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By Kim Michaels
It is hard to imagine Jesus having inconsistencies in his beliefs
and religious practices. If we want to truly follow Jesus, we must
be willing to take an honest look for any inconsistencies in our beliefs.
And we must be willing to resolve inconsistencies by reaching for
a higher understanding.
The following discussion of common inconsistencies is not meant to
weaken your Christian faith, but to strengthen your faith by bringing
it into alignment with the reality of Jesus’ inner teachings.
Jesus said, “Seek and ye shall find,” so let us accept
that we can resolve all inconsistencies by reaching for a higher understanding
of the inner teachings of Jesus.
Inconsistency No.
1. Why do some Christians take the opposite approach to religion than
the approach taken by Jesus himself?
The scriptures make it clear that Jesus was in constant opposition
to people who took a particular approach to religion. He denounced
the scribes and the Pharisees and said,
Woe unto you,
lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered
not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. (Luke
11:52)
What was the approach to
religion that Jesus denounced? It was what we might call an outer,
dogmatic or letter-of-the-law approach. These people were attached
to outer doctrines, interpretations, their religious organization
and its rituals. They refused to look beyond this outer framework
to find a higher understanding. Jesus clearly wanted people to look
beyond the letter of the law and discover the spirit of the law. Moreover,
he wanted people to internalize the spirit of the law.
Jesus himself did not follow orthodox doctrines and was accused of
violating them on several occasions. He taught with authority, in
contrast to the scribes who merely interpreted the letter of the law.
So it seems clear that Jesus wanted people to take what we might call
an inner, spiritual or mystical approach to religion.
Today, many Christians are attached to certain outer doctrines and
dogmas. They cling to a certain view of Jesus and his message, and
they often seem unwilling to look beyond it. Yet they seem to overlook
that it was precisely people who took this approach that opposed Jesus,
plotted against him and eventually succeeded in getting him crucified.
The fact that Jesus so forcefully denounced these people shows us
that an important part of Jesus’ mission was to help us free
ourselves from the dogmatic approach to religion and adopt a better,
more spiritual, approach.
Does it make sense that modern Christians take the outer approach
to religion when Jesus denounced this approach? Then what approach
should modern Christians take? How about taking the same approach
to religion that Jesus took. How about looking beyond outer doctrines
and interpretations? How about looking for a higher spiritual understanding
of Jesus and his teachings?
If Jesus had not been willing to look for truth inside himself, he
could not have brought forth his teachings. How can we hope to fully
understand and internalize his teachings unless we are willing to
look for truth inside ourselves?
Inconsistency No.
2. Why are some Christians attached to outer doctrines and interpretations
when Jesus clearly refused to be bound by doctrines and dogmas?
Jesus grew up in a culture dominated by the Jewish religion. He taught
in the temple at the age of 12 and people were astonished at his knowledge.
Is there any doubt that Jesus could have attained a position in the
Jewish religion if he had wanted it? So why didn't he pursue such
a position—wouldn't he have encountered less opposition from
the religious authorities if he had been one of them?
The explanation could be that Jesus knew there was no room within
the Jewish religion to bring forth his new teachings. In order to
fit into the system, he would have had to accept restrictions, and
he would have had to conform to outer rules. He might have been forced
to compromise the truth in order to fit into the system. Clearly,
this would have prevented him from bringing forth his new teachings.
Jesus also demonstrated that he wanted truth above all else, and he
never let any earthly institutions or doctrines prevent him from seeking
God’s truth. So as Christians we need to consider whether we
are willing to follow Jesus’ example and look beyond traditional
doctrines and interpretations? Do we want the truth about Jesus and
his teachings, or are we content with doctrines and interpretations
about him
Inconsistency No.
3. Why do some Christians think it is sufficient to believe in outer
doctrines and dogmas when Jesus clearly wanted people to internalize
his teachings?
The scriptures contain several examples of how Jesus told his disciples
that they had too little faith and that they were without (sufficient)
understanding. He clearly denounced the scribes and the Pharisees
for wearing religion as an outer clothing (saying their prayers and
doing alms in public). He denounced their interpretations of the letter
of the law and accused them of being devoid of the spirit of the law.
In contrast, Jesus spoke with authority about spiritual matters. He
seems to have internalized spiritual truth to such a degree that he
knew what he was talking about. It had become a part of his consciousness
and being instead of merely an intellectual understanding of outer
doctrines and interpretations.
Jesus never claimed that he was the only one who could internalize
truth. In fact he repeatedly encouraged his disciples to get a deeper
understanding of the truth. He also encouraged people to change their
consciousness, as when he said it was not enough to abstain from adultery
because you have to overcome the desire for it.
