By Kim Michaels
It is hard to imagine Jesus having inconsistencies in his beliefs and religious practices. If we want to truly follow Jesus, we must be willing to take an honest look for any inconsistencies in our beliefs. And we must be willing to resolve inconsistencies by reaching for a higher understanding.
The following discussion of common inconsistencies is not meant to weaken your Christian faith, but to strengthen your faith by bringing it into alignment with the reality of Jesus’ inner teachings. Jesus said, “Seek and ye shall find,” so let us accept that we can resolve all inconsistencies by reaching for a higher understanding of the inner teachings of Jesus.
Inconsistency No. 1.
Why do some Christians take the opposite approach to religion than the approach taken by Jesus himself?
The scriptures make it clear that Jesus was in constant opposition to people who took a particular approach to religion. He denounced the scribes and the Pharisees and said:
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. (Luke 11:52)
What was the approach to religion that Jesus denounced? It was what we might call an outer, dogmatic or letter-of-the-law approach. These people were attached to outer doctrines, interpretations, their religious organization and its rituals. They refused to look beyond this outer framework to find a higher understanding. Jesus clearly wanted people to look beyond the letter of the law and discover the spirit of the law. Moreover, he wanted people to internalize the spirit of the law.
Jesus himself did not follow orthodox doctrines and was accused of violating them on several occasions. He taught with authority, in contrast to the scribes who merely interpreted the letter of the law. So it seems clear that Jesus wanted people to take what we might call an inner, spiritual or mystical approach to religion.
Today, many Christians are attached to certain outer doctrines and dogmas. They cling to a certain view of Jesus and his message, and they often seem unwilling to look beyond it. Yet they seem to overlook that it was precisely people who took this approach that opposed Jesus, plotted against him and eventually succeeded in getting him crucified. The fact that Jesus so forcefully denounced these people shows us that an important part of Jesus’ mission was to help us free ourselves from the dogmatic approach to religion and adopt a better, more spiritual, approach.
Does it make sense that modern Christians take the outer approach to religion when Jesus denounced this approach? Then what approach should modern Christians take? How about taking the same approach to religion that Jesus took. How about looking beyond outer doctrines and interpretations? How about looking for a higher spiritual understanding of Jesus and his teachings?
If Jesus had not been willing to look for truth inside himself, he could not have brought forth his teachings. How can we hope to fully understand and internalize his teachings unless we are willing to look for truth inside ourselves?
Inconsistency No. 2. Why are some Christians attached to outer doctrines and interpretations when Jesus clearly refused to be bound by doctrines and dogmas?
Jesus grew up in a culture dominated by the Jewish religion. He taught in the temple at the age of 12 and people were astonished at his knowledge. Is there any doubt that Jesus could have attained a position in the Jewish religion if he had wanted it? So why didn’t he pursue such a position—wouldn’t he have encountered less opposition from the religious authorities if he had been one of them?
The explanation could be that Jesus knew there was no room within the Jewish religion to bring forth his new teachings. In order to fit into the system, he would have had to accept restrictions, and he would have had to conform to outer rules. He might have been forced to compromise the truth in order to fit into the system. Clearly, this would have prevented him from bringing forth his new teachings.
Jesus also demonstrated that he wanted truth above all else, and he never let any earthly institutions or doctrines prevent him from seeking God’s truth. So as Christians we need to consider whether we are willing to follow Jesus’ example and look beyond traditional doctrines and interpretations? Do we want the truth about Jesus and his teachings, or are we content with doctrines and interpretations about him
Inconsistency No. 3. Why do some Christians think it is sufficient to believe in outer doctrines and dogmas when Jesus clearly wanted people to internalize his teachings?
The scriptures contain several examples of how Jesus told his disciples that they had too little faith and that they were without (sufficient) understanding. He clearly denounced the scribes and the Pharisees for wearing religion as an outer clothing (saying their prayers and doing alms in public). He denounced their interpretations of the letter of the law and accused them of being devoid of the spirit of the law.
In contrast, Jesus spoke with authority about spiritual matters. He seems to have internalized spiritual truth to such a degree that he knew what he was talking about. It had become a part of his consciousness and being instead of merely an intellectual understanding of outer doctrines and interpretations.
Jesus never claimed that he was the only one who could internalize truth. In fact he repeatedly encouraged his disciples to get a deeper understanding of the truth. He also encouraged people to change their consciousness, as when he said it was not enough to abstain from adultery because you have to overcome the desire for it.
Can we claim to truly follow Jesus unless we open our hearts and minds to a higher understanding of his teachings, an understand that might go beyond outer doctrines, interpretations and intellectual knowledge? Can we truly follow Jesus unless we internalize his teachings and allow them to change our state of consciousness?
Inconsistency No. 4. Why do some Christians seem reluctant to look beyond their current beliefs when Jesus clearly said that if we seek truth, we shall find it?
