Added to theological studies is the nature of the man whose name was Jesus. Principally, Jesus had the fundamental knowledge and understanding of the uniqueness of humanity, as compared to other species. A human being was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27).
While fascinated by the uniqueness of Jesus, the degraded humans cannot fathom their own uniqueness. This is why they look down and despise their fellow humans, yet proclaiming to love Jesus. I suppose they are befuddled by the words of the Apostle John:
“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:19-20) (NIV).
Herein, in this Scripture, lies the fundamental key, eliminating all failures in Christianity. From this Scripture, everything about Christianity is anchored. A wise man knows that no other name has caused much division in Christianity. Of course, right here are found answers for those sincerely looking for truth, rather than falsehood.
There is no doubt that all denominational Christians claim to believe in Jesus. But, with such adoration for Jesus, shouldn’t it be surprising that no other name generates such disunity in Christianity? The irony of it is that only Jesus carries the symbol of unity for the entire humanity.
Obviously, something is not right. Careful Bible students can establish the source of all confusion when pursuing truth in their Christian endeavors. The gateway to all knowledge is the willingness to learn. Nevertheless, very few people are willing to examine their doctrinal positions, due to fear of destabilizing their current positions.
Ordinary humans are sustained by the doctrine of the stable datum, rather than truth, due to insecurity. For instance, it is not easy to remove a person from worshiping stone idols, sustaining his faith since birth. The only reason why Jesus was crucified by the Jews was their inability to move away from what sustained their stable datum. This is true for any person in this world.
It is, indeed, frustrating, if not distressing to observe Christians sincerely holding onto their convictions, but without the willingness to analyze what Jesus taught. The behavior of Christians has a bearing on all social ills, in the environment. As long as supposing the torch-bearer knows the direction, ordinary people assume that the direction would be safe.
This starts with a failure to identity Jesus. A religion called Christianity was crafted out of the name of Jesus. The result is an obsession in assuming that God needs worshippers, rather than applying what Jesus taught. The statement of Jesus to the Samaritan woman at the well gives a guide:
“’ Woman,’ Jesus replied, ‘believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth’” (John 4:21-24) (NIV).
The Jewish prophesies had predicted the birth of the Messiah at Bethlehem of Judea. Those Jews were clear in that the Messiah would not necessarily be a member of the Trinity. Just as they considered Moses to have been great, they also expected the Messiah to be one who would be great. The Jews understand the Messianic meaning, more than the Christian theologians of today.
Christian Theologians have succeeded in putting too much significance on Jesus’s name, attracting a religion out of that name. The personality of Jesus is given more credence, rather than His teachings. The idea of worshiping has always clouded the entire humanity.
The name of Jesus has unnecessarily caused conflict between Scientists and Christianity. Christianity could not be difficult to understand if willing to appreciate scientific discoveries, in light of Jesus’s teachings. Here below, are three obstacles, contributing to a failure to understand the simplicity of Jesus. This confusion also manifested among the Jews, later subscribing to His crucifixion:
The first obstacle portrays the infiltration of falsehood, surrounding the identity of Jesus. Truth is possible to establish, as long as one appreciates that all truth comes from the source. Most of what people believe in; comes from tradition, rather than from the source. Jesus posed a question to His disciples, based on His knowledge of how ordinary humans behave, revealing general confusion among all people:
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah” (Matthew 16:13-20) (NIV).
It is doubtful that our theologians can be willing to confront this Scripture. There is a lot that Scholars are commended for, in analyzing various other scriptural references. But my own reason for doubting their objective analysis of this particular Scripture is that it invalidates scholars. Those theologians cannot objectively analyze its contents, as contradicting their elevated echelon.
Jesus declared that flesh and blood could not reveal what was revealed to Peter. That, obviously, invalidates Scholars, who desire taking credit for erudite study programs. There was no truth in what ordinary people assumed of Jesus’s identity, whether Elijah or some prophet. Those people were using assumptions, rather than the truth, that comes from the source.
Undoubtedly, readers assign their own imaginations of the author of this website. Whether assuming the author to be fascinating or not, each person is entitled to his viewpoint. No-one can blame anyone for exercising his own imagination. Jesus did not blame those with various assumptions about His identity.
Nevertheless, such imaginations did not imply that those were truthful, as all truth comes from the source. Others are addressed as “Man of God”, based on considered spiritual standing. Such assumptions cannot necessarily be truthful, as long as not coming from the source.
