The argument against the claim that Jesus taught Christians to reject religion can be made by examining His teachings and actions within the context of the Gospels. Here are several key points supported by scripture:
1. Jesus' Affirmation of the Law and the Prophets
Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished."
Jesus emphasizes that He did not come to abolish the Jewish religious law but to fulfill it. This indicates respect and continuity rather than a rejection of religious tradition.
2. Jesus' Participation in Jewish Religious Practices
Luke 4:16 (ESV)
"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read."
Jesus regularly participated in Jewish religious practices, such as attending synagogue services, indicating His support for organized worship and religious observance.
3. Jesus' Teaching on Worship
John 4:23-24 (ESV)
"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
While Jesus emphasizes the importance of worshiping in spirit and truth, He does not dismiss the importance of worship itself. Instead, He calls for a deeper, more genuine form of religious expression.
4. Jesus' Respect for Religious Authority
Matthew 23:2-3 (ESV)
"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice."
Jesus acknowledges the authority of religious leaders (scribes and Pharisees) and instructs people to follow their teachings, although He criticizes their hypocrisy. This indicates an endorsement of the role of religious instruction.
5. The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
In the Great Commission, Jesus commands His followers to teach and baptize, which are inherently religious activities, thus promoting the establishment and continuation of the Christian faith.
6. Establishment of the Church
Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Jesus explicitly mentions building His church, indicating the formation of a structured religious community. This counters the idea that He advocated for rejecting organized religion.
7. The Institution of the Lord's Supper
Luke 22:19-20 (ESV)
"And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'"
Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, a central religious ritual in Christianity, suggesting the importance of communal religious practices.
Conclusion
Jesus' teachings and actions, as recorded in the Gospels, demonstrate that He did not advocate for the rejection of religion. Instead, He sought to reform and fulfill existing religious practices, emphasizing genuine faith, sincere worship, and the establishment of a community of believers. His participation in religious customs, respect for religious authority, and instructions to His followers all support the argument that Jesus did not teach Christians to reject religion but to engage with it authentically and faithfully.
That being said I'm wholeheartedly and completely against the Catholic Church because it has an unbiblical structure and tries to put priests that don't even meet the biblical qualifications of a pastor or an elder as mediators between us and God.
But your position is completely undefensible and unbiblical.
"Jesus" fulfilled the law and the prophets so well that the leaders of the religious establishment killed him for it.... They were following the "law" so well that they couldn't see the forest for the trees. Yeshua proved that If you follow his teachings about God you didn't need their establishment hierarchy anymore. most of his teachings resounded with peoples conscience. because forgiveness is a higher moral value than getting even. Which is actually impossible to achieve. One example is this contradiction of "God's" "law"
Exodus 21:24
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Matthew 5:38-48
English Standard Version
Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[a] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Here is a simple question do modern day Christians follow OT laws? Do they make sacrifices and offerings? do they have a temple or a tabernacle as described in the OT? Do most of them eat pork? .....The modern day Jews who reject Yeshua literally follow a lot more of those laws than any Christians do. Catholics on the other hand have a bunch of weird rules and rituals though. Some are based on NT and OT concepts but most were just pagan syncretism and rules invented by satanic popes etc etc.
Religion is designed to control peoples emotions and stop rational thought. It is at the core of the "do not question my authority" concept. That's we have seen the left become so insane while following their pedo cult.
No they weren't following the law, they were following their traditions. HUGE DIFFERENCE. They were trying to outwardly appear holy but rejected what God taught.... Kinda like someone I'm talking to.
Listen I already thoroughly refuted your argument.
You're done. You are bleeding on the ground And at this point lashing out with stupidity.
I already said I thoroughly reject Catholicism. The fact that you're bringing it up again shows me that you're being intellectually dishonest and you really have no interest in what I'm saying.
Here is a simple question do modern day Christians follow OT laws? Do they make sacrifices and offerings? do they have a temple or a tabernacle as described in the OT? Do most of them eat pork?
You have no apparent understanding of the difference between Old testament laws and the holiness code. Jesus was the final sacrifice and offering that the Old testament pointed to. The same man that declared all foods clean.
