I first saw Jefferson Bethke’s “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” spoken word when I was a freshman. I just recently re-encountered the video, and it doesn’t cease to give me goosebumps.

If we understand religion as living a life of faith, Bethke’s thesis simply can’t be.

But if we understand religion as legalism—as merely adhering to a set of rules in pursuit of God’s approval and salvation—his message is spot-on.

What would the world look like if more of us understood the law of grace? If we understood that we can never be justified by our own effort, but only by that of Christ? That salvation doesn’t depend on us, but rather depends on Him? That Christianity isn’t about about following laws, but about following Christ?

Don’t we see so much better than just following some rules?

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:21