Can we claim to truly follow Jesus unless we open our hearts and minds
to a higher understanding of his teachings, an understand that might
go beyond outer doctrines, interpretations and intellectual knowledge?
Can we truly follow Jesus unless we internalize his teachings and
allow them to change our state of consciousness?
Inconsistency No.
4. Why do some Christians seem reluctant to look beyond their current
beliefs when Jesus clearly said that if we seek truth, we shall find
it?
Many Christians have grown up in a culture dominated by specific doctrines
or interpretations of Jesus’ teachings. Yet many Christians
have unanswered questions about the spiritual side of life. If you
have unanswered questions, there can be only one explanation. The
answers to your questions cannot be found within the context of the
doctrines and interpretations that you currently know and believe.
So if you truly want answers to your questions, you have to be willing
to look beyond your current beliefs. You must be willing to think
outside the box.
Jesus clearly demonstrated that he was willing to look for answers
outside his religious culture. Jesus also demonstrated that he was
willing to seek truth with an open mind and heart. Jesus told us to
seek the truth and we shall find it. Many Christians think Jesus was
in a special category, yet he never said that he was the only one
who could know truth. He told us, “Seek and ye shall find.”
If we were unable to find, why would Jesus tell us to seek? He talked
about the truth that will make us free. Again, if we were unable to
find the truth, how could it set us free?
The problem is that if we cling to existing beliefs, we will only
look for and accept ideas that conform to those beliefs. We hear only
what we want to hear. Therefore, to truly find a higher understanding,
we must be willing to seek with an open mind and heart. Jesus demonstrated
this willingness—can we do any less?
Inconsistency No.
5. Why do some Christians cling to outer doctrines and interpretations
when Jesus did not base his knowledge on outer sources?
Although Jesus clearly knew and respected the teachings of the Old
Testament, he did not base his teachings on outer doctrines and interpretations,
as did the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus knew truth from within
himself. He had internalized the truth, and that is why he taught
with authority and not as the scribes.
It is easy for Christians to think that Jesus was above and beyond
the rest of us. Yet in this respect, Jesus said, “The kingdom
of God is within you.” He did not say that the kingdom was only
within him but within all of us.
What is the kingdom of God? Is it possible that by looking for the
kingdom of God within ourselves, we can discover and attain contact
with the same source of truth that Jesus tapped? Did Jesus perhaps
mean that we all have the ability to find God’s truth within
ourselves? If so, should we not be willing to look for truth the same
place Jesus found it?
How do we find truth inside ourselves? What if the ability to do so
is already built into our minds? It is commonly called intuition,
but there might be a lot more to it than what most people see as intuition.
Even some psychologists are talking about a higher part of the mind,
a higher self or superego. What if we really have a higher mind that
we can contact by sharpening our intuitive faculties? What if this
higher mind, this Christ mind, or Christ self, is the key to knowing
truth from within ourselves?
Saint Paul talked about the lower mind, the carnal mind, and the natural
man. He also talked about putting off the old man and putting on the
new man. Was he perhaps saying that we can rise above the carnal mind,
which cannot recognize truth, and unite with the higher mind, which
is one with truth? Did Jesus come in part to demonstrate an ability
that all people have, namely the potential to reach beyond the lower
mind and know truth? Was Jesus saying that when we are willing to
lose our life, the sense of life and identity based on the lower mind,
we shall find a more spiritual life based on truth?
Inconsistency No.
6. Why do some Christians have a fear-based approach to God and religion
when Jesus’ approach was based on love?
It is difficult to imagine Jesus being afraid of anything, including
God. In Old Testament times, the Jews had created an image of God
as being an angry and judgmental God who was ready to punish people
for the slightest transgression of his laws. Jesus brought a distinctly
different view of God, namely that of a loving Father figure.
After the time of Jesus, some Christian churches, especially during
the Middle Ages, reverted back to a frightening image of God. Yet
if this image is out of touch with Jesus’ teachings on God,
why should modern Christians continue to hold on to it?
It is also difficult to see Jesus having a fear-based approach to
religion. He clearly was not afraid of the orthodox Jewish authorities.
In fact, one might argue that it was his open independence and defiance
that got him killed. So why should modern Christians have a fear-based
approach to religion? Why should they fear a particular church or
the authorities of a church? Why should they fear that by thinking
about ideas outside orthodox doctrine, they will go to Hell? Jesus
clearly did not believe that his followers would go to Hell for accepting
ideas that went far beyond Jewish doctrine.
Jesus clearly was not afraid to question the authorities, the scriptures
or the official interpretation of the scriptures. So why should modern
Christians be afraid to ask questions that go beyond orthodox doctrines?
Jesus told us to seek, and he clearly was not afraid to seek beyond
the orthodox doctrines of his time. Why should we be afraid to seek
beyond the doctrines and dogmas of our time?
