| Answer
from Jesus:
I am addressing
this question because so many of my most devout followers have allowed
themselves to become so attached to the Bible that they are not open
to considering any other spiritual teachings. In fact, many of them
are not even open to hearing my living word. Obviously, I am not happy
with a situation that prevents me from communicating with my own. I
am aware that many of these Christians are not likely to read these
teachings. Yet, I desire to address the question.
I am Jesus Christ and I am an ascended being. Everything that ever took
place on earth has been recorded, and I have full access to those records.
When I look at the history of the Bible, I can truly say that the Bible
is the most complex literary work on the planet.
The origins of the Bible go so far back that both orthodox Christians
and materialistic scientists would be reluctant to accept it. It springs
from an ancient oral tradition that has been told and retold over countless
generations. I am sure you can see the possibility that during such
a long process some things might have been lost, some things might have
been distorted and some things might have been added.
Parts of the Old Testament did indeed originate as the result of divine
inspiration. Many things have been added onto the original delivery,
and these additions were also the word of God through divine inspiration.
Therefore, parts of the Old Testament were indeed divine inspiration.
However, during its long history, the Old Testament has been added onto
by people who did not respect the word of God and who had no compunctions
about adding, subtracting and distorting the word of God to suit their
purposes.
Therefore, the best one can say about the Old Testament is that it does
indeed contain fragments of the word of God, but that much of it is
no longer the pure word of God. At the same time, one must also recognize
that some parts of the old testament were never meant to be the word
of God. They were simply historical records telling the story of a certain
group of people in an attempt to preserve those records for posterity.
As for the New Testament, my discourses (see Teachings
section) give you the reasons why I did not personally organize the
writing down of my teachings. I did not want to bring forth an outer
doctrine, because I knew that it would inevitably be distorted. And
why would I bring forth an official outer doctrine when I was still
delivering the living word? Furthermore, it was my intention to keep
delivering that living word indefinitely.
Therefore, I desire you to recognize that when the original gospel writers
wrote down the New Testament, they did not attempt to provide a complete
account of my life or my teachings. Their aim was to preserve a historical
record of some of the highlights of my life so that the growing Christian
movement would not enter into disputes about what I did or said. This
was a noble goal, but once again I must tell you that had people been
willing, they could have received that information directly from me.
I must also tell you that the only way to resolve disputes among different
groups of Christians is through the living word and the Christ consciousness.
When you look at the many contemporary Christian sects, who each claim
to have the correct interpretation of the scriptures that were delivered
2,000 years ago, I am sure you will agree that no written record could
possibly resolve the disputes among Christians. The carnal mind can
create conflict where no conflict exists, and you can never resolve
that conflict by using the carnal mind itself. Therefore, no written
record, regardless of how authoritative it might seem, could ever resolve
the disputes and differences between people who are caught in the carnal
mind.
I want you to understand that the original gospel writers did indeed
have a certain measure of Christhood and that much of what they wrote
was inspired by me. Obviously, the Book of Revelation was brought forth
through direct inspiration. Therefore, it is not incorrect to say that
the New Testament, in its original form, was the word of God. However,
you need to understand what is meant by the expression “the word
of God.”
What is the word of God?
It is not impossible for God to speak his words directly in this world
(nothing is impossible to God). God did indeed speak the words: “This
is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.” However,
I must tell you that these are rare occurrences. Most of the time, God
delivers the living word through an individual human being who raises
his or her consciousness to the level of the Christ consciousness. Therefore,
that person becomes the open door through which the living word can
be delivered into this world. I was such an open door, and so were my
apostles and many other people both before and after my coming.
You must also understand that when God delivers the living word through
a person, that word becomes individualized. In its purest sense, the
word of God is the Christ consciousness. The universal Christ consciousness
cannot enter this world in its purest form. To enter this world, the
universal Christ consciousness must be individualized.
I want you to understand that the individualization of the Christ consciousness,
or the word of God, is not necessarily a degradation of that word. However,
the individualization of the word will inevitably be affected by the
mind of the individual who serves as the open door. I have told you
(see Teachings section)
that my teachings are in many ways affected by my personality.
What I desire you to understanding is that the word of God can be delivered
in many different ways that are all valid and that all pay homage to
the universal truth from which they came. Therefore, when I say that
my teachings were the word of God, I want you to understand that it
was one version of the word of God and not the only possible version
of the word of God. I want you to avoid any kind of fanaticism with
regards to the scriptures.