The argument against the claim that Jesus taught Christians to reject religion can be made by examining His teachings and actions within the context of the Gospels. Here are several key points supported by scripture:
1. Jesus' Affirmation of the Law and the Prophets
Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)
Jesus emphasizes that He did not come to abolish the Jewish religious law but to fulfill it. This indicates respect and continuity rather than a rejection of religious tradition.
2. Jesus' Participation in Jewish Religious Practices
Luke 4:16 (ESV)
Jesus regularly participated in Jewish religious practices, such as attending synagogue services, indicating His support for organized worship and religious observance.
3. Jesus' Teaching on Worship
John 4:23-24 (ESV)
While Jesus emphasizes the importance of worshiping in spirit and truth, He does not dismiss the importance of worship itself. Instead, He calls for a deeper, more genuine form of religious expression.
4. Jesus' Respect for Religious Authority
Matthew 23:2-3 (ESV)
Jesus acknowledges the authority of religious leaders (scribes and Pharisees) and instructs people to follow their teachings, although He criticizes their hypocrisy. This indicates an endorsement of the role of religious instruction.
5. The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
In the Great Commission, Jesus commands His followers to teach and baptize, which are inherently religious activities, thus promoting the establishment and continuation of the Christian faith.
6. Establishment of the Church
Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
Jesus explicitly mentions building His church, indicating the formation of a structured religious community. This counters the idea that He advocated for rejecting organized religion.
7. The Institution of the Lord's Supper
Luke 22:19-20 (ESV)
Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, a central religious ritual in Christianity, suggesting the importance of communal religious practices.
Conclusion
Jesus' teachings and actions, as recorded in the Gospels, demonstrate that He did not advocate for the rejection of religion. Instead, He sought to reform and fulfill existing religious practices, emphasizing genuine faith, sincere worship, and the establishment of a community of believers. His participation in religious customs, respect for religious authority, and instructions to His followers all support the argument that Jesus did not teach Christians to reject religion but to engage with it authentically and faithfully.
That being said I'm wholeheartedly and completely against the Catholic Church because it has an unbiblical structure and tries to put priests that don't even meet the biblical qualifications of a pastor or an elder as mediators between us and God.
But your position is completely undefensible and unbiblical.
Good day.
"Jesus" fulfilled the law and the prophets so well that the leaders of the religious establishment killed him for it.... They were following the "law" so well that they couldn't see the forest for the trees. Yeshua proved that If you follow his teachings about God you didn't need their establishment hierarchy anymore. most of his teachings resounded with peoples conscience. because forgiveness is a higher moral value than getting even. Which is actually impossible to achieve. One example is this contradiction of "God's" "law"
Exodus 21:24
24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Matthew 5:38-48 English Standard Version Retaliation
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[a] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
Here is a simple question do modern day Christians follow OT laws? Do they make sacrifices and offerings? do they have a temple or a tabernacle as described in the OT? Do most of them eat pork? .....The modern day Jews who reject Yeshua literally follow a lot more of those laws than any Christians do. Catholics on the other hand have a bunch of weird rules and rituals though. Some are based on NT and OT concepts but most were just pagan syncretism and rules invented by satanic popes etc etc.
Religion is designed to control peoples emotions and stop rational thought. It is at the core of the "do not question my authority" concept. That's we have seen the left become so insane while following their pedo cult.
No they weren't following the law, they were following their traditions. HUGE DIFFERENCE. They were trying to outwardly appear holy but rejected what God taught.... Kinda like someone I'm talking to.
Listen I already thoroughly refuted your argument.
You're done. You are bleeding on the ground And at this point lashing out with stupidity.
I already said I thoroughly reject Catholicism. The fact that you're bringing it up again shows me that you're being intellectually dishonest and you really have no interest in what I'm saying.
You have no apparent understanding of the difference between Old testament laws and the holiness code. Jesus was the final sacrifice and offering that the Old testament pointed to. The same man that declared all foods clean.
We are done here. Have a great day.