What could have been unusual about Peter, for God to give him special understanding? It has to be anticipated that the religionists would like to deify Peter, thereby making him more special than others. This is common, with the degraded humans, obsessed with the idea of idolizing other fellow humans.
But, why does it seem far-fetched for ordinary people to see themselves as sons of the living God? Jesus depicted that being the Son of the living God is what establishes one’s membership in His Church. God’s children have no allegiance to those of this world.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:8-12) (NIV).
The second obstacle is the propensity to be under the control of another person. This is what blinds humanity and Christians alike. The most difficult challenge for most people is to accept freedom. Imagine, as if bewitched, the Israelites having to plead with Samuel, for a human king, like other nations? (1 Samuel 8:6-20).
The most comical display of supporting oppressors was exhibited by Zimbabweans, in 2017. Having been under Robert Mugabe’s oppression, for that long, they assumed wisdom in submitting to the military, in their millions. I suppose, as they marched for a military take-over, God must have said, “You are yet to learn your lesson.”
Oppressors appear as if loving controlling other people. But, what makes democracy unworkable, especially in Africa, is people’s desire to be controlled. African dictators cannot easily move out of power, granted to them, by the submissive populace. Being a political leader in an African country means being unaccountable to anyone.
Who wouldn’t like being a president in an African country? Black people adore being controlled, just like bees are attracted to honey. Jesus brought freedom. But, approximately, two thousand years on, people still reject the idea of freedom. Apparently, slavery is sweeter than freedom.
Most Christians appear as finding it unimaginable to suggest obeying God, without being under some human governing authority. One risks being labeled a nonbeliever, after suggesting that it is unnecessary to follow Christ, via somebody else.
Amazingly, those clamoring for human leadership control are not, necessarily, those in leadership. Their followers are the ones vehemently desiring to be humanly controlled. The apostle Paul had to contend with such believers, as recorded for our learning, but very few are willing to duplicate what Paul said. (Corinthians 1:10-17).
One of the major concerns of the Pharisees about Jesus’s teachings was losing control of the people. The teachings of Jesus threatened their control of the people. (John 11:47-49). This was just as many people became convinced that Jesus was the Christ.
The third and last obstacle concerns focus on personal worries. Those doing well in this life, are the extroverts, using their lives to benefit other people. The more one thinks about himself, ahead of others, the more one sinks into problems of his own survival. This appears as being one of the ununderstood natural laws of this world.
Obtaining wealth is as easy as outflowing toward positively impacting other people. Just as many people assume getting richer is associated with receiving donations, such people, actually, become poorer, by constantly yearning for such donations.
We hear of ritual murders, committed by those aspiring to be rich. Most are into Christianity, out of desiring to be associated with riches. Others engage in some corruptible activities, for the sole purpose of accessing wealth. However, the only authentic way of accessing riches is engaging in activities that solve other people’s problems.
Most of our African people easily fall into the trap of assuming that poverty is caused by their skin color. Hence, assuming that living abroad, in some European countries would make them richer. But, all that serves to condemn the person’s future generations to remain under the state of abject poverty.
One may not even need financing, before engaging in some project that benefits other people. Each individual, having been created in God’s image, holds some talent, which may be unattainable by other people. When engaging in what one was created to be, there would be no need to be supervised by other people, necessarily.
Some types of work may be a chore to those engaging in activities that have nothing to do with their own calling. For instance, a person talented in playing football can easily engage in some excruciating training programs, aiming at becoming a professional. However, this would not be true of those not gifted in playing football.
If possible that each of us could accept being Sons of the living God, our country could easily become the first world, within a few months. This is why Jesus said, with faith as little as a mustard seed, nothing would be impossible. Human beings are not different from Jesus, after all.
Having accepted being God’s child, obviously, one cannot be intimidated by anything in this world. It is unnecessary to be envious, as each of us was created in God’s image, albeit with different talents and abilities. The uniqueness of Jesus is identifiable in each and every one of us.
This is the time to cast away ideas of despising self, instead of consolidating one’s own talents, to benefit others. There is no need to fear or feel intimidated by anything, as long as appreciating being the Son of the living God. It is a blessing to be born in Zimbabwe. But being born in Zimbabwe can also be a curse when failing to utilize one’s own talents to serve fellow Zimbabweans.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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