“Science-only” as a dead end view…

Skeptics appeal to hard evidence…

While Jesus is an historical figure, and his resurrection is supported by eyewitnesses, Jesus openly appealed to a world view beyond what we can see and touch, and described a physical-only view of the universe as a “dead end” perspective.

In discussing what we believe and why, history and archaeology will take us only so far; observations of the universe can point to God, but the evidence can be interpreted many ways.

Beyond that all, though, is an intangible element where God is at work, directly in the hearts and souls of those who are destined to be part of his family.

“Jesus said, “You’re tied down to the mundane; I’m in touch with what is beyond your horizons. You live in terms of what you see and touch. I’m living on other terms. I told you that you were missing God in all this. You’re at a dead end. If you won’t believe I am who I say I am, you’re at the dead end of sins. You’re missing God in your lives.”" John 8:23 (MSG)

What is God’s will? What is Jesus’ role?

“This, in a nutshell, is that [the Father's] will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time.”
John 6:39-40 (MSG)

Jesus – a light to the world – he established a family, not an institution

Jesus came into this world, primarily out of love for his Father, and also out of love for humanity – as a whole and for each individual.

Jesus came to:
- demonstrate a life lived total out of devotion to God
- to reveal God’s nature in the form most comprehensible to us
- reach out to humanity and open a doorway into God’s family
- to open that doorway through his own personal sacrifice
- to demonstrate hope for everlasting life, through overcoming death

Jesus established a family – a relationship – not an organisation or institution
Human organisations quickly elevate power, position and politics

Jesus was quick to challenge all forms of domineering power, and to state that among his followers, those desiring to ‘lead’, must in fact be servants of all.

Followers of Jesus are promised life to the full, and are not bound by any organisational rules. They are instead bound by love. They are called to respect the law of the land, but are bound by love to challenge those laws where they oppose the rule of love.

Jesus – the first word, the final word.

In the beginning, God said “Let there be light”, and there was light. (Genesis)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made… In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (John 1)

Jesus has always been, has always been God, is the Word of God. He brings light to the universe, to the world, and especially to humanity.

He is the first Word. He is the illuminating Word, the saving Word. He is the Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end.

He is the light at the beginning of the universe, the light which sustains the world, and the light under whose illumination history will be concluded.

He is God’s first and final word on this world.

The cure for anxiety

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. Psalm 46:6 (NIV)

There’s a lot of worrying in the world. Much anxiety, anger and hate about many things: terrorism, environment, asylum seekers, poverty, war and debt. Much desire, effort and resources expended on fashion, image and ‘stuff’. Many people suffer, creatures suffer, the world suffers. Many newspapers get sold.

Some would have us believe there is no meaning beyond what we make for ourselves, no hope beyond that which we create.

In the middle of history, past present and future, stands Jesus. “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Some people don’t like this, but if it is truth, then one day soon, all of creation will stand before him in awe, and will be still and know, that he is God.

Don’t let yourself be bullied by religion.

Colossians 2:20 (MSG)
So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.

[Aus] Census 2011 – Why mark ‘No Religion’

Apart from an unnecessarily condescendingly voiced response on the [leadingly phrased] question “Do Christians really believe that stuff” [Answer provided "Yes, I'm afraid they do"], the following Atheist Foundation Website does quite a service to Christians and others in defining the core Christian beliefs, and the implications for answering the census. [Mostly] nice job AFA censusnoreligion.org

What do you think?

Jesus – Visible image of the invisible God

Colossians 1:15 (MSG)
We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

Colossians 1:18 (MSG)
He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end.

The problem with Church as Organistion

Jesus described his band of followers as family, with only one Father. As sheep, with only one shepherd.

Jesus was very critical of the religious leaders of his day who used religion to gain power and respect, and to corner the market on knowledge of God, and to dole it out to the masses as something beyond the common person to fully comprehend.

In 2000 years we seem in much of Christendom to have forgotten much of Jesus example and lessons.

We, by and large, associate Jesus with institutions, practice and doctrine, rather than with the reality of the person of Jesus himself.

Let’s reiterate – Jesus established a family. The Father has adopted us to be his children. As with our earthly family units, the ties that bind us together into our heavenly family are love, a common parent, a common heritage.

We are warned most severely about seeking to draw lines and judge who is in and who is out of that family. That’s God’s business. Our business is to love. Everyone! The poor, the sick, the downtrodden, the unpopular, our enemies.

Nothing to do with programs, traditions, regular meetings, buildings, budgets or committees.

Just look at Jesus’ example. Spending quality, often informal time, with a group of men and women. Eating, drinking, learning, telling stories. Welcoming all, old and young, men and women, sick and well, rich and poor.

I’m out of the program. I’m into the family.

Jesus – a boulder dropped in the Time-Space pond

Jesus is the Rock dropped into the middle of the pond of history. His presence on earth sent shockwaves through timespace, like ripples in a pond. His presence had impact back through history, through the prophets and through the nation of Israel. His presence and life continues to impact history as we move forward. No part of history, no part of creation, is immune to his influence. 

He is the visible, temporal image of the invisible God.

As there have always been, there are many loud and self confident voices defaming Jesus and mocking God. References to an ‘invisible sky fairy’ seem to be pretty common right now.

While the evidence for an historical Jesus as described in the Bible is as good as for any ancient historical figure (better than most), the nature of the claims about and by Jesus causes many people to reject that evidence as fanciful. That is, people often seem to reject the historical Jesus because of a) a perceived bias of the documentation and b) the claims of miracles.

This logic is of course circular. Ie “I can’t believe in the historicity of this guy since obviously miracles don’t occur”, and “I can’t trust the Bible because it is maintained by people who believe Jesus is who he claims to be in the Bible”.

So, what to do?

I think Jesus always had the answer/s. He IS the truth (objective truth, source of reality). Those who know and accept his claims know this. These people have respect for Jesus and his Father. These people know that eternity is not some future dream, but that it begins now, although a more complete realization of all that that means still awaits us.

Jesus’ followers don’t need to force anything on anyone. We also, however, are encouraged to always be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have, and to not be ashamed of Jesus. We are to take every opportunity to display Jesus’ love to others… The eternal fate of people, however, is all completely in God’s hands.

So, keep the focus on Jesus, and we can’t go to far wrong.