I also want you to recognize that throughout history there have been
instances in which a person was selected to deliver the word of God,
but that person was not able to be a completely pure instrument. Therefore,
you can find spiritual teachings on this planet that were inspired by
God yet still contain some false ideas or concepts. I will not point
the finger at any particular teaching, I simply desire you to understand
that even though a teaching is inspired by God, it is possible that
some of God’s original message can be lost in the process of bringing
it into the material world. In all fairness, I must tell you that being
the instrument for the delivery of the Word of God is not an easy process.
The game of addition and subtraction
I hope you will see that the New Testament, in its original form, was
to a large degree inspired by God, and therefore it is not incorrect
to say that it was the word of God, as long as one understands what
I have stated above. We now need to consider what has happened to the
original Gospels in the almost 2,000 years that has passed since they
were brought into this world.
Once again, I have access to the full historical records, and nothing
is hidden to me. As much as it might pain you, I must tell you that
the Gospels you have today are but fragments of what was originally
brought forth. Therefore, they simply do not contain the fullness of
what I want you to know about me, about my life and about my teachings.
I know many Christians will be reluctant to accept this idea, but you
ought to read the scriptures that you claim are the Word of God. Does
not the scriptures themselves say that if all I did and said should
be written down, the world itself could not contain the books that should
be written? Is that not a clear indication that even the original scriptures
did not contain the fullness of my message?
I must tell you that I completely fail to understand how so many Christians
can ignore this obvious truth. How could they possibly reason that I,
Jesus Christ, do not have any more to tell them about my Father’s
kingdom than what is recorded in the present-day Gospels? To me, this
is completely mindboggling.
What is even harder for me to understand is that so many Christians
cling to the written scriptures, and cling to a particular interpretation
of those scriptures, and completely close their minds and hearts to
my living word which I have been delivering almost continually for these
past 2,000 years through many different sources.
I must tell you that progressive, ongoing revelation is my true desire.
What do you think I meant when I said: “I will be with you always?”
Why do you think I appeared to my disciples after my resurrection? I
never intended to leave you alone in a dark world where all you had
as a guiding rod was a set of written scriptures that provided a fragmentary
account of my life and teachings. I desired to continue to give you
comfort and understanding through the living word of God which I am.
Why do those who consider themselves to be my followers reject my living
word?
The delivery of the living word
For these past 2,000 years, I have delivered that living word through
various people who had the courage to open their hearts and minds to
me. Some of them did indeed work within the context of the orthodox
Christian church or churches. Yet, in many cases the fanaticism of the
orthodox church forced me to go outside of that church in order to bring
forth another piece of my ongoing revelation. This tendency has continued
until the present day, and the teachings on this website are only one
chapter in a long series of these deliveries from me.
The New Testament does not represent the end-all and be-all of the delivery
of my word. You will find that word in many other sources. Likewise,
these teachings are not meant to be seen as the end-all and be-all of
the delivery of my word. It is part of a tradition that goes all the
way back to when I first appeared to my disciples after my resurrection.
It is part of a tradition whereby the living master, Jesus Christ, delivers
the living word to those who dare to be his living disciples.
Choose life.
Choose the living word of Christ over the word of an orthodox doctrine
filled with dead men’s bones.
The scriptures are incomplete
I desire you to realize and accept that the written scriptures you have
today leave much to be desired. Many things have been subtracted from
them for political reasons, not the least of which is the teaching on
reincarnation. Other things have been added onto them, once again for
political reasons. Furthermore, many things have been lost to honest
mistakes in translations and transcriptions.
I am not thereby saying that the current scriptures do not have value.
They do indeed have value, and they do indeed contain keys that some
souls have used to discover my inner teachings. Yet, for most people
the current scriptures simply are not enough to serve as a stepping
stone to the discovery of my inner teachings. Therefore, I want you
to know that I Jesus Christ do not want you to confine your studies
to the current scriptures. I want you to open your mind and heart and
seek truth wherever it can be found. Do not limit God’s ability
to bring truth into this world. Do not limit God’s ability to
bring truth into your heart and mind, even through an unexpected source.
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained
angels in disguise. The truth of God often appears in disguise. Do not
reject the truth simply because you do not like its outer appearance.
Those who truly want the truth of God must look beyond all outer appearances
to the inner truth that transcends this world.
The following link
leads to an excellent webpage that talks about some of the inconsistencies
of Bible
literalism.
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Copyright
© 2003 by Kim Michaels |
