 |
| Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to be an example of a charismatic religious leader. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
I remember as a child in Sunday school having the Gospels read to me. My constant thought was what it must have been like to have been a disciple in the presence of Christ as he taught. That communication was more than just words on a page. There were the non-verbal cues, the connotations of the language, and the very presence of the Master who is making a direct plea and appeal to more than just logic. There was the strength of example.
My guru once said about religion, that it is simple for the simple, and complicated for the crooked. This makes particular sense to me in light of what modern Christian theology has twisted the simple message of Jesus into.
In the gospels, a Jewish boy approaches Jesus and asks if he will be going to heaven. Jesus' response was to ask him if he was following the commandments faithfully. Strength comes from being a true follower to faithfully keep the commandments. If Christian's are just the same as sinners, with the only difference being that they know better, then shame, shame, shame! One may be a sinner to start with, but if one is "saved," that must mean having the strength, through Christ, to stop such nonsense. If not, it means duplicity, insincerity, and ultimately, suffering, not salvation.
Of course, Jesus, and God know who is sincerely trying, and perhaps falling down anyway. And such persons may be saved, due to their sincere effort to follow rightly. But woe to them who make a show of religion only to sin. "God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7)."
