RE: So no other teacher has any wisdom that is of value?
Of course all other teachers have wisdom of value. The problem with Jesus is on His own identity, HE EQUATES HIMSELF WITH GOD.
He called Himself the great I AM, the same words God used in the Old Testament to Moses in the burning bush.
If some modern ethical teacher called himself God, I highly doubt if anyone would take him seriously.
So, you cannot bifurcate Jesus because on His identity alone, He insists that you either accept Him for who he claims to be or not. He is either Liar, Lunatic or Lord of all.
RE: If your conception of God is merely a God “out there”, then I think your God is too small.
When did I say that God is simply a God out there? The fact that I accept Jesus’ claims to divinity in fact shows that this God that I believe in is not just “out there”. He cares for humanity such that He condescended to be one of us to show us the way to live and more importantly to DIE for us and save us from our sins.
This shows that God is not small. He is big and infinite. He is big enough to create and rule the mighty universe, yet loving enough to care for His creatures.
If God is infinite, as we both agree, then what is the limit of God? Where is God not?