) u dont wanna hear that, but u accept it in your mind and now your ashamed to see them. Thats not who God is. and you knew that already something inside of you knows who God truly is thats why u accepted this message. God is lifting your chin up while there are tears in your heart and hes smiling and saying: IM STILL VERY PLEASED AT YOU, YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER. and I know You.
Jefferson, I'm not sure why this video showed up on my youtube home page, but I have reason to believe that the Lord wanted me to see it. I needed to watch this--thank you for this SO much! In HIM!
***** Hey brother, just wanted to address your comment. I appreciate your use of Scripture and honestly a lot more people need to do this as you are doing. However, when Bethke is referring to religion, he is talking about how people try to reach God by doing all these works and rituals to please Him (and reach salvation, but that is only through believing in His Son, Jesus Christ) rather than actually doing the "religion" He finds acceptable: the verse which you had referred. So in that context, the idea to hate religion and love Jesus is totally reconcilable and acceptable! :)
With love in Christ,
denimsaint
***** Of course there is sanctification and glorification in salvation. Not sure about the glorification, but for sure the sanctification is experiential (after sanctification in Christ Jesus). As for the rest of your response, I am not quite getting how you are trying to relate your intentions through the "one may" phrases. Are you saying these things dogmatically (like, are you laying some kind of rule?) or saying it as if some people and some people don't do such things?
***** Sorry, I should have clarified, when I said experiential, I meant it as opposed to a declaratory sanctification in Christ Jesus. So as opposed to being sanctified in Christ before God (Christ righteousness is ours), there is also the sanctification we experience in becoming more like Him. I thought the term "experiential sancitification" was commonly used in that sense, but I guess not everybody holds to that.
But I see where you are coming from friend, and I agree with you. Yet, I also agree with Bethke. The way he is presenting his message allows him to hook people in, because to those people that are in unbelief, it is different to hear a Christian say such a thing. To them, Christianity is just like any other religion. In that context, how society today defines religion (man to God), Bethke is relating to those around him. He is in Rome and thinking as the Romans do. He is sitting with the prostitutes, tax collectors, and relating to them. He is presenting the gospel in a fresh and new way. Do not get me wrong brother, you are definitely right in the way you are thinking religion to be, but it does not relate to the culture we are in today. Theologically, however, it is sound semantically. So, personally, I do not think he needs to brush up on his theology in that sense. He is simply presenting the gospel in a fresh and new way.
***** Hehe, friend, you misinterpreted what I had said. I am saying he is delivering the Gospel in a way that is relatable. He did not change the Gospel to fit the culture. He just delivered it differently so peoples' ears would perk up and take a closer listen. Jesus delivered his messages in parables that were relatable to the people during those times so they could understand the principle He was teaching in terms they could understand. Bethke is doing the same thing here.
And friend, last thing, the Good News of Jesus Christ IS simple just as Bethke represented it. We trust Jesus and His righteousness for our salvation than our own righteousness because of His life and work on the cross dying for our sins and taking our sins upon Himself to satisfy the wrath of God by faith. If the Gospel was complicated, only so many could grasp it.
But to each their own of course. I respect your opinions.
Thank you sir. May you and yours have a wonderfully Christ-centered holiday as well and a Happy New Year!
***** Thank you. I see now that even Bethke saw the flaws in his theology during this part of his life. Hopefully now he has grown a lot more since then. As for me, I see my learning curve as well. Grace and peace to you brother, thank you very much.
***** Amen to your first statement! And wow, yes, I believe then he does need to take it down and at least make a new one. Thank you again for all your responses. Also, I think I had caught that you are a senior pastor?
What a inspiration!!!
I still think that you should obey Lord's words. God is not only about being. The most important stuff is that you must open your heart for Him to be saved. When you love someone you listen to what he'she says so we have to obey some things - as much as we can. Jesus is the power of everything and He can help us all!
*****
Yes, you've put it the right way. Thanks!
God never said a word except for the ones human put in his mouth.
dagoose109
Christ = God..
*****
So your Bible God is a Dictator? So was Hitler. Obey or Burn In Hell for Eternity.
dagoose109
Who says He's dictator? Your lefites and Illuminati are dictators. God is a friend who wants to help you, but you're too butthurt to see the truth..