Jesus clearly loved God, and he told us to love God with all of our
hearts, minds and souls. Fear and love are incompatible emotions.
You want to get close to what you love, and you want to get away from
what you fear. So if Jesus told us to love God, then he clearly wanted
us to overcome all fear related to God and religion. In fact, he talked
about the perfect love that casts out all fear.
If we want to truly follow Jesus, should we not seek and accept that
perfect love and stop living in fear?
Inconsistency No.
7. Why do some Christians ignore Jesus’ statement that unless
we become as little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven?
Obviously, Jesus could not have meant that we should become like children
in a physical sense, so he must have been talking about the mindset
or approach to life that children have.
Children are naturally very open and curious about life, including
the spiritual side of life and God. They want to know, and they are
not afraid to ask questions. They will openly ask questions and seek
the answers wherever they can be found. In contrast, many adults close
their minds and set up an outer framework of beliefs and doctrines
that determines the type of questions they are willing to ask.
Children are naturally very loving towards God and have great faith
in God. In contrast, many adults adopt a fear-based approach to God
and religion.
In summary, children are unconditional in their approach to spirituality,
whereas many adults gradually become more and more rigid and conditional.
This conditionality causes people to close their minds to ideas that
go beyond the framework that they have chosen as the only truth. It
is obvious that Jesus’ approach to God and spirituality was
completely unconditional. He was willing to look beyond any outer
framework to find the truth, and he approached God with no fear. Should
we not strive to approach God, and spirituality with the same unconditionality
as Jesus himself?
Inconsistency No.
8. Why do some Christians fail to understand the statement that the
lawyers had taken away the key to knowledge?
Jesus was very direct in his challenge to the lawyers, and it must
be important for us to understand why he so forcefully denounced these
people and their approach to religion. Jesus stated that the lawyers
had not entered in themselves, but what did he mean? Did Jesus possibly
mean that they had not adopted the inner approach to religion as he
had? After all, the lawyers were clearly letter-or-the-law people
and were emotionally attached to outer doctrines and interpretations.
The fact that Jesus told people to do their alms in secret and to
pray in private shows that to him religion, or rather spirituality,
was an inner, private activity. To Jesus, spirituality seems to have
been a personal walk with God, and he clearly encouraged his followers
to also make it a private, inner activity instead of displaying it
publicly. One of the major turning points in Jesus’ ministry
was his forty days in the desert. Consider why it wasn't forty days
in the temple? Obviously, because to Jesus the outer religion was
not the key to contact with God. That contact can be attained only
by going within, by finding God in your heart.
Was Jesus actually teaching us that the essence of religious practice
is to find God within ourselves? Was he demonstrating that we must
never allow an outer religion to prevent us from attaining this goal
or to distract us from looking inside ourselves?
Jesus said that the lawyers had taken away the key to knowledge and
were seeking to prevent others from entering into the correct approach
to religion. What is the key to knowledge? Is it possible that the
key is to activate the ability to find truth from within ourselves?
We have seen that Jesus clearly sought and found truth from a source
inside himself and that he encouraged us to do the same.
Was Jesus denouncing the lawyers because they had refused to find
the source of truth within themselves and because they were seeking
to scare others into conforming to their interpretation of the letter
of the law? If so, then should we not make a decisive effort to distance
ourselves from the mindset of the lawyers, even as we see it acting
in today's religious culture? Should we not adopt the same approach
to religion that Jesus took and find the inner source of truth that
he had discovered?
Inconsistency No.
9. Why do some Christians ignore Jesus’ saying, “The kingdom
of God is within you” and think that we can be saved only through
an outer church?
At the time of Jesus, the Jewish religion was based on the idea that
the only key to salvation was the outer religion controlled and administered
by the temple authorities. In other words, people could be saved only
through the outer church. Jesus clearly denounced this approach by
stating that the kingdom of God (as the key to salvation) is within
us. The consequence of this statement is that every person has the
key to salvation inside him/herself and does not need an outer church
to be saved.
To the Jews this was a revolutionary idea, and one might argue that
it was this challenge to the core of temple authority that got Jesus
killed. During the first few centuries, the Christian faith gradually
became split into two factions. One was a very diversified movement,
often called the Gnostics, that maintained an individual road to salvation.
The other was the official, orthodox church which stated that the
only key to salvation was the sacraments controlled by the church.
Once again, if we truly want to follow Jesus, should we not adopt
the same approach to salvation as Jesus did? For Jesus, salvation
clearly was not a matter of outer characteristics, such as membership
of a church, doing alms in public or following the letter of the law.
For Jesus, salvation was clearly an inner condition of knowing truth,
having the spirit of the law and aligning one’s consciousness
with the truth of God.
