Proof of the miraculous story of Jesus, who became the Christos, can be found in the way that his story has overcome emperors, religious leaders, false doctrine, and lack of original manuscripts. But the Spirit can always remain unshackled by mans doctrines. Original sin and modified grace? I don’t think so.
So much of what has been handed down to Christians today is a product of warring compromise and doctrines dictated by emperors. Constantine is really the author of the Nicene Creed.
The beginning of the era when Christianity and the will of God gradually came to be identified with the state was a product of the Council of Nicea in 325CE. Known as Caesaropapism in its extreme form, Christianity became little more than a religious justification for the exercise of power and a tool in the expansion and maintenance of empire, a Christian empire, also known as Christendom.
Justinian was another in the many Roman and Byzantine emperors (482-565CE) who defined early Christianity. Known as “the Emperor who never sleeps” on account of his work habits, Justinian, like others before him, removed Popes if they didn’t agree to whatever beliefs the emperor of the time embraced. When the Pope refused to attend the Second Council of Constantinople, Justinian had him arrested (Vigilius) and appointed Pelagius as the new pontiff.
And of course Justinian threw out many of Origen’s theological precepts.
Christianity and most religions were in large part formed and framed by secular authorities. So, to think that it would be demanded of anyone to follow the “letter of the law” and not the Spirit follows shallow logic at best. We need not be victims of religion, denominations, doctrines, nor traditions that violate LOVE & GRACE principles that Jesus taught.
Put your FAITH in LOVE & GRACE and FOLLOW the historical man named Jesus who became the Christos that we’re all to evolve and BE.
I love it when you talk “history”. As a former teacher of the same, it is what led me into this journey. It was Elaine Pagels, Bart Ehrman,and others who got me to question the things I had always been taught. Marcus Borg and the other theologians of the Jesus Seminar gave me lots to think about and consider.
Both of those men are very interesting; however, I’m saddened by the direction that Bart has taken over the last 3-4 years- but a good man nonetheless. I do love his textbook style publications; makes me feel like I am back in college. Elaine is way too intellectual for me, but Marcus is a definite keeper.
Jesus didn’t become the Cristos. At His birth, the angel announced, “in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)
Christianity was only formed and framed by secular authorities if you believe God was not present and overseeing everything. The Bible speaks a lot about the sovereignty of God. “The Lord reigns” is a common theme. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (I Cor. 1:27). Using a teenager to kill a giant is foolish. Taking a Jewish girl from obscurity to become the queen in order to save her people is absurd. So is bringing the king of all the earth to be born in a manger. So is your history lesson of how the Bible came to be. It doesn’t matter who God uses or how He does it. Proverbs 21:30 tells us, “there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.”
Jesus never told us not to follow doctrines. He said “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). One of His commandments was that we forgive each other. He told us if we don’t do that, our Heavenly Father will hand us over to the torturers (Matthew 18:35). This is God’s picture of Jesus straight from the Bible–the imperishable, living and abiding word of God (I Peter 1:23). Jesus telling us these truths doesn’t make God mean. It’s truth that we need to follow in order to be walking in the light, free from bitterness and trusting in God no matter what happens.
Following godly principles is not the same as the letter of the law. Jesus Himself told us to be perfect as is our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:48). The word for “perfect” does not mean without fault, but complete in satisifying God’s goal for one’s spiritual maturity. You taught that, Ernie.
Yes, I taught Matt. 5:48 (perfect = teleios) as meaning “being ALL that one can be” and not perfection as we know it which is one reason that I’ve grown in my understanding of the Bible. I have changed and The Bible is not perfect, inerrant , nor infallible, but ALL that it is “meant to be“- a “pointer” towards the divine- not the divine within itself. True and complete spiritual understanding can never come through the study of a text (intellectualization) alone.
I’ve never denied that spiritual experiences or what God says to us in prayer time is true. These moments when God speaks to us and touches our heart are great. I have to land on knowing that God’s words are life and give great understaning (Proverbs 3:13-18). Jesus told us the truth we WALK IN sets us free (John 8:31-32). The Bible has been dissected by truth seekers in every century and found to be reliable and powerful to set captives free. (II Cor. 10:3-6). I have to reject any philosphy that sets itself against time honored wisdom. Paul exhorted the Galations not to receive any other gospel (Gal. 1:8,9).
God’s WORDS are still (now, fresh, new rhema words) being spoken, and TRUTH is ever being added to and expanded. I embrace no other gospel than….GOD IS LOVE.
yes
What if the Bible is, as Neville says, “the message of the soul personified as the biography of man”? Hidden within each of the Biblical accounts are treasures and insights into who we are, and who we have created God to be. At times, the stories reveal such depths of illumination that we see God transending our attempts to enshrine Him. In the end, God always reveals itself as love.
Perhaps Jesus did not become the Christos, but rather the Christos became Jesus, who then at some point along his human journey awakened to his own divinity. This is the biography of all mankind, and we will live out that message of the soul, whether in this lifetime or one thereafter.
Another one of those And-Also (non duality precepts). Jesus became the Christos and the Christos that he was (before the foundation of the world) became the Jesus. Now, if we could only get on with being the Christos that we ARE!
But that means I have to abandon my present way of thinking!
Perhaps this is the significance of the Biblical exodus. We are making our exodus from one state of consciousness to the next.
Bingo! I began the process of abandoning mine about 4 years ago! And I do believe that many are moving up the “level of consciousness chain” (my up-coming Thursday commentary by the way- you prophetic one).
In John 17:17 Jesus told us His word is truth. Any expansion of truth will not violate what God has already said. Isaiah 40:8 plainly declares, “the word of the Lord stands forever.” Jesus reiterated this when He said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
Amen!!!! My current frame of consciousness and its embodied state will both pass away, but that which I AM stands forever!
Excellent answer Jesse, and more specifically, which of the “words attributed to Jesus” (by those who didn’t hear him personally say ANY of the words) is the TRUTH? In the Gospel of John where he’s quoted as saying “If I testify on my behalf, my testimony IS valid”(John 8:14) or “If I testify about myself, my testimony is NOT valid (John 5:31)?
I agree that Jesus spoke the TRUTH. But, since we have hundreds of translations of what he supposedly said, I can only know by the “Spirit” which GUIDES me in ALL TRUTH!
You guys truly exhausted this one. One of the Lightworkers posted an article today which basicly said, It is that which we think we know that will keep us from continuing to ask questions and continuing to expand our knowledge and perception of truth. If I know anything it is that God is leading this present move toward a global Chist consciousness and it is not only happening in the church or with those who solely read the Bible. It is happening everywhere.
Linda- You are stuck in the past (the words of the Bible) and have “closed the book” to further revelation. God never in any of his “words” to us said that all he had to say is in the 66 books on the Bible. You continually quote from that source and it’s questionable words. Be open to further revelation of God thru the rhema word and pneuma word.