This video is amazing. I started losing my faith for God, I was wondering why I was brought up into giving myself up for someone I never knew; turns out, I see him every time I look at anyone. Thank you for opening my eyes again, may God grant you the love you've always wanted, because you strengthened mine with the man above all
Amen thank you for your share God bless you
3:50 "Jesus said I actually gave you the law to break" Sorry, but that is a lie! Yeshua NEVER said that. This guy needs to actually read the Bible.
Yeshua is Jesus. It is His Hebrew name. The rest of your comment makes no sense.
+ShepperdOneill Jeff is a false prophet!
what he is trying to say is God gave us the law so we can realize how sinful we are, He knew we were going to break it but he gave it anyway so Jesus could come and fulfil it. He was the only one who fulfilled the law. like why would God give us something that He knows we will break anyway and the answer is in the question so we can know that a we will never fulfil it. Remember where there is no law there is no sin. And it's not only written in the bible but in our hearts and conscious too, so we have no excuse.
All scripture either points to human brokenness or God's love and forgiveness, usually hand in hand. Jesus did say he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it, so he could be the FIRST and ONLY person to ever fulfill the law. That's why he was the perfect lamb, and that's why by grace we are forgiven.
ShepperdOneill Jesus said law was not the goal but a first step
At 3:41 in this video, he goes from simply being mistaken to being an agent of evil. Jesus said we must obey God to be saved. Jesus set before us an ideal of God's Righteousness and tells us "Follow me" (Mark 2:14) and "Obey my teaching" (John 14:23.) God chose and sent Jesus as our perfect ideal, and tells us to follow Jesus - in whom He was "pleased" (Matt. 3:17.) We are to put his words INTO PRACTICE (Matt. 7:26) so that we do not end up in the shifting sand of man-made doctrines and beliefs that tell us that obedience to God is an impossible ideal.
You totally misunderstood what he is saying. He is stating the theological truth that all biblical laws, both old and new covenant, were put in place in a way that is literally impossible to follow. Jesus effectively makes it even more difficult when he tells us that merely having sinned in our minds is the same as carrying out the act. The entire system of offering and ritual in the old testament was meant to display that even our best was dirty rags to Christ.
What he is saying here is that Jesus gave us rules knowing our sinful human nature made it impossible to follow them completely. Hes not saying that you shouldnt try, hes saying that failure is inevitable... As Andy stanley puts it, It's the tension between the real and the ideal. We strive and work towards perfection, knowing that all our best efforts are in vain. We are called to live a Godly life, yes, but the point here is that we are also to understand that we can never be godly, and therefor should never put ourselves above anyone else.
God put rules in place that he knew we could not follow to prove that only HE is pure and righteous.
tiggetty "God put rules in place that he knew WE COULD NOT follow to prove that ONLY HE is pure and righteous". So why is that the priest Zacharias and his wife did follow all the rules; therefore, they were seen as righteous by God: "And they were both RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, walking in ALL THE COMMANDMENTS and ordinances of the Lord BLAMELESS" ( Luke 1: 5-6)
tiggetty If I believed what you say is true - that God and his servant Jesus is telling us to obey commands that they knew we could NOT obey, considering that both have said in scripture that we will be judged according to our DEEDS - then I'd have to reject the words of both God and Jesus as immoral and unjust, and assume they were moral monsters, because they would be condemning us for what we cannot possibly obey. But luckily for me, and for all of us, what you're saying is a mixture of ancient speculation and excuse-making (so we can continue to blatantly sin) with a bit of modern Western psychobabble thrown in, none of which actually came out of Jesus' mouth.
No one gets saved by obedience. Salvation is given by grace so that no one should boast that they did A,B, C or D to get it. Salvation and perfection come only in Christ, since it through him that all sinners are made the very righteousness of God (2 Corinth 5:21).
Even so, it's close to impossible to think that you can live up to God 'standards when men's attempts at righteousness are found as filthy (Isaiah 64:6). The standard that god operates on is by his son, because before your good deeds and before your attempts at obedience, his sacrifice that was without blemish always came first.