Many Christians have grown up in a culture dominated by specific doctrines or interpretations of Jesus’ teachings. Yet many Christians have unanswered questions about the spiritual side of life. If you have unanswered questions, there can be only one explanation. The answers to your questions cannot be found within the context of the doctrines and interpretations that you currently know and believe. So if you truly want answers to your questions, you have to be willing to look beyond your current beliefs. You must be willing to think outside the box.
Jesus clearly demonstrated that he was willing to look for answers outside his religious culture. Jesus also demonstrated that he was willing to seek truth with an open mind and heart. Jesus told us to seek the truth and we shall find it. Many Christians think Jesus was in a special category, yet he never said that he was the only one who could know truth. He told us, “Seek and ye shall find.” If we were unable to find, why would Jesus tell us to seek? He talked about the truth that will make us free. Again, if we were unable to find the truth, how could it set us free?
The problem is that if we cling to existing beliefs, we will only look for and accept ideas that conform to those beliefs. We hear only what we want to hear. Therefore, to truly find a higher understanding, we must be willing to seek with an open mind and heart. Jesus demonstrated this willingness—can we do any less?
Inconsistency No. 5. Why do some Christians cling to outer doctrines and interpretations when Jesus did not base his knowledge on outer sources?
Although Jesus clearly knew and respected the teachings of the Old Testament, he did not base his teachings on outer doctrines and interpretations, as did the scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus knew truth from within himself. He had internalized the truth, and that is why he taught with authority and not as the scribes.
It is easy for Christians to think that Jesus was above and beyond the rest of us. Yet in this respect, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” He did not say that the kingdom was only within him but within all of us.
What is the kingdom of God? Is it possible that by looking for the kingdom of God within ourselves, we can discover and attain contact with the same source of truth that Jesus tapped? Did Jesus perhaps mean that we all have the ability to find God’s truth within ourselves? If so, should we not be willing to look for truth the same place Jesus found it?
How do we find truth inside ourselves? What if the ability to do so is already built into our minds? It is commonly called intuition, but there might be a lot more to it than what most people see as intuition. Even some psychologists are talking about a higher part of the mind, a higher self or superego. What if we really have a higher mind that we can contact by sharpening our intuitive faculties? What if this higher mind, this Christ mind, or Christ self, is the key to knowing truth from within ourselves?
Saint Paul talked about the lower mind, the carnal mind, and the natural man. He also talked about putting off the old man and putting on the new man. Was he perhaps saying that we can rise above the carnal mind, which cannot recognize truth, and unite with the higher mind, which is one with truth? Did Jesus come in part to demonstrate an ability that all people have, namely the potential to reach beyond the lower mind and know truth? Was Jesus saying that when we are willing to lose our life, the sense of life and identity based on the lower mind, we shall find a more spiritual life based on truth?
Inconsistency No. 6. Why do some Christians have a fear-based approach to God and religion when Jesus’ approach was based on love?
It is difficult to imagine Jesus being afraid of anything, including God. In Old Testament times, the Jews had created an image of God as being an angry and judgmental God who was ready to punish people for the slightest transgression of his laws. Jesus brought a distinctly different view of God, namely that of a loving Father figure.
After the time of Jesus, some Christian churches, especially during the Middle Ages, reverted back to a frightening image of God. Yet if this image is out of touch with Jesus’ teachings on God, why should modern Christians continue to hold on to it?
It is also difficult to see Jesus having a fear-based approach to religion. He clearly was not afraid of the orthodox Jewish authorities. In fact, one might argue that it was his open independence and defiance that got him killed. So why should modern Christians have a fear-based approach to religion? Why should they fear a particular church or the authorities of a church? Why should they fear that by thinking about ideas outside orthodox doctrine, they will go to Hell? Jesus clearly did not believe that his followers would go to Hell for accepting ideas that went far beyond Jewish doctrine.
Jesus clearly was not afraid to question the authorities, the scriptures or the official interpretation of the scriptures. So why should modern Christians be afraid to ask questions that go beyond orthodox doctrines? Jesus told us to seek, and he clearly was not afraid to seek beyond the orthodox doctrines of his time. Why should we be afraid to seek beyond the doctrines and dogmas of our time?
Jesus clearly loved God, and he told us to love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls. Fear and love are incompatible emotions. You want to get close to what you love, and you want to get away from what you fear. So if Jesus told us to love God, then he clearly wanted us to overcome all fear related to God and religion. In fact, he talked about the perfect love that casts out all fear.
If we want to truly follow Jesus, should we not seek and accept that perfect love and stop living in fear?
Inconsistency No. 7. Why do some Christians ignore Jesus’ statement that unless we become as little children, we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven?
Obviously, Jesus could not have meant that we should become like children in a physical sense, so he must have been talking about the mindset or approach to life that children have.
Children are naturally very open and curious about life, including the spiritual side of life and God. They want to know, and they are not afraid to ask questions. They will openly ask questions and seek the answers wherever they can be found. In contrast, many adults close their minds and set up an outer framework of beliefs and doctrines that determines the type of questions they are willing to ask.
Children are naturally very loving towards God and have great faith in God. In contrast, many adults adopt a fear-based approach to God and religion.
