Uncovering the heart behind Jefferson Bethke's controversial words

I'm so happy Jefferson Bethke has come clean, apologizing for his rap, which downed hypocrisy in religion. Because of my experiences with people steeped in tradition, defined more by their religious practice than their relationship with Christ; my initial response was Amen to his between-the-lines cry for real religion. I agree with what he sought to promote, a heart Christianity, which shows itself in a life of integrity. We need be careful to live by the religion of the heart, a growing relationship with Christ.
1. Our outward show of Christianity needs to be the kind that draws others to Christ, not ourselves. 
Christ performed miracles and received worship but lived to be in His Father's presence. His miracles were a mere medium to help others, not help himself to their praise and adulation. The moment we become so sold on our brand of Christianity that we exclude others, failing to live inclusively within the body of Christ, is the moment we placate others within the body, not winning the world by our love.
2.  Our purpose must be to bind the broken and guide the blind.
Christ priority was the real physical needs of people. Yes, men roamed without Shepherd; but His first concern was showing he cared. As His heart for them became evident, He felt permission to speak words of salvation to them. There were times when His way with people way outside this grid; for example, his dealings with the woman of Samaria, who he dealt with sarcastically before bringing her to the realization that her needs were met in Him. But Christ's way generally is caring words, helpful deeds, before transforming message. It's high time we take great care to spread love in and out of the household of faith, so they may know and experience Christ by our love.
3. We need to speak clearly especially when we cry against hypocrisy.
Christ was radical, calling out pretense in religion. Five of the six types of Pharisees were the false kind, who were privy to his words of judgment. Steeped in tradition, a far cry from the giving life, He lived by; Christ excoriated the Pharisees for their white-walled religion. He spoke lucidly decrying their practice of faith to the exclusion of possessing true faith. It was their show of God, without heart for God that compelled Him to cry against their virtueless religion. Jefferson's cry and the outcry of many against his plea for true Christianity reminded me much of the angst Christ encountered as He seemed to belittle the very religion the Pharisees practiced; Jefferson's heart is pure gold and his words have already  bettered our church's teens. Where Jefferson failed I believe is in his use of the word "religion." The more we decry  "religion" rather than promoting the worth of true religion: the more we'll turn the unreached against the idea of religion in any form, even heart religion, a real, transforming relationship with Christ that helps others in Christ's church and touches the broken in society at large. 
God heart is that we be clear LED light, which radiates through our planet with the life of Christ. To be a light to others is to expose their darkness too. God help us be clean as we live in true union with Him, manning Christ's mission well, not bringing offense to the cross by our conduct.

Are you a "God-chaser" or just plain elusive

As Christians we've been given freedom at great cost. The cross was nothing short of guaranteed liberty to please God. However in intentionally seeking to please God, many set unreasonable standards by which they and others will please God, leading an unbelieving world to see Christianity as cold religion and not life-changing relationship. Brought into freedom in Christ, it is tempting to not see freedom in Christ for how full-orbed it is. It's not just freedom to fulfill Christ's demands but freedom to relish life in its beauty and fulness, freedom to know blessing and bless others as we live "under rank," in allegiance to our Master. Many Christians cross the line of faith having endured hard lives in unbelief, where they craved the drunk state, gambled till they lost much, and lived for fallen fantasies. On getting saved, these people are candidates for lives defined by their personal preferences. Instead of being advocates for godly balance, they tend to impose strict codes on themselves and others. Though their life rules may be reasonable for them because of their personal weaknesses, those life rules may  not be best for everyone. Too often people in the world look at the fabricated codes of believers, which may frown on social drinking, fun dancing, light gambling and wonder who wrote the rules, us or God. Our featuring our brand of Christianity and our powerlessness to Scripturally excoriate these practices make us law-givers in the minds of unbelievers or attune young Christians. The time has come for discipleship to be more organic. It's high time people are led to God rather than "accepted Christian norms." Our focus needs to be compelling people in our sphere of their appointment with Christ beyond the grave. The reality of seeing Christ after death and His grand design to make hearts His home are real time catalysts, stirring people to ponder their relationship with God. Our lives need to effervesce "truth,  beauty, justice, community." If we're to win others to faith in Christ; it'll not be by our rigid code of conduct; rather it'll be by living lives enlivened by active relationship with Christ. People don't care for your code, they care for your fulfillment Source. Our faith is the envy of our neighbors, when it makes us more neighborly, not elusive. My neighbor, who lives for drugs won't be drawn to Christ by what I do or don't do but by how the Christ I possess changes my way with him. Too often we placate others by our commitment to our own "right regimen," which many times is of our own making, not God's. People out there have a misconstrued concept of what Christianity is many times because Christianity is often misrepresented as a list of "do's" and "dont's." We have a responsibility as Christians to represent the true heart change Christ brings when He enters the heart at salvation. He enlivens the heart filling it with heavenly desires and a built-in Control, His Spirit, Who moves us down paths best for us. In love with Christ, we'll have no heart for fallen addictions; we'll be the story of hearts with crowded space, hearts full of who Christ is and beating with Kingdom desire, hearts which enjoy responsibly things in this world, for while they relish this world's good they wait longingly for another World. Don't force your rules for living onto others; instead lead them into the good life, the life which embraces in trust the work Christ did on Calvary with a spirit of love and personal duty. The love of Christ and what it does in one's heart has a way of leading people into lives which live to honor it. Transformation by Christ's selfless work on Calvary alone is the way to lead a life holy, alive and transported, in His eyes.

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you - 1 Pet. 2:9 MSG
His inside-out difference runs deeper than what we do or don't do. Its all about the privilege of daily dates with Him, a lifestyle of true union with Him which is lifestyle transforming.

How are you?

Many live with a facade of well-being, when their lives are falling apart. Many are forced to feign success and personal prosperity, when in their hearts they're searching for answers. Many fail to know the benefit of taking an honest assessment of their lot in life and making a turnabout, which could be transforming in their experience and in the lives of others. I'm Dave; I'm so excited to network with you, to share experiences. God is impassioned with your knowing joy and fulfillment in your experience. I'm looking to learn from you and to help you with my experiences.