Simmiebird In regards to James 1:19-20; Robert A. Sungenis says: "Here it is clear that the 'righteousness of God' is a quality that God desires to see in man. Being slow to anger is how one produces the righteousness that is pleasing to God. Since God infuses his own righteousness into the individual, then it is only logical to understand that as God 'reveals' his righteousness to man, as taught in Romans 1:17, he disseminates it not by mere gospel proclamation but by the actual implantation of that righteousness into the hearers and believers of that gospel. In essence, God 'reveals himself to man. . ." ("Not By Faith Alone" pg. 318). HE reveals Himself to Zechariah and Elizabeth and says of them: "And they were both RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, WALKING IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES OF THE LORD BLAMELESS" (Luke 1:5-6).
Jeff your video is a tremendous blessing to the church of Jesus Christ. I see a modern day apostle bringing clarity to the word of God for the younger generation. You display a freedom in the spirit that only Jesus can give. I'm old enough to be your grandfather, but say amen and amen to everything I've heard in this presentation. Love the shirt, God bless you brother.
Jefferson You Change My Life Thank You So Much :) And I Love All Of Your Videos :)
I don't get why there is arguments about what he is saying. Why are Christians and Atheists fighting about what he is saying. Stop it! This video is a guy speaking his faith. I mean come on why put down someone's faith down? I don't judge people about their faith. If you don't believe in god, that's what you believe. I'm not going to tell you that you need god in your life. I myself am a Christian. My family and friends know I have a strong faith. Tell me how wrong Christians are. I'm going to tell you I'm different. You don't believe in what he says. He is brainwashed. Well all I have to say let him speak what he believes in. Cause no one wants someone to turn down what you believe in. Go ahead and tear me down, but I'm going to forgive anyone who does. Cause it wouldn't be the first someone tries tearing me down. If you don't agree what this man is saying then why speak up? Why start arguments and fights on these kinds of videos. You're all arguing who is right in their beliefs. I say if you didn't like it, don't say anything just hit the dislike button and leave the video. Don't leave a comment just walk away.
As an atheist, I'll say that we have no problem with what anyone believes, but christianity (and religion as a whole) is innately 'in your face.' One of the biggest parts of being a christian (as I know from formerly being one) is spreading the message and witnessing. So christianity isn't a quiet belief kept in the homes of believers, it's knocking on your door with pamphlets, it's stopping you on the street to see if you know the "good news," and most importantly, it seeps into legislation and government action. So when us atheists debate and discuss with people on these kinds of videos, it's not because we want to put people down, it's a response to the forthrightness of christianity (and all religion).
In all honesty I don't get why some Christians force pamphelts and "good news" on others. Cause people say no and they should back off, but they don't. I'm a Christian and I don't do anything like that because I don't have a church telling me. It's annoying I know. But that is something that bothers me as well. If we want to speard the word just don't do it in a forcly matter. My friends and family knows I won't force cause it's not in my nature to do so. I just don't get why othes do that. But if thats wha they want to do so be it. I don't want to do it. If others on here hate me or other things bout what I said. I don't care, I know where I stand and I know where my heart is. I understand where you are coming from but it is just not all Christians do that. Some might, but not all.
***** You as an Atheist want to show your outward belief just like Christians want to show their outward belief. Is either wanting to spread their outward belief wrong? But just as atheists get involved in politics, Christians and other religious groups do as well. Each side believes they have something important say. To say one group shouldn't get involved because you, someone else, me, general culture, or some majority doesn't agree with them isn't right either (not that I agree with everything Christians want to legislate). Christianity was also never meant to be a quiet behind doors belief. But it was also never meant to be a bash someone over the head and forcibly make them follow a set of rules type deal because that's not what becoming/ or being a Christian is either. The gospel itself is offensive because it tells people that all of us suck and need Jesus. Nobody wants to hear they suck and are bad people. I do think the pamphlet handing out isn't a good approach either. But I think a lot of people that claim or think they are Christians aren't really, which adds to making all of us imperfect people that do give a rip about Jesus look even more hypocritical. I don't usually respond to things on youtube, because you know as well as I do that it's usually a waste of time, but I can tell you're a smart person and do think and care deeply about things even if we disagree.
A seminary education and experience as a Christian don't automatically make you wiser, but Mr. Bethke would benefit from both I think. He relies heavily on strawman argumentation that paints all of "religion" with a broad brush. He needs to read Martin Luther, St. Augustine, C.S. Lewis, and realize that the the Church and "religion" are a lot bigger than his experience with the church and religion. I think this is part of why Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, directed Timothy not to appoint recent converts as pastors (1Tm 3:6). Mr. Bethke knows something about the Bible, but very little about those he is falsely putting in opposition to the Bible, and his teaching as a result is unfortunately divisive (and would be offensive were it not easy to forgive a young man who obviously means well but just doesn't know any better).
