Posted on 10/22/2005 12:23:06 PM PDT by achristianman
THE GIFT THAT COULD GIVE WORLD PEACE
Awhile back I started thinking about Jesus.
It started partly because I’d met someone who seemed to know what Jesus is all about. And also- about that time I was visiting my sister and Jesus always seems to be present around her. Then too, Jesus’ birthday was coming and it all led me to look further into His story and of course that took me to the Bible.
When I was a kid I was pretty religious. Went to Church every Sunday, attended Sunday school and sang in the choir. I remember those times as good fun and happy days with lots of social functions, most of them built around the Church and Church activities.
But I never really got into the Bible very much except for memorizing all those Books and learning about Adam and Eve and sin and the Ten Commandments. I don’t think I ever really learned what a “Christian” was, although I did have a liking for Jesus.
During my high school and university years I pretty well put the Church and religion and the Bible on the back burner. Then I was too busy earning a living to give any of it much thought.
Over the course of my career I met so many religious charlatans like Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert and saw so much fighting and bloodshed in the name of religion, I pretty well rejected it out of hand. But I never forgot my admiration for Jesus and his radical nature. And in my recent second look at the Bible, I was even more impressed.
Jesus’ rebellion against authority and the “rules” of his elders appeals to me a lot. I like the way he tipped over the tables of the money changers who were desecrating the temple and how he comforted the prostitute when the others all wanted to stone her to death. I like the way he defended the poor and the sick, the hungry and the helpless. I liked the way he forgave the men who found joy in killing Him.
Most of all though, I liked what I finally concluded was Jesus’ main message. Spread the love around. (Just like John Lennon, I thought). Over and over he calls on all people to love one another. “Love thy neighbour as thyself”, He said. “Love your enemy” he also said. For Jesus, that was the second most important Commandment, after loving God.
He makes it very clear that all of us are supposed to love the poor, the sick, the naked, and the hungry. He teaches that the last shall be first. That a rich man trying to get into Heaven is like a camel trying to get through the eye of the needle. His whole teaching is based on the over-riding principle of love.
Universal Love.
This Christmas let’s give gifts. But let’s also give some Love.
Awhile back I started thinking about Jesus.
It started partly because I’d met someone who seemed to know what Jesus is all about. And also- about that time I was visiting my sister and Jesus always seems to be present around her. Then too, Jesus’ birthday was coming and it all led me to look further into His story and of course that took me to the Bible.
When I was a kid I was pretty religious. Went to Church every Sunday, attended Sunday school and sang in the choir. I remember those times as good fun and happy days with lots of social functions, most of them built around the Church and Church activities.
But I never really got into the Bible very much except for memorizing all those Books and learning about Adam and Eve and sin and the Ten Commandments. I don’t think I ever really learned what a “Christian” was, although I did have a liking for Jesus.
During my high school and university years I pretty well put the Church and religion and the Bible on the back burner. Then I was too busy earning a living to give any of it much thought.
Over the course of my career I met so many religious charlatans like Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert and saw so much fighting and bloodshed in the name of religion, I pretty well rejected it out of hand. But I never forgot my admiration for Jesus and his radical nature. And in my recent second look at the Bible, I was even more impressed.
Jesus’ rebellion against authority and the “rules” of his elders appeals to me a lot. I like the way he tipped over the tables of the money changers who were desecrating the temple and how he comforted the prostitute when the others all wanted to stone her to death. I like the way he defended the poor and the sick, the hungry and the helpless. I liked the way he forgave the men who found joy in killing Him.
Most of all though, I liked what I finally concluded was Jesus’ main message. Spread the love around. (Just like John Lennon, I thought). Over and over he calls on all people to love one another. “Love thy neighbour as thyself”, He said. “Love your enemy” he also said. For Jesus, that was the second most important Commandment, after loving God.
He makes it very clear that all of us are supposed to love the poor, the sick, the naked, and the hungry. He teaches that the last shall be first. That a rich man trying to get into Heaven is like a camel trying to get through the eye of the needle. His whole teaching is based on the over-riding principle of love.
Universal Love.
This Christmas let’s give gifts. But let’s also give some Love.
NB4ZOT
I'l love to know how long this is going to last.
Did I make it in time?
Not exactly right.
How did I know that you signed up today.
BTW Jesus never promised world peace.
Guess so. Either this person really intended to put this under religion, or put it into breaking to disrupt. We will see.
not exactly wrong either
he urged us to love one another which would lead to world peace
What's the frequency Kenneth?
No. He just urged us to love one another. Jesus never predicted or called for world peace.
the frequency is what you make it Johnny
universal love will lead to universal peace
I suppose so. And universal light will lead to the end of night. But as long as we are living on this world turning on it's axis, we have to live with the realities of this world. That includes dealing with evil men who refuse to love, or disarm.
I never said Jesus predicted world peace
It takes courage to disarm, Dan
cute ripostes achieve nothing Dan.
It's a nice piece.
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