Isn't it amazing how the world works? As Jesus was offering the Jews a more humane and mature type of "sacrifice" to the Father, forces were at work to silence and censor him. We are all facing our "Garden of Gethsemane" moment. Do we live by faith, by works, or by a combination of the two. The ancient concept of "imitation Christo" seems meaningless when Jesus took a whip to the bums in the Temple and then allowed himself to be nailed to a cross.
Jesus embodies all that is good in us. It is time to believe that we can have Him living in us.
You are a good writer and an analytic thinker. In my 75 years, I have been raised Free Methodist, baptized as a Baptist and then again as an Adventist. My search for meaning continues as I read Mme.Blavatsky's ISIS UNVEILED and reconsider Buddhism. I have been accused of being simple more often than cagey.
I was taught from my earliest days (most of my known male ancestors were Mennonite ministers and my grandfather was a Free Methodist circuit rider) that Jesus is my savior and whenever I am spared embarrassment or harm, I thank him.
Nevertheless, when it comes to Jesus' motives (or even his reality), I can only say what an orthodox Jewish friend used to say when asked about Jesus and the crucifixion, "I wasn't there".
Here is my non-obscure answer to your question about what the YHWH has done: He created time, space, you, me, and everything else. He is always creating and I see him more as an elemental force, the Ultimate Mind, and not as a magical spirit that picks favorites and performs miracles willy-nilly.
Christianity has no monopoly on decency or morality.
When I talked about the different types of earthly treasure or idolatry I should've mentioned health more explicitly. Consider it added.
Isn't it amazing how the world works? As Jesus was offering the Jews a more humane and mature type of "sacrifice" to the Father, forces were at work to silence and censor him. We are all facing our "Garden of Gethsemane" moment. Do we live by faith, by works, or by a combination of the two. The ancient concept of "imitation Christo" seems meaningless when Jesus took a whip to the bums in the Temple and then allowed himself to be nailed to a cross.
Jesus embodies all that is good in us. It is time to believe that we can have Him living in us.
You are a good writer and an analytic thinker. In my 75 years, I have been raised Free Methodist, baptized as a Baptist and then again as an Adventist. My search for meaning continues as I read Mme.Blavatsky's ISIS UNVEILED and reconsider Buddhism. I have been accused of being simple more often than cagey.
I was taught from my earliest days (most of my known male ancestors were Mennonite ministers and my grandfather was a Free Methodist circuit rider) that Jesus is my savior and whenever I am spared embarrassment or harm, I thank him.
Nevertheless, when it comes to Jesus' motives (or even his reality), I can only say what an orthodox Jewish friend used to say when asked about Jesus and the crucifixion, "I wasn't there".
Here is my non-obscure answer to your question about what the YHWH has done: He created time, space, you, me, and everything else. He is always creating and I see him more as an elemental force, the Ultimate Mind, and not as a magical spirit that picks favorites and performs miracles willy-nilly.
Christianity has no monopoly on decency or morality.