+Matt Priem Paul was the only self proclaimed apostle not selected by jesus and he was also a roman citizen at odds against the beliefs of those who walked with jesus....not that i believe in any of this stuff...just saying
Hey yooooo. I did my senior thesis last year on the topic of predestination. It was a huge controversial idea at my small Christian school. So much so, they referred to it as the "P word." I would love to hear what you have to say about this. I personally believe that the Lord has a plan for every human being and He gives us a choice to walk in His calling or reject it. My goal during my senior thesis was to seek the truth. I really have a lot of respect for all that you say, and I would love to hear how you feel about this topic. Thanks so much. I love you and your family so much. Y'all are great. I hope you know the effect you're having and also know that you have people praying for you.
Love this!
This guy has the most perfect hairline I've ever seen!
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Oliver Charlesworth I'm just using you to edify the other non African black people/Israelites who might look to follow this heathen. Christ didn't teach the heathens. That's why this devil don't know wth he's talking about.
Psalms 147:19He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
SKILLvsPILLS says the cult follower.....smh...you false Hebrews kill me with your misinterpreted scriptures,it is laughable at best.....smh
The Jeffersons!! Lets see what you know. What color is Christ according to the Bible?
Lets see who's false! Color and race is in the Bible. White people don't like to deal with it because your Edom. Red, the race of the wicked!
Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
SKILLvsPILLS for the record "brotha" i'm black as you,second you fake Hebrews are stuck in the old testament and the scriptures you posted,u haven't the slightest clue of the correct interpretation...1 Corin.2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. meaning you can't even attempt to understand scripture because you are LOST and do not have the Holy Spirit to even understand the TRUE GOSPEL of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,and I can care less what color He is ,all I know is He died for me and "whosoever else" believes in Him....I'll keep you in prayer....
Jeff is truly blessed by God! It's not only he's saying all this! It's simply God that's using him as a tool to spread God's word, it's amazing how God shares his word through people and thoughts!! Jeff keep praising God he'll bless you and your wife throughout your life!
I would like to hear Pastor Joseph Prince's thoughts on this, because him and New Creation Church preach a lot of the same things.
New age false teacher.
guys make sure you love jesus and tell your friends about him, and what ever you dont worship any other gods besides him because god is an insecure jealous teenage girl.
I don't think Jesus wants you to be addicted to GTA
***** i dont think jesus wants anything because he is pretty dead. dead people usually dont have wants or desires.
addicted2gta I don't want to argue with you but your going down the wrong path.(im not responding anymore)
so are you, according to every other religion but yours.
***** it doesnt matter, we are sinners because a woman who was made from the rib of a man was tempted by a talking snake to eat a fruit from a tree that was placed somewhere that god knew adam and eve would eat from it before he ever made them. then he send his son to be tortured to death for our sins. now a hitler can just repent and realize that gods son was tortured and then go to heaven but you an i will be tortured forever for not believing this drama queen who needs blood sacrifice to forgive sins is the creator of the universe because god is perfectly "just".
I feel sooo bad for you all that don't believe.
Why? Do you feel bad for those that don't believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy?...I feel bad for those that claim "truth" to a "belief" based on outdated, unsubstantiated, unproven, contradictory, hate filled, genocidal, racist, slavery promulgating, elitist, homophobic stories of which none of the authors nor dates written are known & have been translated multiple times for multiple reasons throughout the ages...not to mention the audacious claims of magical rituals performed unto "god" & the physical impossibilities performed by him & by his "chosen" people, as well as the cannibalistic ritual called communion where once a month, you people pretend to eat the flesh & drink the blood of your savior, all the while being indoctrinated that you are nothing but a worthless, wretched sinner, not fit for the sight of "god" & ready to burn in "hell", until you sell your soul to Jesus...not until you start living a good life, performing good deeds, respecting your brothers & sisters, spreading love...no, none of that will suffice to get you into heaven, it's the verbal act of professing that you are a slave to, & property of, Jesus....What an ignorant & illogical fear induced ideology, why anyone with common sense would choose to follow this system of belief & pledge allegiance to the emotionally unstable, psychotic universal dictator of the bible, or any other religion for that matter, is beyond me....you poor, poor people...the blind leading the blind.
