Some People Don't Like Religion... But They Like Jesus

From time to time I hear people say, “I don’t like religion, but I like Jesus.”  I think what people mean when they say this—at least, some of the people who say it—is this: A person can be very religious and still miss the main point.  This is the kind of thing that Jesus, himself, talked about when he chastised the religious leaders in His day.

Someone might ask, “Well then, what is the main point?”

The main point—not the only point—according to Jesus was this:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.  And love your neighbor as yourself.  [Mark 12:30]

If we are religious but we don’t genuinely love others the way Jesus calls us to love others, we are missing the main point.  When this happens we end up with people saying, “I don’t like religion, but I like Jesus.”