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Transcript:
10 things about Christianity that Jesus would not be happy about if he returned:
1. That his vision for a transformed society, got twisted into an afterlife fantasy about heaven.
2. That a religion was formed to worship his name, instead of a movement to advance his message.
3. That the gospel says his death solved the problem of humankind's separation from God, instead of accepting thot his life revealed the truth that there is no separation from God.
4. That the religion bearing his name was conceived by the theories and doctrines of Paul, instead of the truth Jesus lived and demonstrated.
5, That he was said to exclusively be God in the flesh, putting his example out of reach, rather than teaching that we all share in the same spirit that empowered his character and life.
6. That the religion that claims his name, teaches that his wisdom and teachings a re the only legitimate way to know truth and God.
7. The idea that humankind stands condemned before God and deserving of Divine wrath and eternal conscious judgement, requiring the death of Jesus to fix it.
8. That people are waiting on Jesus to return to save the world and end suffering, rather than taking responsibility for saving the world and solving suffering ourselves.
9. That people think there is magical potency in uttering the name of Jesus, rather than accessing our own natural powers and capabilities to effect change.
10. That people have come to associate Jesus with church, theology, po litics and power, rather than courage, justice, humanity, beauty and love.
The first thing we want to note about this typically Leftist version of Jesus and Christianity is the raw audacity required to put one's own political and social opinions in Jesus' mouth, while simultaneously contradicting the biblical record on what Jesus is actually recorded as saying.
Yes, we have an actual reference for what Jesus said, although most leftists would not accept it as valid: The Bible. But while the Bible is an indisputably trustworthy source of things Jesus said, it's also clearly superior to the references cited by the author, which are, well, nothing. He just makes it all up, spouting leftist agitprop.
As we noted, this is a typical leftist version of Jesus and Christianity, where Jesus becomes an excuse for leftist political philosophy and social action that perfectly aligns with Marxism.
In addition, we note that several of his items are false choices. Both choices presented can be true without contradicting each other.
So, let's restate the 10 claims, and make the following notations for each claim:
- where in the Bible it states the opposite
- where the author makes misrepresents Jesus, or
- where the author makes employs faulty logic and makes false assumptions
Our comments in bold.
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1. That his vision for a transformed society, got twisted into an afterlife fantasy about heaven. (Jesus made no statement about transforming society, but He did make statements about transforming the individual, like "You must be born again" [Jn. 3:7], and "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" [Mt. 4:17].
And of course, Jesus talked a lot about that "afterlife fantasy" as well:
Mt. 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven...
Mt. 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...
Mt. 22:30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven...
The Left does not believe in an "afterlife fantasy," because they as Marxists believe that the human animal, society and culture, and the earth itself, can be perfected with the correct political and social systems.)
2. That a religion was formed to worship his name, instead of a movement to advance his message (False choice. Christians do both, and have been for centuries.
Lk. 11:2...hallowed be your name...
Ps. 18:49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.
Ps. 66:4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.
It an only be ignorance that precipitates statements like these from the author.)
3. That the gospel says his death solved the problem of humankind's separation from God, instead of accepting thot his life revealed the truth that there is no separation from God. (Again a false choice. The Gospel does both.
Jn. 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be...
Ac. 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
He. 2:17-18 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might turn aside God’s wrath, taking away the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
He. 9:26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.)
4. That the religion bearing his name was conceived by the theories and doctrines of Paul, instead of the truth Jesus lived and demonstrated. (This is just dumb. There is no conflict between Paul's teaching and Jesus'. But more to the point, the reader may wish to consult the Scriptures, which we cite throughout our responses. Not a single Scripture we cite is from Paul's epistles.)
5, That he was said to exclusively be God in the flesh, putting his example out of reach, rather than teaching that we all share in the same spirit that empowered his character and life. (He was not said to "exclusively" be God in the flesh. His example is not out of reach. We do not all share the same spirit as Jesus.
Some have another spirit:
1Jn. 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Notice, that we have gone above and beyond by documenting our counter-claims. We are not required to do so, because the author's undocumented and spurious claims only require a summary dismissal. We do so in service to clarity and understanding, so that the author's false assertions may be shown for what they actually are.)
6. That the religion that claims his name, teaches that his wisdom and teachings are the only legitimate way to know truth and God. (Religion doesn't make this claim, Jesus does:
Jn. 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.)
7. The idea that humankind stands condemned before God and deserving of Divine wrath and eternal conscious judgement, requiring the death of Jesus to fix it. (Again, Jesus Himself contradicts the author. And so do the Apostles John and Peter:
Jn. 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Jn. 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.
1Jn. 2:2 He is the one who turns aside God’s wrath, taking away our sins, and not only ours but also] the sins of the whole world.
Mt. 13:42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
1Pe. 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit...)
8. That people are waiting on Jesus to return to save the world and end suffering, rather than taking responsibility for saving the world and solving suffering ourselves. (Another false choice. The two are not mutually exclusive. Regarding the first part, Jesus Himself says he will return:
Lk. 12:43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
Jn. 21:22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
Lk. 18:8b ...when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
The second part, saving the world and solving suffering ourselves, is the Grand Delusion of Marxism, that it is possible to obtain a perfect world if the right people are in charge and have the right political system, and all the rich have their money taken from them.
This is the utopian arrogance of the Left, placing themselves above Jesus as savior while simultaneously and ironically appropriating His teaching and Christian morality as justification for their social action.)
9. That people think there is magical potency in uttering the name of Jesus, rather than accessing our own natural powers and capabilities to effect change. (Another false choice.
It seems at every turn the author is happy to contradict Jesus' own words:
Jn. 14:12-14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
As far as natural powers, the author does not tell us what those are or why they are superior to Jesus.)
10. That people have come to associate Jesus with church, theology, politics and power, rather than courage, justice, humanity, beauty and love. (This point is the only one with which we find agreement, but most likely for completely different reasons.
Ironically, it is the Left that has co-opted the name of Jesus for political advocacy, conforming His words to their political ideology. This is shameful.)
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