***** Clearly you have not read the bible, attended many church services nor have much of a clue what christianity teaches at all. I am an ex-christian of 27 years who studied the bible to be a preacher, let me shed some light for you. We are told that we are natural born sinners due to the original sin of Adam & Eve, that's why we are "unclean" & "make mistakes" & must accept Jesus as our savior to become "saved", not simply b/c we are "human" as you are presuming. On that note, you MUST profess Jesus as your savior to enter into heaven, he didnt die for every one to get a free ride to heaven, & if you don't profess him as your savior, you most certainly will go to hell, which is talked about by Jesus himself in Matthew chapter 9 & is reiterated in Luke 13 & in the book of Revelations. Jesus gives the stereotypical definition of hell in Matthew 9, with the fire & brimstone, wailing & gnashing of teeth, & he makes it more than clear that only through him can one get to the father, so don't sit there and try to tell me that the teachings of christianity state that every person is going to heaven just b/c Jesus died & that there is no hell, if anyone is misinformed, it's quite obvious it's you. Christianity states emphatically that no one except for saved christians are entering into heaven. Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Athesits, etc...no matter how good of a person they are, according to christianity, will all burn in hell. Christianity is not a religion that preaches love & joy, that's the facade they use to suck you in, there are 81 verses in the bible, from genesis to revelations, that state very clearly that in order to be obedient & to love our "heavenly father" we must FEAR him, does that sound very loving? Not just that, but this very same "heavenly father" is an advocate for racism, slavery, inhumane treatment of slaves, prostitution, selling your daughter into prostitution, incest, murder unto his name & by his command, lying in his name...right after giving his "chosen" people the 10 commandments, telling them not to kill or steal, he turns around & commands them to raid a bunch of cities & kill off all the inhabitants including nursing children (and in some cases he told his "chosen" to keep the virgin girls for themselves) then steal all of their belongings. Exodus chapter 20 is littered with evil & illogical laws spoken directly from the mouth of "god", like the buying and selling of humans (including your own daughter), the inhumane way one is allowed to treat slaves by tricking them into serving their master forever & the beating of a slave as long as the slave doesn't die, the stoning of children that talk back to their parents, the killing of anyone who is caught working on the sabbath...these, plus many more tyrannical & sadistic rulings, are all waiting for you to read within the bible, of which you obviously need to read prior to the next time you have the urge to spout off at the mouth about stuff you have no clue about.
Christianity regards the bible as "god's spoken & infallible word"(if you don't believe that, then you aren't a true christian) so if there are horrible parts of the bible, then that's part of "god's word", it isn't religion. Religion is manufactured by man, the bible is "god's spoken word", to say that the bible verses you & your pastor don't like to read is the problem with religion is a rather ignorant statement to make, & as well, indicates that you & your pastor are cherry picking the bible. Furthermore, to say it was written by man to excuse the horrible parts you don't like, yet say that the parts you do like are divinely inspired & are true, is even more ignorant! Who decides which parts of the bible are inspired & which aren't? Where is the line drawn? Picking & choosing the parts of "god's spoken word" that makes you guys feel comfortable is called making your own religion. As for Bethke, he does the same thing, equates the bad parts of the bible to religion & tries to recreate it into something that makes him feel good...how absolutely absurd that mentality is! How one could take "god's spoken word", pick and choose which parts of it to adhere to, then discard the rest & say it's religion! You people are the blind leading the blind...Read the bible however you want, but don't call yourself a christian if you don't meet the criteria & certainly do not defend christianity as you are not only confused, but uneducated as well....I always find it rather amusing that the first people to speak up in defense of the validity of christianity are the ones that know the least...you people.
There are fanatics out there that hold to every word, like the Westboro Baptist church...but don't you find it concerning that you claim it's a good thing that practicing christians do not follow the entire bible & the those parts you speak of, you described as "sadistic"? Why would you feel there is anything worthy to glean from a codex that teaches & promulgates such atrocious behavior? Why do you feel it's ok to cherry pick the bible, then to go the extreme of claiming it to be truth? How is that even logical? If parts of the bible don't apply to today or are just straight sadistic, why are those parts even in there for us to read?....Point blank, no matter what parts of the bible you believe & which parts you choose to discard, you are still living under the control of fear, as you believe that if you do not accept Jesus as your savior, you will reap an eternal consequence of being tortured in hell for a petty finite crime of not professing servitude to an individual who (if he did exist) lived thousands of years ago, and if that's how you want your ideology guiding you, then perhaps you are one of those people that are unable to discern morality & need to be guided, or more properly, coerced, by the intimidation of punishment.