What does it mean that the kingdom of God is within us? What is within
us? Obviously, Jesus must have been talking about our minds, our state
of consciousness and the condition of our hearts. Jesus repeatedly
told us to purify our hearts, our state of consciousness. Is it possible
that Jesus was saying that the kingdom of God is a state of consciousness?
Might Jesus have been saying that the kingdom of God is the Christ
consciousness? Is Christ consciousness the key to knowing the truth
and the reality of God?
Inconsistency No.
10. Why do some Christians ignore the statement of Paul to “Let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus?” (Php 2:5)
This statement was made by one of Jesus’ foremost followers.
Paul had received his understanding of Jesus' teachings from within.
Is it possible that Paul understood something about Jesus’ inner
message that most modern Christians have not yet understood?
Based on our previous reasoning, we can now gain a new perspective
on Paul's statement. Is it possible that Paul understood that the
very essence of Jesus’ message is that the key to salvation
is to attain a higher state of consciousness? Is it possible that
Paul saw Jesus as an example to follow and that he did not put him
on a pedestal or think that Jesus was the only one who could attain
Christ consciousness?
Let us compare this to Jesus’ parable about the man who entered
the wedding feast without a wedding garment. Is it possible that “wedding
garment” is a metaphor for a state of consciousness? When we
attain this state of consciousness, we are worthy to enter the kingdom
of Heaven. When we have not yet attained this state of consciousness,
we cannot enter the kingdom. Therefore, we must live in outer darkness,
meaning the state of consciousness shared by most people on planet
Earth. This is the state of consciousness that Paul called the carnal
mind or the natural man.
In this human consciousness, we see ourselves as mortal human beings
who are separated from our source, separated from God. Jesus had clearly
transcended that state of consciousness. He saw himself as a spiritual
being who was not separated from his source. Did Jesus want us to
change our sense of identity so that we too can overcome our sense
of separation from God? Did Jesus want us to let this mind be in us,
which was also in him?
After all, how can we hope to enter the kingdom of God unless we accept
that we are worthy to enter? And how can we accept our worthiness
unless we attain a higher state of consciousness in which we no longer
see ourselves as separated from our source?
Inconsistency No.
11. Why do some Christians ignore Jesus' own words that if we believe
on him, we shall do the works that he did?
Most Christians ignore the statement made by Jesus,
Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall
he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because
I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)
Yet Jesus must have seen
it as an important statement, so doesn't it seem logical that we need
to gain a deeper understanding of what Jesus really meant? Because
so many Christians see Jesus as being far above them, they cannot
envision that they could perform the miracles that Jesus performed.
Yet either Jesus was out of touch with reality, or we are out of touch
with the reality of what Jesus was saying.
What would it take for us to do the works that Jesus did? It would
first and foremost take a change in consciousness. In our present
state of consciousness, we cannot imagine performing the miracles
that Jesus performed. The key to Jesus’ works was his complete
faith in God. For us to have that same faith, we would have to be
in the same state of consciousness as Jesus. Is it possible that when
we let this mind be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus, then we
can do the works that he did?
Perhaps we should take a closer look at Jesus’ state of consciousness.
Jesus clearly stated that he of his own self could do nothing. It
was the Father within him who was the true doer of his works. This
shows us that Jesus no longer saw himself as separated from his source.
He had attained an inner union with God (“I and my Father are
one”), and therefore God could work through Jesus. Is it possible
that if we overcome our sense of separation from God, then God can
work through us? We might not do the exact same works that Jesus did,
but God will use us according to our individual talents.
So if Jesus did not limit God’s ability to work through him,
how can we limit God and say that God cannot work through us? Should
we not let God be the one to decide what works he desires to perform
through us? Should we not strive to transcend the carnal mind so we
can stop limiting God?
Inconsistency No.
12. Why do some Christians ignore that Jesus had an inner message
and that we cannot understand Jesus without looking beyond the outer
doctrines?
In Mark 4, it is stated:
33 And with many
such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to
hear [it].
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were
alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
It is clear from this quote
that Jesus gave teachings at two different levels. He had an outer,
exoteric, teaching and an inner, esoteric, teaching. The multitudes
were not ready for his inner teaching, so he could give it only to
his disciples who were at a higher level of consciousness.
It is difficult to deny that humankind as a whole is at a higher level
of consciousness and understanding than was the case 2,000 years ago.
Is it possible that many people have now attained a state of consciousness
that makes it possible for them to understand the inner, esoteric,
message of Jesus?
If so, where might we find this teaching? Is it possible that Jesus
could find ways to reveal his inner teaching to us and to have it
published as an outer teaching through various sources? Is it possible
that the key to finding and recognizing this inner teaching is to
go within and establish contact with the source of knowledge? Only
by doing so can we recognize the truth in an outer teaching.
