Degas
Member
Hi,
Last Wednesday I posted this question on reddit: "If you met a non Christian in the elevator and they asked you: 'Why would I become a Christian?', what would say?"
A number of redditors gave answers that would never convince anyone to even think about it, a few gave interesting answers but which only someone who already believes in God would hear, many members of the sub didn't even bother to reply, which I would say they would have if they had been able to give a simple and short answer, and only three persons answered: "To have Eternal Peace". This is probably the best of the answers which were given since it is an answer Jesus does give in the Gospels but, again, it would only inspire someone who already believes, even if only in the possibility of Eternal life.
Now, no one gave the other answer Jesus gives in the Bible, an answer which not only is Jesus' very answer but also which would be the best to inspire even an atheist – I'm not saying all atheists would be inspired but a number of them would at least admit the possibility.
Here is Jesus' answer – which only takes seven words and can be given in a one floor elevator ride: to be at peace here and now.
Does that sound a little too much like Buddhism or New Age to you? Well I rephrased Jesus' answer a little bit, first of all because an elevator ride is pretty swift, second of all because I admit I wouldn't be able to quote Jesus' answer correctly by heart with the verses numbers but it is however what Jesus does say in the Bible. See for yourself:
"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (Luke 6:46-49)
Before the promise of Eternal Life and Eternal Peace, the goal of Jesus' teachings – e.g. Christianity as Jesus meant it – is to be at peace despite life circumstances which can be tough. Jesus says the very same thing in a slightly different way in the Gospel of Matthew:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)
You see how the "here and now" part of the answer is important: it's not about being at peace after we die, it's not about being at peace later, when this disease is healed, when we have found a job, when someone we love is out of trouble; it is about being at peace here and now however difficult our life can be. This is the second reason why Jesus willingly went to crucifixion, a reason that doesn't seem to ever be dealt with: to show us that being loved by the Father doesn't mean we will be pampered in a worldly way. So many Christians think "I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1) means God loves us so much that They will give us everything we want. If it were so, Jesus wouldn't have been crucified, not even to give himself for our sins. If it were so, more over, all those saints wouldn't have been martyred. "I shall not want" really means we should be satisfied with what we have. It doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve our life circumstances or we shouldn't pray God to make our life circumstances better but it does mean that our peace and happiness should not depend on our life circumstances. I have seen so many Christians say "I lost faith when... (fill in the blank)". If those Christians had been taught Jesus offers to make us peaceful whatever happens, some of them wouldn't have lost faith and they would have kept putting Jesus' teachings into practice.
Before asking you guys my question, I looked up both "Why would I become a Christian?" and also "What is the goal of Christianity" and I couldn't find a single webpage giving Jesus' answer to those simple questions, not even on Quora where any Christian, not just Christian preachers, can answer.
This page starts with those words: "Many who call themselves Christians have no idea of what God has planned for their future. They do not realize that the Bible explains how Christians today are preparing for a joyous future, filled with meaningful activity, in the Kingdom of God!". This means this website claiming to know better than others does tell about peace but only in the future. They do not seem to have any idea Jesus is offering us peace here and now.
I'm not saying absolutely no Christian knows about Jesus' invitation to find peace here and now but it is obvious most Christians do not have any clue despite so many Christian websites giving teachings and / or Bible explanations or commentaries.
This shows how untrue to Jesus Christian preachers and institutions can be. This is very disturbing because the goal of peace here and now is the most likely to ensure Christians would never stop following Jesus' teachings however tough their life could be. It is also the most likely to inspire non believers to become Christians. It is also the most likely to inspire people who don't believe in an after life let alone in the possibility of reaching Eternal Peace to become Christians.
The most important aspect of Jesus' invitation to be happy and at peace here and now is that non believers would be more likely to put Jesus' teachings into practice because it wouldn't require any faith. Can you see why? Because it can be evaluated. It is hence a very pragmatic approach, perfectly relevant for our materialistic time.
You see the point? No one cares about loving God or their neighbor unless they already have faith! No one can check if they will indeed go to Heaven! Only teachings leading to inner peace can be evaluated: people can start putting Jesus' teachings into practice – which doesn't even require being baptized – and, if they find a little peace, keep practicing; if they don't find any peace at all, don't waste any time practicing. A very pragmatic approach which can potentially inspire everyone at some point in their life when the world doesn't make them happy any more – which, by the way, also happens to celebrities who, despite their apparently dream life, can be, just like anyone, sick, depressed, heart broken or addicted to drugs for example.
So why isn't this approach taught? Why doesn't any Christian preacher or institution tell us Jesus' teachings can make us happy and at peace here and now (provided we put enough work into it)? Here's my take on this: because if they did, they would have to deliver; they would have to allow Christians to experience peace otherwise they wouldn't be taken seriously.
Now how many Christians feel God's peace on a regular basis? I know the answer to this question: many Christians only feel God's peace once in a while... if ever. This is why not saying that Jesus teaches about the possibility of inner peace here and now and, basically, telling people "Don't worry if you're not at peace for, if you are good, you will be after you die" may sound like a smart thing to do. Smart but not true to Jesus.
Of course, Christian preachers and institutions need to make it seem like they know what they're doing and they need Christians to rely on them so they give lots of importance to knowledge, sometimes in ways that are so complicated that only Christians who have studied theology can understand. Yet Jesus used to address crowds of uneducated people for whom simplicity was necessary. More over, Jesus was very clear knowledge is next to useless:
"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.' He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.' At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.'" (Luke 10:17-21)
This means that while failing to allow them to experience God's peace, Christian preachers and institutions blind Christians with a lot of useless knowledge, thus being very similar to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees Jesus tackles in Matthew 23 of which I will only quote two verses:
(continued in next post)
Last Wednesday I posted this question on reddit: "If you met a non Christian in the elevator and they asked you: 'Why would I become a Christian?', what would say?"