God is about His people. Not just His own glory. He longs for us more than we could ever long for Him.
i like the way u did this wonderfull way of portraying christ
so damn stupid, the amazing atheist gave a really good video response to this one
the amazing atheist has a horse shoe up his ass
You can't take him seriously because he's being subjective
***** grow up young man
You're all being poor representations of humanity.
STOP FIGHTING :(
His whole message at the beginning is a gross misrepresentation of John Piper's Christian Hedonism. Interesting....
Gods desire is for us to be holy.
The New Testament is clear on that. Grace brings us to holy lives not letting us stay in sin.
I hate religion to I was deceived by religion for 12 years Jesus has opened my eyes I prayed to Jesus and ask him to help me love what he loves and hate what he hates God word is truth religion is not truth
I wonder how many of the pissed off atheists in the comments section have actually watched this? It's not actually a bad description of Christianity and the benefits of Christian virtues. Come on now guys, even if you're atheist (or agnostic, like *me* - i.e. This is NOT proselytizing) Jesus was a good guy. He had some good ideas about ethics. You don't have to accept anything point-blank - but why not be a little open minded?
*****
some can only be loved by a far, they can pull you down quicker then you can help them up and as much as your Mom or dad loves you, he loves you so much more and in my opinion love would not be with in our parents if his love was not placed with in them but putting any thing before the lover of you soul is not a good thing I would say.he wants your heart my friend and when he changes us from the inside out our love and concept grows at least it has for me.
I will say it is written The Father is a jealous God but if any one should be high and lifted I am going to say it is him, he loved us first, gave his heart first even gave us his Spirit he dose not want you to kiss his ass that is fake he wants your heart, your love and he is a gentalmen about it, never by force dose he make us love him, but by free will, he just once a real relationship thats all lol. I use to feel the same exact way to be honest but I guess I had to go what I went threw to find a relationship with him, to put him fist because he put me first.
god also said honer your Mother and father and the fact that you love them is awesome I know a lot of people who could care less of the parents
You can't love jesus and hate religion the church is the bride of christ
The church isn't a building, or even an institution. The church is the body of Christ, and it has less to do with religion than you think.
what does that mean did not Jesus found a church and give authority to the apostles
***** "The Church" is a symbol. Our local churches make up Jesus' global church. The body. It is a symbol for his Kingdom.
Thier is only one true church the catholic church
Of course with the exception of Jehova's witness' and Mormon. They claim to be Christian but are Not.
This guy, is a professional professing Christian. Professional wolf.
what do you mean?
Dalton Gibbs This guy, is not , a Christian.
because his job is spreading the gospel?
S. Reinhard Gospel spreading ? Not this guy ! He aint doing that !
Then what would you call what he's doing?
42:10 onwards had me in tears & I have loved God for years now...
43:30 for the "JOY set before Him"...YOU are that joy.
Amazing God I love You!!!!!
thumbs down.
Scotty Chapman thumbs down on your comment.
Thumbs up*
Jude 16 These people are always grumbling and blaming others, they follow their own evil desires, they boast about themselves and flatter in others in order to get their own way Romans 12:12 Every one of us, then, will have to give an account of ourselves to God.
Jefferson, I've followed you for a while and when you mentioned how God does things to us to make us more like him it's like when my aunt died from something tragic but at her funeral I got saved.
This video is really ministering to me. I'm so thankful to God for Jesus and for You.
AMEN JEFFERSON! thank you so much for posting this video, whoever did it. it has turned my life around as a Christian, and i finally feel like i don't need to worry about what other people think. thank you sooooooooooooo much
I'm so impressed with your understanding and delivery of the scriptures! Loving and compassionate, and humble yet real.
hey brother, idk if you will read this. but imma just tell you for changing my point of view on religion. All my life i was taught that religion is the way to go. People who are Christians would always tell me or try to convince me to go to church. I replied "why should i, I love him and i know he loves me" that makes them mad and hate me. Thank you for those kind words brother, because i really thought that going to church and doung good will lead me to jesus, when clearly he loves us all the way we are.
