"My Religion"
Recently, I began listening to some old CDs that I had been given. Having never heard the Backstreet Boys, I played all the tracts on one of theirs called For The Fans. The group was founded here in Orlando in 1993 and had six Top Ten hits beginning in 1997. Most of the songs on the CD I've already forgotten—except for the last one. It's the seventh song, although there are only six listed. It's what's called "a hidden song." It's not listed on the cover, nor are the lyrics included. The song is titled, "My Religion."
The song did not originate with the Backstreet Boys. It was written by and appeared on a CD by Krystal Harris and was released in 2001 on her album, Me and My Piano. According to the information available, it never became a Top Forty hit. The words, however, reflect much of today's typical thinking; the song is laden with erroneous views of religion—which do not come from the Bible. Let's begin with the first few lines.
There's nothing wrong with tradition,
But tell me where it says not to follow our hearts.
That's why so many of us are so confused
And will never live up to your rules.
It depends on the tradition as to whether it is wrong or right. The traditions taught by Jesus and the apostles when they began preaching Christianity to the world are good traditions because they are founded on truth. Paul wrote, for example in 2 Thessalonians 2:15: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle." These traditions were the foundational truths of Christianity. They may safely be repeated in every age until the Lord returns.
However, various traditions of men even Jesus condemned—especially when they contradicted what God had taught in His Word (Matt. 15:1-9). Man does not have the authority to teach or practice anything not authorized by God (Col. 3:17). So, traditions may be either good or bad, depending on their origin. These opening words of the song are followed by a far worse objectionable statement.
"But tell me where it says not to follow our hearts." Seriously? No one familiar with the Scriptures could ever pose such a question. Apparently, the songwriter never read Jeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" To follow one's heart is to follow that which is deceitful. In the Peanuts comic strip, Lucy always held the football for Charlie Brown to kick, but at the last minute she would always pull it away. Kicking at nothing but air, poor Charlie Brown would usually end up on the ground. Even after becoming wise to this tactic, she would cajole him into kicking the ball again—with the same result.
Who wants to listen to a deceitful individual all the time? But the heart frequently does. How many men see a woman and say immediately, "I'm in love"? And how many times do such relationships end in acrimony? The heart not only can deceive; it is worse than all else. Notice the desperately wicked part, too. How many people have justified to themselves what they knew and had been taught was wrong? Nevertheless, the desire to achieve a certain outcome so possessed them that, despite the advice of friends and common sense, they remained positive in their course of action. And how many have ended up positively wrong?
Proverbs 28:26 harmonizes with Jeremiah 17:9. Solomon wrote: "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered." Experiencing a strong heartfelt emotion is woefully inadequate. Fool is not intended as a compliment; rather it characterizes in an unflattering way the decision to go by one's feelings.
How many have followed such a course with respect to salvation? Some have claimed a warm glow all over the body or some other internal certainty, which usually conflicts with the evidence found in God's Word. "But I felt all mushy inside." Probably most of us have, but it proves nothing. If it formed our basis for truth, we wouldn't need the Scriptures. At any rate, the writer wanted to know where it said not to follow the heart. The Bible answers her question.
The next line says, "That's why so many of us are confused." What? Because of being told not to follow your heart? Confusion occurs because people do lean on their subjective feelings rather than God's objective commandments. Conflicts will naturally occur because of the subjectivism advocated; that's what leads to confusion. Some "feel" that abortion is acceptable, but others deny it. Only God's objective revelation provides reasons for rejecting it. Without the Divine standard, we would have chaos.
We have no way of knowing what the "rules" are that the writer means, but they are not "our" rules. The only "rules" that Christians have are those God set forth in the Holy Scriptures. True, we don't always live up to them, but we try. If we fall short, we still have something true to aim at. If we didn't have "rules," wouldn't we have anarchy and lawlessness?
God calls us to holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Thess. 4:7) so that we will become like Him. Is this concept too stringent? God requires various things of us, it is true. But as He told Israel, He gave commandments to them "for their good" (Deut. 10:12-13). Who is in the best position to determine moral behavior—the creature (us) or the Creator (who made us)? To ask the question is to answer it. Yet some think they know more than God!
