Why I hate Religion but love Jesus - Jefferson Bethke speaks my mind

I don't usually like discussing topics on faith because mine is deeply personal to me and I understand it can be the same for others. I also know we are all given different and individual measures of faith. When I say I believe in Jesus Christ and the Word of God, some people think I'm talking about religion and I understand that too. But I think they're two different things, and that is why we can have religious extremists who do things against the tenets of their faith, or what they are supposed to believe.

So while we were all brought up as Christians in my family, I accept that I may not see every topic the same way with my brother or my sisters. Then I consider other Christians that attended different Sunday Schools or Bible studies from me, and I bite my tongue before I get into religious arguments. However, there comes a time when you just have someone speaking your mind, almost exactly and even much better than you would've put it. Jefferson Bethke, the guy in that video, is one such person and some verses from his spoken word is below. See full lyrics at his Rap Genuis page.

Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrum
See one's the work of God, but one's a man made invention
See one is the cure, but the other's the infection
See because religion says do, Jesus says done
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see
And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans

Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man
Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits but Jesus's obedience alone
Because he took the crown of thorns, and the blood dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, I guess that's why you call it grace
And while being murdered he yelled
"Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
And he absorbed all of your sin, and buried it in the tomb
Which is why I'm kneeling at the cross, saying come on there's room
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said it is finished, I believe he meant it

I have to confess that the older I get, the more this dichotomy between the church and Jesus Christ and his teachings become to me. No, I'm not talking of individual pastors who get into scrapes or scam their members. I'm talking of established denominations and congregations who abide by doctrine that plainly is in opposites to what Christ taught. And it starts from the Priests to the newest member. from beliefs that tithing will get you to heaven, to prosperity preaching that tosses humility and the poor to the wayside.

I sometimes ask myself, what is going on? I am yet to know the answer.