Yet the first step is a willingness to open our minds and hearts to
the fact that Jesus has an inner teaching. Unless we are willing to
seek this teaching, how could we possibly find it?
Inconsistency No.
13. Why do some Christians ignore the importance of free will when
Jesus clearly acknowledged the reality of free will?
When we look at the suffering, conflict and injustice found on Earth
today, we have two options for explaining it. Either God created it
all, or we human beings created it by using our free will to go against
God’s laws and intent.
Jesus clearly acknowledged that we have free will and that we can
choose to follow or go against the will of God. The strongest example
is no doubt his own affliction in the garden at Gethsemane,
And he went a
little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father,
if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as
I will, but as thou [wilt]. (Matthew 26:39)
Because Jesus knew we have
free will, he admonished us to get understanding, to increase our
faith and to change our hearts—our state of consciousness. The
purpose being that we could make better choices and stop sinning.
If we did not have free will, much of Jesus’ ministry would
make no sense. When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do,” he indicated that people made their
choices based on ignorance. Obviously, Jesus could not force people
to abandon their ignorance as evidenced by the fact that he did not
convert those that persecuted and killed him. Therefore, it is up
to us to chose to overcome our ignorance.
The importance of recognizing free will is that God or Jesus cannot
save us against our free will. To be saved, we must make certain choices,
and as we have seen earlier, we must choose to come up higher in consciousness.
We must choose to overcome ignorance and open our minds to the truth
of God instead of a man-made “truth” that might seem comfortable
at the moment. Salvation involves making better choices and to make
better choices, we must take an active approach and overcome the state
of consciousness that keeps us ignorant of our true identity as spiritual
beings.
The foundation for making better choices is to have correct understanding.
Ultimately, we can attain this understanding only by putting off the
old man of the human consciousness and putting on the new man of the
Christ consciousness.
Inconsistency No.
14. Why do some Christians take a passive approach to salvation, expecting
Jesus to do all the work for them, when Jesus himself took an active
approach?
We have seen that Jesus forcefully denounced the outer approach to
religion. According to this approach, being a member of a certain
religion, believing its outer doctrines and performing its rituals
is enough to attain salvation. We might call this the belief in an
automatic or guaranteed salvation.
Jesus’ words indicate that he did not believe in an automatic
salvation. If the key to salvation is to attain Christ consciousness,
then no outer conditions can guarantee salvation. In fact, Jesus stated
that unless our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, we will not be saved. Yet these people were doing everything
right from an outer perspective. They were following the outer law
to the letter.
It seems clear that Jesus did not believe in an automatic salvation.
It simply isn't enough to be a member of a Christian church, blindly
believe its doctrines and rotely follow its rituals. It isn't enough
to declare Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It seems that the salvation
that Jesus preached requires us to take an active approach. It requires
us to make an effort to raise our consciousness instead of passively
waiting for an outside force to do all the work for us.
Perhaps we should stop passively waiting for Jesus to save us and
get busy raising our consciousness.
Inconsistency No.
15. Why do some Christians say that all that is required for salvation
is to declare Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior when Jesus never
said those exact words?
Many Christians claim that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior,
you will automatically be saved. This is even more surprising since
the Christians who say this insist on a literal interpretation of
the Bible. Yet Jesus never said that if you declare him to be your
Lord and Savior, you will be saved no matter what you do or how you
live your life.
Yet we have seen that Jesus
denounced the automatic or guaranteed salvation promised by the Jewish
authorities. Instead, Jesus indicated that the key to salvation is
a change in consciousness which depends on our free-will choices and
not on outer conditions.
There is not one place in scripture where Jesus promised that if you
declare him as your Lord and Savior, your salvation is guaranteed.
On the contrary, he forcefully denounced the Jewish authorities who
promised salvation through outer means.
Many Christians have been confused by John 14:6, which states:
Jesus saith unto
him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
Many Christians interpret
this statement to mean that the person of Jesus is the only way to
salvation. Yet is that really what Jesus meant? We have seen that
Jesus denounced an outer salvation and encouraged an inner salvation
in the form of attaining Christ consciousness. Jesus obviously came
to demonstrate this process, and we can assume that he attained full
Christ consciousness.
What happens when you attain this state of consciousness? Is it possible
that you identify yourself so completely with this state of consciousness
that you naturally declare, “I am the Way, the Truth and the
Life,” meaning that the Christ consciousness is the Way, the
Truth and the Life? Is it possible that Jesus was saying that no one
can come to the Father without attaining the Christ consciousness,
as he demonstrated?
This would also explain Jesus’ parable about the man who entered
the wedding feast without the wedding garment of Christ consciousness.