Say to them, that you and your friends can church in the house by reading bible
I have no job and no car at the moment I’ve struggled with my faith lately but my God has taken such good care of me it’s like I’ve lost nothing He really does love us despite our works
Many good points, I agree on so many levels, and we must apply the love of Christ along with edifying the Church, the Body of Christ and not allow it to separate us from others who are religious. Take this message to lead you to love Christ, to want to know Him, but still keep in mind to love one another, as He loves us, not to lead to the sin of offensive defensiveness. We cannot place boundaries of anger and hatred for any other people, as I once heard, even Hitler was worthy of saving before he died. After listening to the whole thing, I really like this guy's message. So in line with my experience with Christ. I can tell he knows what loving Christ is about. AMEN BROTHER
I've moved away from a so called "Christian church" when they started to preach about how bad others who are not in that particular church... "if you dont go to our church you are not serving God". I mean, how bad it is to think and judge other people so quickly, using the name of God...?
Baptized and confirmed church of England haven't been to church for years but after watching this guy. He shows that the church is not boring.
Jefferson, I am gonna go through a very special event in my life in few days and this explanation helps me a lot to figure out a lot of things. I am writing this comment in public to encourage you to give us more explanations on this view. Thank You !
Thank God I'm Catholic, and have speakers like Fr. Barron.
Good word Jeff, thanks for preaching in profound poetry, and keeping it real for today's generation. Lord bless you and keep using your gifts mightily....with a fresh new anointing that would break every yoke.
I agree with Mr. Bethke, about preachers who say or imply God owes us things in return for our trust in Him...but that's the abuse of the so-called "prosperity gospel". The real core of that ministry is about obedience, and Scripture does say those who love God will keep His commands. But God also said to test Him about His willingness to bless us, and that he would pour out the windows of Heaven to the point we can't contain it. (Malachi 3:10). I think a big reason why "prosperity" doesn't work for a lot of people, is because the church keeps insisting that poverty equals holiness. We keep thinking we don't deserve good things from God, even after we're saved...and in the strictest sense, we're right. But God's gifts aren't sourced in "deserving"; He does it because he loves us. Why is it so easy for some of us to receive salvation, which we also don't deserve...but if God wants to give us a new car we choke? How arrogant is it of us, to essentially tell God, "I receive Your blood and Your grace, but I don't want anything else You may have for me"? I'm no saint on this, struggling to receive even the simplest things like a new shirt...and I think this "poor equals righteous" idea has a lot to do with it. Jesus also said the rich would have the hardest time entering Heaven, because they place their trust in their possessions instead of Him...but that's a heart issue more than anything else. I've heard the account of the "rich young ruler" so many times, it sometimes make me want to throw up...because people use it to say that God or Jesus wants everyone to forsake all material wealth in their pursuit of Him. But nowhere did Jesus require that from everyone, across the board. Yes, He said if anyone loves anything more than Him, even their own family, they're not worthy of Him...but none of us are. Why do we keep thinking we have to deserve something, in order to receive it? If God told me He would give me a million dollars tomorrow, I'd want to receive it...but I also wouldn't know what to do with most of it. I think that's one reason, why it hasn't happened yet. I'd want to bless other people, more than myself...but the specifics are largely lost on me.
I agree with your arguments, but I wish you didn't attack the word "Religion" which in itself is neutral and innocent. Definition of Religion: "human beings’ relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence." Are you against this definition? No, you yourself fit into this definition (right?), nothing wrong with that. You are against bad leadership and bad doctrine, not religion.
Amen brother Jefferson Bethke!! Nothing truer has ever been preached Thank you!!God bless you and your precious wife to be. blessings😊
I hate religion, but love Jesus is like saying I believe in health and exercise, but I don’t follow and exercise routine or diet.
See religion (Catholic Church the only church that Jesus established) gives you a set of rules (diet & exercise routine) in order to reach union with God after death (being healthy). One that does not practice prayer, meditation, fast, sacrifice, and rejection of the concupiscence of the flesh only only entertains the thought of spirituality and Jesus, but does not truly follow it.
Why many young people hate religion is because they truly never took the time to study it, follow the church that Jesus established or it doesn’t fit the sexy narrative the world and Satan wants us to live. I was there...
