The
traditional Christian
Most Christians believe that if they had
been living in Israel 2,000 years ago, they would have been among the
people who recognized Jesus, not among those who ignored, rejected or
persecuted him. But is this true or is it merely a refusal to look for
the beam in our own eyes?
Who were the people that rejected Jesus and why did they do so? If you
read the scriptures carefully, you will see that people rejected Jesus
because they took a very specific approach to religion. They took an
orthodox, traditionalist, conservative or fundamentalist approach, and
they wanted everything to conform to the existing scriptures and their
interpretation of them. They were not open to anything new, and when
Jesus challenged their religious doctrines and practices (for example
by healing a man on the Sabbath), they threw themselves at him like
ravening wolves.
Do you believe that any spiritual teaching brought forth in today’s
infinitely more complex world should conform fully to the teachings
brought forth 2,000 years ago? Do you believe Jesus could not possibly
say something today that would go beyond the Bible or a literal interpretation
of it?
If so, you are most likely taking the exact same approach to religion
as the people who persecuted Jesus and accused him of blasphemy. Thus,
if you had been around back then, it is not likely you would have recognized
Jesus as a genuine spiritual teacher who came to offer you a new approach
to religion, an approach that was given by God to raise the spiritual
awareness of humankind. You would probably have seen him as a dangerous
and blasphemous rebel who was working for the devil rather than doing
God’s work.
If you are a Christian, you probably believe Jesus was resurrected and
ascended to Heaven, where he was given all power in Heaven and in Earth
(Matthew 28:18). If you believe this, what is to stop Jesus from bringing
forth a spiritual teaching that is specifically adapted to the level
of consciousness that humankind has today and which addresses the problems
people face in today’s complex world? In fact, by doing so Jesus
would only be fulfilling two of his own promises:
Lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Matthew
28:20)
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
(John 16:12)
Are
you open to the possibility that Jesus still exists, is still with us
and is willing to say unto us the things that humankind could not “bear”
2,000 years ago but which those who are open-minded can bear today?
Or will you deny Jesus the opportunity to speak to you today? Will you
place yourself in the category of people who still cannot bear Jesus’
more profound teachings? Will you reject him today as he was rejected
by so many 2,000 years ago?
Only you can answer these questions, but before you do, consider reading
the following teachings:
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Copyright
© 2005 by Kim Michaels |