If Jesus really meant that no one comes to the Father without Christ
consciousness, then elevating the person of Jesus as the only road
to salvation is counter to Jesus’ teachings and intent. Is it
possible that the outer road to salvation, the automatic salvation,
is what is referred to in Proverbs,
There is a way
which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways
of death. (Proverbs 14:12 )
Let us instead take the
inner path to salvation, as Jesus did.
Inconsistency No.
16. Why do some Christians passively wait for the second coming of
Christ if Jesus preached an active approach to religion?
Many Christians are awaiting the second coming of Christ. Yet if we
accept that Jesus preached an active approach to religion, we can
gain a new perspective on this topic. We now have to consider that
the second coming of Christ could be an event that depends on how
we respond to the first coming of Christ.
Why did the soldiers need Judas to point out Jesus among his disciples?
Because the soldiers could not recognize the embodied Christ. We must
reason that if people are trapped in a lower state of consciousness,
the carnal mind, they cannot recognize the embodied Christ. Thus,
as long as the majority of human beings are trapped in this lower
state of consciousness, there might be no point in Christ coming again.
Who would recognize him even if he walked among us?
The saying that “It takes one to know one” might have
a profound message. Is it possible that the second coming of Christ
cannot occur until a critical mass of people attain Christ consciousness
and can therefore recognize Christ come again? In other words, the
second coming of Christ might be an event in which many Christed beings
will walk the earth, clearly recognizing the Christ in themselves
and each other.
It might be up to us to bring about the second coming by raising our
consciousness and attaining Christ consciousness.
Inconsistency No.
17. Why do some Christians ignore that Jesus said we can inherit the
kingdom of God?
Who inherits the kingdom of an earthly king? Only his son or daughter.
So who can inherit the kingdom of a heavenly king? Obviously, only
those who see themselves as sons and daughters of God.
We have seen that Jesus told us to transcend the lower state of consciousness
in which we see ourselves as separated from God. When we attain Christ
consciousness, we see our true identity as spiritual beings, but what
does this mean? The Old Testament states that “without him [God]
was not anything made that was made.” It also states that God
created man in his image and likeness. Jesus said, “Ye are Gods.”
Does this point to the fact that we were all created as sons and daughters
of God? If so, the importance of free will becomes paramount. By misusing
our free will, we have become trapped in a lower state of consciousness
in which we see ourselves as separated from God. Therefore, we cannot
accept our true identity as sons and daughters. The key to salvation
is to attain a higher state of consciousness and reclaim our identity
as sons and daughters of God. Only by doing so can we inherit the
kingdom. The consequence is that Jesus did not come as an exception.
He came as an example to show us a path that all of us have the potential
to follow until we join our older brother, Jesus, in the kingdom.
Perhaps Jesus came to show us that the son of man, by attaining Christ
consciousness, can become the Son of God?
Inconsistency No.
18. Why do some Christians equate Jesus with God when this seems to
violate the first commandment?
The first of the ten commandments states that “Thou shalt have
no other gods before me.” The fact that this is the first commandment
might indicate that it is the most important one and that it outlines
the relationship we should have with God. The second commandment states
that we shall not take unto us any graven image. The indication seems
clear.
We live in a world in which everything has some kind of form. God
is clearly beyond this world, and therefore no form in this world
can accurately portray the God that is beyond this world and perhaps
beyond form. If we create an image in this world of form and worship
it as God, then we cannot worship the true God who is beyond any form
in this world. Consequently, we are worshiping a false god and putting
a man-made idol before the true God.
So why do many Christians equate Jesus with God and worship him as
God incarnate? Jesus never said that he was God. In fact, he clearly
stated that the servant is not greater than his Lord. He said that
“I and my Father are one” but that is not the same as
saying that Jesus is God. Was Jesus actually saying that he had recognized
and accepted that he was created by God, created in his image, and
therefore he was no longer separated (in his mind) from God?
If we accept that Jesus came to show us a path that we too can follow,
then equating Jesus with God can be seen as the worship of an idol.
The problem being that if we think Jesus was God and that we are fundamentally
different from Jesus, then it follows that we can never attain the
oneness with God that Jesus attained. Thus we can never escape the
state of consciousness in which we worship idols because the only
escape from this state is to attain Christ consciousness so we can
see that all human beings are sons and daughters of God.
So we need to consider that worshiping Jesus as God can be a violation
of the first commandment and a fundamental misunderstanding of the
purpose of Jesus’ mission. In reality, Jesus might have come
to show us that we all have the potential to awaken from our spiritual
sleep and accept our divine inheritance.
Inconsistency No.
19. Why do some Christians think Jesus was the only Son of God?
According to the scriptures, Jesus never stated that he was the only
Son of God and neither did any of his followers or his adversaries.