A number of redditors gave answers that would never convince anyone to even think about it, a few gave interesting answers but which only someone who already believes in God would hear, many members of the sub didn't even bother to reply, which I would say they would have if they had been able to give a simple and short answer, and only three persons answered: "To have Eternal Peace". This is probably the best of the answers which were given since it is an answer Jesus does give in the Gospels but, again, it would only inspire someone who already believes, even if only in the possibility of Eternal life.
Now, no one gave the other answer Jesus gives in the Bible, an answer which not only is Jesus' very answer but also which would be the best to inspire even an atheist – I'm not saying all atheists would be inspired but a number of them would at least admit the possibility.
Here is Jesus' answer – which only takes seven words and can be given in a one floor elevator ride: to be at peace here and now.
Does that sound a little too much like Buddhism or New Age to you? Well I rephrased Jesus' answer a little bit, first of all because an elevator ride is pretty swift, second of all because I admit I wouldn't be able to quote Jesus' answer correctly by heart with the verses numbers but it is however what Jesus does say in the Bible. See for yourself:
"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (Luke 6:46-49)
Before the promise of Eternal Life and Eternal Peace, the goal of Jesus' teachings – e.g. Christianity as Jesus meant it – is to be at peace despite life circumstances which can be tough. Jesus says the very same thing in a slightly different way in the Gospel of Matthew:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)
You see how the "here and now" part of the answer is important: it's not about being at peace after we die, it's not about being at peace later, when this disease is healed, when we have found a job, when someone we love is out of trouble; it is about being at peace here and now however difficult our life can be. This is the second reason why Jesus willingly went to crucifixion, a reason that doesn't seem to ever be dealt with: to show us that being loved by the Father doesn't mean we will be pampered in a worldly way. So many Christians think "I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1) means God loves us so much that They will give us everything we want. If it were so, Jesus wouldn't have been crucified, not even to give himself for our sins. If it were so, more over, all those saints wouldn't have been martyred. "I shall not want" really means we should be satisfied with what we have. It doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve our life circumstances or we shouldn't pray God to make our life circumstances better but it does mean that our peace and happiness should not depend on our life circumstances. I have seen so many Christians say "I lost faith when... (fill in the blank)". If those Christians had been taught Jesus offers to make us peaceful whatever happens, some of them wouldn't have lost faith and they would have kept putting Jesus' teachings into practice.
Before asking you guys my question, I looked up both "Why would I become a Christian?" and also "What is the goal of Christianity" and I couldn't find a single webpage giving Jesus' answer to those simple questions, not even on Quora where any Christian, not just Christian preachers, can answer.
This page starts with those words: "Many who call themselves Christians have no idea of what God has planned for their future. They do not realize that the Bible explains how Christians today are preparing for a joyous future, filled with meaningful activity, in the Kingdom of God!". This means this website claiming to know better than others does tell about peace but only in the future. They do not seem to have any idea Jesus is offering us peace here and now.
I'm not saying absolutely no Christian knows about Jesus' invitation to find peace here and now but it is obvious most Christians do not have any clue despite so many Christian websites giving teachings and / or Bible explanations or commentaries.
This shows how untrue to Jesus Christian preachers and institutions can be. This is very disturbing because the goal of peace here and now is the most likely to ensure Christians would never stop following Jesus' teachings however tough their life could be. It is also the most likely to inspire non believers to become Christians. It is also the most likely to inspire people who don't believe in an after life let alone in the possibility of reaching Eternal Peace to become Christians.
The most important aspect of Jesus' invitation to be happy and at peace here and now is that non believers would be more likely to put Jesus' teachings into practice because it wouldn't require any faith. Can you see why? Because it can be evaluated. It is hence a very pragmatic approach, perfectly relevant for our materialistic time.
You see the point? No one cares about loving God or their neighbor unless they already have faith! No one can check if they will indeed go to Heaven! Only teachings leading to inner peace can be evaluated: people can start putting Jesus' teachings into practice – which doesn't even require being baptized – and, if they find a little peace, keep practicing; if they don't find any peace at all, don't waste any time practicing. A very pragmatic approach which can potentially inspire everyone at some point in their life when the world doesn't make them happy any more – which, by the way, also happens to celebrities who, despite their apparently dream life, can be, just like anyone, sick, depressed, heart broken or addicted to drugs for example.
So why isn't this approach taught? Why doesn't any Christian preacher or institution tell us Jesus' teachings can make us happy and at peace here and now (provided we put enough work into it)? Here's my take on this: because if they did, they would have to deliver; they would have to allow Christians to experience peace otherwise they wouldn't be taken seriously.
Now how many Christians feel God's peace on a regular basis? I know the answer to this question: many Christians only feel God's peace once in a while... if ever. This is why not saying that Jesus teaches about the possibility of inner peace here and now and, basically, telling people "Don't worry if you're not at peace for, if you are good, you will be after you die" may sound like a smart thing to do. Smart but not true to Jesus.
Of course, Christian preachers and institutions need to make it seem like they know what they're doing and they need Christians to rely on them so they give lots of importance to knowledge, sometimes in ways that are so complicated that only Christians who have studied theology can understand. Yet Jesus used to address crowds of uneducated people for whom simplicity was necessary. More over, Jesus was very clear knowledge is next to useless:
"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.' He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.' At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, 'I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.'" (Luke 10:17-21)
This means that while failing to allow them to experience God's peace, Christian preachers and institutions blind Christians with a lot of useless knowledge, thus being very similar to the teachers of the law and the Pharisees Jesus tackles in Matthew 23 of which I will only quote two verses:
(continued in next post)