Now I try and educate myself and follow our holy doctrine. It’s not easy, but it’s what God wants from us. It’s not as easy as saying Jesus loves and and forgives us. That creating a God of your liking.
Thanks for coming to my TedTalk. GOD BLESS!
you are amazing, these videos really help build people up and give wisdom and knowledge to all and answers to those who seek it. im glad i got to meet you this weekend it has changed me.
I love this man so much! I share of him everyday. he really helps where I am lost. he really spreads the word of God in many of ways I understand. and last he inspires me to be more holy for the glory of God. I thank God for making him this wonderful person cause this guy sharing his word has opened my eyes unto the Lord and I now know who I live for. He died for us I live for him.
Well what can I say but keep preaching . I watched this just recently you actually made sense to someone like me . Many of the next generation are living in a world where sin and failure are everywhere . What your saying just might open the door to many of these people and that is in my opinion fantastic . You know there are always haters and people who just do not like what your saying but there are many of us that take solace in the fact there is a new generation of men and women willing to speak in a way that the next generation understand . I am 42 years old and have been a person i wish I was not but reality is I was . Now I have found redemption inside of me but I struggle to listen to many so called preachers because they just do not get it , they live in cocoon of protection and self indulgence . Try not to go down that path brother for it will only end badly . From a old man who has seen and done too much praise god and may you truly get more youngsters to walk the path even if they slip over occasionally .
One of the best teaching videos I've seen and I've seen thousands.
but back to religion, and Christianity is NOT a religion. it's more of a spiritual journey. and the church is not just a building, it's the people , the PEOPLE
God will meet you where you are no matter what you have have done where you are in your life, if you ask Him to come into your life and in your heart , even if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, that is enough for Him to. Ask Christ Jesus for forgiveness, and it is given by the grace and mercy of God .All of our sins are not just forgiven, they are forgotten, never to be mentioned again. BEAUTIFUL right?
Still love listening to this msg over & over.
Brother Bethke, Im greatly inspired by your zeal for Jesus & Grace.
Yahweh bless you & your family
There are some valid points but be very careful not to take what he says literally. He was trying to be relatable and emphasize that you don’t have to be perfect to give your life to a perfect Savior!
In no way am I judging, criticizing, or anything else about anyone’s beliefs here, but man watching this reminds me of my younger years how I was forcefully spoon fed these exact ideas down my throat. As a very curious kid, I always asked why, what if, and other questions pertaining. “Because it says so in the Bible”, or because “Jesus died for your sins” were universal answers , I couldn’t really get much out of it and then got bored. Parents continued to get me to go until I was 18. I’m 24 now, after watching this it reminded me why it’s been 6 years.
There is true revelation power in His words, but only when understood in a personal way. There are True answers with interlaced explanations for every attempt throughout your life to keep you from His Truth. Your absolutely right, there should only be His direct, intentional answers for our deepest questions as opposed to generic "just because" responses.
When Jefferson mentioned his first question it reminded me of what God told me at some point in time last year:
„I don't want you to feel like you need to earn my affection.“
To be honest with you: I struggle with believing that I'm unconditionally loved by God. I always think I need to prove something to him; sometimes it gets so bad that I think He's standing with a rod in front of me.
I don't know how to change this. When I say this to people or come up to them with similar things, they often times tell me to speak out truths from the bible over myself, but I usually think: „That already sounds like my parents. They also believe that as long as you say the right thing everything's gonna be fine and if you don't, a big, terrible calamity will come. “
But they can't even define this themselves! The worst thing to me is that in some sense they still believe in Christ - they are confessing Christians - but this teaching I told you about before, has become more important to them than the real Christ.
At least that's what I have observed and when they are near me I always feel that religious spirit they are radiating, pretty much like the Pharisees. They don't radiate the light & the love of God like the other Christians I met.
Thank you so much for sharing this! Jeff you are such a blessing to everyone around! God bless to all!
i struggled finding god, but i knew there was a god, i was just denying him because of church telling me that in order to find god i need to stop with all of my addictions and that god was not going to accept me until i did so, and then i realized this is between god and i not the church, and the bible tells me that gods gonna accept me no matter what and to allow him to help me make the changes. I'm 16 years old, and so stoked to say that i've given everything to god and bethke really helped.
Thank you for this. This video really ministered to me. Praise The Lord for your servants heart!
Believe what you want. Theres no need to attack other people for what they believe in. #spreadlove