The Old Testament has several verses that use the words “sons
of God,” indicating that there must be more than one Son of
God. One example is,
Now there was
a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the
LORD, and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6 )
Is it possible that the
expression “Son of God” is a religious title? In other
words, all people are created as sons and daughters of God. However,
as long as we are trapped by the carnal mind, we cannot accept our
spiritual identity, and therefore we see ourselves as human beings
who are separated from God. When we transcend this state of consciousness
and attain Christ consciousness, we can divide the real from the unreal.
We can now see and accept the truth that we are sons and daughters
of God. Thereby we can serve God in a greater capacity and we earn
the title of Son or Daughter of God.
Inconsistency No.
20. Why do some Christians put Jesus on a pedestal, making him into
an idol that none dare follow?
We have seen that Jesus might have come to demonstrate a path that
we can all follow, a path that leads us out of the bondage of the
carnal mind and into the promised land of the Christ consciousness,
the kingdom of God. If this is indeed true, then it is essential that
we take Jesus down from the pedestal and stop seeing him as an idol.
As long as we see Jesus as the only one who could attain Christ consciousness,
we are directly opposing the true purpose of his mission. We are,
in fact, doing exactly what Jesus' adversaries, the Devil himself,
wants us to do instead of what Jesus wants us to do.
Jesus said that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us
the kingdom. The only thing that prevents us from having the kingdom,
the abundant life, is that we are using our free will to reject that
kingdom by thinking that we are not worthy of it. And by elevating
Jesus to an idol as the only son of God, we are only increasing our
bondage. We might say that Jesus came to be a tool for our spiritual
liberation. Yet by turning him into an idol, we have turned him into
a tool for our continued imprisonment in a lower state of consciousness.
How can we possibly claim to be true followers of Jesus if we refuse
to follow in his footsteps? If we love Jesus, should we not follow
his commandments and example and let this mind be in us which was
also in him? If none of us dare follow in Jesus’ footsteps,
it would seem that he has failed as a teacher. Let us stop denying
the Christ in ourselves and give Jesus his ultimate victory of bringing
all of his brothers and sisters home to the kingdom.
Inconsistency No.
21. Why do some Christians think it is blasphemy to see yourself as
a son or daughter of God if Jesus didn't think so?
When Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” he was accused
of blasphemy. Yet Jesus clearly didn't see this as blasphemy. We have
discussed that Jesus had overcome all sense of separation from his
source and therefore accepted himself as a Son of God. We have also
seen that Jesus might have considered all people as Sons and Daughters
of God. After all, Jesus said, “Ye are Gods.” He also
said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my
little ones, you have done in unto me,” thus affirming his oneness
with all life.
If we truly are the sons and daughters of God, how can accepting our
divine source be blasphemy? And if we are created by God, how can
we accept our true identity without accepting that we are sons and
daughters of God? So the true blasphemy might be to deny our real
identity and thereby deny our spiritual Father.
Inconsistency No.
22. Why do some Christians ignore the message hidden in the parable
of the talents.
In the parable of the talents, Jesus describes an important facet
of the relationship between man and God. The servants who multiplied
the talents given to them were praised. The servant who buried the
talents in the ground and did nothing to multiply them was chastised.
Jesus makes it clear that God does not want us to take a passive approach
to life. God wants us to make the best of whatever opportunity we
have.
Jesus also indicates that it really doesn't matter whether we have
much or little according to an earthly standard. What matters to God
is that we made the best possible use of whatever opportunity we were
given. If we multiply whatever talents we have, then God will give
us a harvest by multiplying what we bring to the altar of life. If
we, for whatever reason, refuse to multiply what we have been given,
then God has nothing to multiply, and we will lose all.
This is another reason to abandon the passive approach to life and
salvation taken by some Christians. This is another reason to not
wait for Jesus to save us. However, this parable becomes especially
important in light of our discussion about Christ consciousness. We
might consider that the most precious talent we have been given is
the potential to manifest Christ consciousness. And whatever strides
we make in that endeavor, will be rewarded by God. However, if we
make no strides, then we have no reward.
If Jesus came to demonstrate the path of attaining Christ consciousness,
would it not be sad if we turned him into an exception and used him
as an excuse for not multiplying our talents of Christ consciousness?
Inconsistency No.
23. Why do some Christians think Jesus has taken upon himself all
sins that could ever be committed?
Let us first state the fact that Jesus never said that he would take
on all of the sins that could possibly be committed for all eternity.
In essence, this would have given a blank check to humankind. Therefore,
we might need a deeper understanding of vicarious atonement. The inevitable
consequence of this belief is that it no longer matters how we live
our lives. Taken to its extreme, this idea implies that if a person
like Adolf Hitler confessed Christ on his deathbed, he would automatically
be saved.
The problem here is that if you can commit evil acts and be saved
by confessing Christ, then why did Jesus give the sermon on the mount?