The Chorus
Now we come to the few lines that are repeated ad nauseum. The frequent reiteration does not make them more believable. The author wrote:
My religion doesn't hate;
It'll never turn you away.
It always understands.
My religion won't condemn,
Always lends a healing hand.
It's love. My religion's love.
Christianity doesn't hate anything but sin. Most people hate the results of sin. If, for example, your poor neighbors work, struggling to make ends meet, and somebody steals the few basic possessions they own, would most of us rejoice or say, "I hate what those thieves did"? Suppose the same family's daughter is violated, do we not all despise such an action? What if the entire family were murdered in their sleep, would we not clamor for justice for them? What exactly does the songwriter mean when she says, "My religion doesn't hate"?
God hates sin. He hates what it does to people—to the person who harms others—as well as the unfortunate recipient of that person's ill will. The transgressor (of God's rules) is truly pitiable, yet God does not write him off. Jesus died for each one of them—as much as those who try to live righteously. No one deserves God's love. Yet He loves so much that as long as sinners can draw breath, they can repent and be forgiven. Neither God nor Christians hate people—the hater is the one who disrespects another's personage and property. He will probably not change because someone sings about love. The Beatles did "All You Need Is Love" back in the summer of 1967, but nothing seems to have changed. Former President George H. W. Bush called for "a kinder, gentler nation." Since that time, this country has observed numerous, senseless mass shootings. We cannot sing our way to a perfect society.
The implication of this first line of the chorus is that other religions do hate. Actually, one does; even some so-called "Christian" groups may teach hate, but it is contrary to what the Bible says. The New Testament clearly declares God's rule on this subject:
But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes (1 John 2:11).
If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20).
"And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself '" (Matt. 22:39).
Condemnation
Therefore, God hates sin—especially how it affects people—but enjoins love towards all. However, one further line takes issue with the very character of God. Amidst all of the affirmations of love, this line stands out: "My religion won't condemn." Really? Won't condemn what? Anyone? Anything? Surely no one could make so foolish a statement. If someone murdered a close friend of the songwriter's, would there be no condemnation for such an evil deed? Is justice to fall by the wayside while the criminal goes free? Or if captured, should he be released because we don't want to criticize anyone? Such an attitude does not comprise love, and it certainly ignores justice.
God does condemn. He condemns sin now and the unrepentant sinner later. The boast that "my religion won't condemn" is fatuous. Already, it has been shown that all human beings abhor unfair and illegal treatment by others. Courts of law exist in order to determine an appropriate punishment for violators. Most societies believe in the application of justice. Convicts remain free to repent; they may actually experience forgiveness from those they harmed. Condemnation is not synonymous with hatred.
The purpose of punishment is to ensure that everyone understands that certain types of behavior are wrong. The punishment serves as a warning for all that wickedness will not be tolerated. The guilty party will be discouraged from doing the same thing again, and others will be cautioned against making the same mistakes. Justice, therefore, serves as a deterrent against evil and an encouragement to do right.
Some will undoubtedly challenge the concept of eternal punishment. Important principles concerning that subject should be considered. First, God has sounded the warning concerning eternal punishment (Matt. 7:13-14; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; et al.). No one, then, can be surprised that the Almighty will actually do what He foretold He would do.
Second, not all justice is preventive (as some imagine); it is also retributive. In other words, the guilty person deserved the penalty, "But, forever? Doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?" In most people's lifetimes, thousands of opportunities exist, but people choose not to avail themselves of them. God loved us so much that He made forgiveness available to us through the death of Jesus on the cross. The cost to God for us to have this privilege was enormous. But He accomplished it on our behalf. The fault lies not with God Who, after He carried out the plan to provide us forgiveness, if we turn it down.
Third, God went to the greatest lengths possible to save us from our sins. In Jesus lies forgiveness so that we do not receive what we have merited. Since Jesus paid the price for our sins, justice has been served, and we obtain forgiveness. Those who reject God's love and forgiveness have chosen condemnation.