“Our once great western Christian civilization is dying. If this matters to followers of Jesus Christ, then we must set aside our denominational differences and work together to strengthen the things that remain and reclaim what has been lost. Evangelicals and Catholics must stand together to re-establish that former Christian culture and moral consensus. We have the numbers and the organization but the question is this: Do we have the will to win this present spiritual battle for Jesus Christ against secularism? Will we prayerfully and cooperatively work toward a new Christian spiritual revival ― or will we choose to hunker down in our churches and denominationalisms and watch everything sink into the spiritual and moral abyss of a New Dark Age?” - Mark Davis Pickup

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

JESUS WAS NOT A SAINT NOR A PROPHET!

A number of years ago I wrote an article in which I reflected upon the truths about human suffering to be found in Saint Pope John Paul II's 1984 Apostolic letter SALVIFIC DELORIS: THE CHRISTIAN MEANING OF SUFFERING.

I received an email from a man who identified himself as Mirabai. He wrote, "... [It] seemed like the concept of divine love is so universal." He then referred me to an eastern religion website that no longer exists. I found the following quote:

"Gitsaji teaches us our true religion and the way to
happiness, joy and peace. Our true security lies in being obedient to the Truth, in loving God unconditionally and in acting at every moment according to our duty at that particular time by forgetting the past and not worrying about the future, because neither one is with us presently. the lives of true saints—Buddha, Mahavir, Gandi, Jesus, Ramakrishna, etc.—teach us to universally accept Truth, love and spirituality. This is contrary to traditional, ritualistic religion. ... The presentation of this subject is not complete by any means and merely provides an opportunity for all of us to get involved in learning and practicing universal religion as taught by Gitaji and all other other major religions."Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj

Hmmm. I had an opportunity to respond as a Christian layman to a Mirabai, a religious non-Christian. I tried to be kind but direct and explained why Jesus was not just another saint in a long line of saints—He was/is not a saint at all! He is the only Messiah for all humanity.  That's what Jesus said: 



"I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me."(1) [Emphasis added.] 

That's what Jesus said. Saints do not try to mislead people, prophets do not lie. Jesus was neither saint or prophet. Who was He? He called himself God and his miracles and resurrection proved it. He was the great I AM just as He said. Thomas Schultz stated in his 1962 doctoral dissertation at Dallas Theological Seminary:

"Not one recognized religious leader, not Moses, Paul, Buddha, Confucius, etc. have ever claimed to be God; this is, with the exception of Jesus Christ. Christ is the only religious leader who has ever claimed to be deity and the only and the only individual ever who has ever convinced a great portion of the world that he is God."(2)

Exclusivity of Christ

In claiming to be 'the truth' and one with God, and saying he was the only way to God, Jesus ruled out being put together in a long line of deities. Since its beginning, Christianity has understood and accepted Christ's exclusive claim. Christ's unique status as God's only begotten son (John 3.16) is stated by Jesus and the Creeds of Christianity dating back into antiquity. The Apostle's Creed states, "I believe in
Oldest surviving
Nicene Creed manuscript
dating back to the 
6th Century
 God, the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son." The Nicene Creed says, "We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, through Him all things were made, for us men and for our salvation."



To claim that Jesus is just one of many incarnations of deity is to misunderstand his own claims, as well of his followers beginning with Saint Peter, then throughout the ages—spanning 2,000 years. If there are many incarnations of divinity, Jesus can not be included, for that would make him a lair by his own words, or insane.

If one takes the time to examine Christ's claims, there
are really only three responses: He must be discounted as a liar, a lunatic or accepted for what he claimed to be.(3) If Jesus is, in fact, God made man, the great I AM, and if he is the only way to God, then every individual is called to respond to this revelation.
MDP
________
(1) John 14.6.
(2) Thomas Schultz, The Doctrine of Christ with an Emphasis Upon Hystostatic Union. Unpublished dissertation. Dallas Theological Seminary, May 1962. p. 209, as cited by Josh McDowell in his book Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Campus Crusade For Christ, 1972, p.92.
(3) This idea was put forth in C.S. Lewis' book Mere Christianity (London: Geoffrey Bles, 1952) and given considerable attention in Evidence That Demands A Verdict mentioned above.

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