Why did Jesus say,
But whoso shall
offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better
for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that]
he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6 )
It seems clear that to
Jesus salvation did depend on how people live their lives. Yet if
all that is required for salvation is that we confess Christ, then
all of Jesus’ directions and warnings would seem to have been
for naught. So either Jesus didn't really understand that he is the
key to salvation, or the idea that he has taken upon himself all future
sins is out of touch with his true teachings.
In light of our discussion of Christ consciousness, we can find an
alternative explanation. Perhaps the real key to the atonement for
sin is to attain Christ consciousness? Jesus came to show the way,
to demonstrate that we all have the potential to manifest Christ consciousness.
And by doing so we will atone for our sins and attain salvation—not
through the outer person of Jesus but through the inner “person”
of the Christ consciousness, the Christ self.
Inconsistency No.
24. Why do some Christians ignore that ideas and concepts were taken
out of the Christian faith for political reasons? Why isn't there
an open and determined effort to put back what was taken out?
By taking an objective look at the history of the Christian religion,
it is easy to see that various concepts and ideas have been taken
out and banned as heresy. It is also relatively easy to see that in
some cases this was done for political reasons. Sometimes this was
done in the distant past, and even if the reasons had some validity
1,500 years ago, those reasons may be completely invalid today.
Why aren't modern Christians outraged at the thought that certain
church authorities took out ideas that were part of the Christian
faith? Why don’t people think that perhaps such ideas were part
of early Christianity because Jesus taught these ideas? Why aren't
Christians outraged at the thought that the Church might have taken
out what Jesus wanted us to know? And why isn't there a concerted
effort, supported by many Christian denominations, to put back what
was taken out and thereby build the most accurate image possible of
what Jesus really taught?
Why wouldn't modern Christians want to know exactly what Jesus taught
and what he believed? Don’t people want the truth about Jesus,
or are they satisfied with their current doctrines and interpretations
because they make them feel comfortable? Are Christians afraid that
the real Jesus will jump out of the box and disturb their sense that
they have Jesus under control?
With the discoveries of ancient texts, such as the Dead sea Scrolls
and the Nag Hamadhi Library, and the advance in scientific methods,
we have an unprecedented opportunity for attaining a more accurate
view of Jesus and his true teachings. So why aren't we taking advantage
of this opportunity?
Inconsistency No.
25. Why do some Christians ignore the need for progressive revelation
when Jesus saw himself as part of an ancient tradition of progressive
revelation?
Jesus stated,
Think not that
I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)
The time of the prophets
was a period during which God anointed certain people to serve as
prophets and bring forth the Living Word in order to give people divine
directions and warnings. In other words, God was giving people progressive
revelations as they were needed.
Many Christians seem to assume that when Jesus said he came to fulfill
this phase, he put an end to progressive revelation. Some Christians
seem to think that neither God nor Jesus has had anything to say to
us for 2,000 years.
Yet the scriptures state that Jesus appeared to his disciples for
many years after his resurrection. He taught them and gave them directions.
Paul’s letters demonstrate that he too saw himself as an instrument
of progressive revelation. Jesus clearly saw himself as part of an
ongoing tradition of progressive revelation, and he attempted to continue
this progressive revelation after his departure.
Do we fully understand why this progressive revelation stopped? Did
Jesus stop it, or did people stop it because they were no longer willing
to listen? The Gnostics carried on progressive revelation for centuries,
whereas the organized Christian church never fully recognized it.
Consider why Jesus didn't organize the writing down of his teachings?
Perhaps he saw no need to do so because he intended to continue to
give us teachings in the form of the Living Word? Perhaps he did not
want to write anything down, given what he had seen the scribes and
the Pharisees do to the scriptures of the Old Testament? Perhaps Jesus
wanted to avoid this battle over the interpretation of scripture by
establishing an ongoing tradition of giving us new teachings through
the Living Word? When
you have the Living Word of God, you have no need to interpret the
scriptures of the past.
We might also consider the statement that as we are faithful over
a few things, God will make us ruler over many. Perhaps Jesus intended
that as humankind applied his teachings and attained a higher degree
of understanding and a higher level of consciousness, he would give
people more advanced spiritual teachings through the Living Word?
Perhaps he intended to publicly release the advanced teachings that
he could give only to his disciples during his lifetime?
The question for all Christians now becomes whether we want to hear
the Living Word. In other words, if Jesus has a message for today’s
spiritual people, do you want to hear it? Or are you satisfied with
a set of 2,000 year old scriptures and the numerous interpretations
of those scriptures?
Do you want to know the real Jesus and his true teachings, or are
you satisfied with an image of Jesus, and idol, that has been built
over these 2,000 years?
Copyright
© 2009 by Kim Michaels |