In summary, children are unconditional in their approach to spirituality, whereas many adults gradually become more and more rigid and conditional. This conditionality causes people to close their minds to ideas that go beyond the framework that they have chosen as the only truth. It is obvious that Jesus’ approach to God and spirituality was completely unconditional. He was willing to look beyond any outer framework to find the truth, and he approached God with no fear. Should we not strive to approach God, and spirituality with the same unconditionality as Jesus himself?
Inconsistency No. 8. Why do some Christians fail to understand the statement that the lawyers had taken away the key to knowledge?
Jesus was very direct in his challenge to the lawyers, and it must be important for us to understand why he so forcefully denounced these people and their approach to religion. Jesus stated that the lawyers had not entered in themselves, but what did he mean? Did Jesus possibly mean that they had not adopted the inner approach to religion as he had? After all, the lawyers were clearly letter-or-the-law people and were emotionally attached to outer doctrines and interpretations.
The fact that Jesus told people to do their alms in secret and to pray in private shows that to him religion, or rather spirituality, was an inner, private activity. To Jesus, spirituality seems to have been a personal walk with God, and he clearly encouraged his followers to also make it a private, inner activity instead of displaying it publicly. One of the major turning points in Jesus’ ministry was his forty days in the desert. Consider why it wasn’t forty days in the temple? Obviously, because to Jesus the outer religion was not the key to contact with God. That contact can be attained only by going within, by finding God in your heart.
Was Jesus actually teaching us that the essence of religious practice is to find God within ourselves? Was he demonstrating that we must never allow an outer religion to prevent us from attaining this goal or to distract us from looking inside ourselves?
Jesus said that the lawyers had taken away the key to knowledge and were seeking to prevent others from entering into the correct approach to religion. What is the key to knowledge? Is it possible that the key is to activate the ability to find truth from within ourselves? We have seen that Jesus clearly sought and found truth from a source inside himself and that he encouraged us to do the same.
Was Jesus denouncing the lawyers because they had refused to find the source of truth within themselves and because they were seeking to scare others into conforming to their interpretation of the letter of the law? If so, then should we not make a decisive effort to distance ourselves from the mindset of the lawyers, even as we see it acting in today’s religious culture? Should we not adopt the same approach to religion that Jesus took and find the inner source of truth that he had discovered?
Inconsistency No. 9. Why do some Christians ignore Jesus’ saying, “The kingdom of God is within you” and think that we can be saved only through an outer church?
At the time of Jesus, the Jewish religion was based on the idea that the only key to salvation was the outer religion controlled and administered by the temple authorities. In other words, people could be saved only through the outer church. Jesus clearly denounced this approach by stating that the kingdom of God (as the key to salvation) is within us. The consequence of this statement is that every person has the key to salvation inside him/herself and does not need an outer church to be saved.
To the Jews this was a revolutionary idea, and one might argue that it was this challenge to the core of temple authority that got Jesus killed. During the first few centuries, the Christian faith gradually became split into two factions. One was a very diversified movement, often called the Gnostics, that maintained an individual road to salvation. The other was the official, orthodox church which stated that the only key to salvation was the sacraments controlled by the church.
Once again, if we truly want to follow Jesus, should we not adopt the same approach to salvation as Jesus did? For Jesus, salvation clearly was not a matter of outer characteristics, such as membership of a church, doing alms in public or following the letter of the law. For Jesus, salvation was clearly an inner condition of knowing truth, having the spirit of the law and aligning one’s consciousness with the truth of God.
What does it mean that the kingdom of God is within us? What is within us? Obviously, Jesus must have been talking about our minds, our state of consciousness and the condition of our hearts. Jesus repeatedly told us to purify our hearts, our state of consciousness. Is it possible that Jesus was saying that the kingdom of God is a state of consciousness? Might Jesus have been saying that the kingdom of God is the Christ consciousness? Is Christ consciousness the key to knowing the truth and the reality of God?
Inconsistency No. 10. Why do some Christians ignore the statement of Paul to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus?” (Php 2:5)
This statement was made by one of Jesus’ foremost followers. Paul had received his understanding of Jesus’ teachings from within. Is it possible that Paul understood something about Jesus’ inner message that most modern Christians have not yet understood?
Based on our previous reasoning, we can now gain a new perspective on Paul’s statement. Is it possible that Paul understood that the very essence of Jesus’ message is that the key to salvation is to attain a higher state of consciousness? Is it possible that Paul saw Jesus as an example to follow and that he did not put him on a pedestal or think that Jesus was the only one who could attain Christ consciousness?
Let us compare this to Jesus’ parable about the man who entered the wedding feast without a wedding garment. Is it possible that “wedding garment” is a metaphor for a state of consciousness? When we attain this state of consciousness, we are worthy to enter the kingdom of Heaven. When we have not yet attained this state of consciousness, we cannot enter the kingdom. Therefore, we must live in outer darkness, meaning the state of consciousness shared by most people on planet Earth. This is the state of consciousness that Paul called the carnal mind or the natural man.
In this human consciousness, we see ourselves as mortal human beings who are separated from our source, separated from God. Jesus had clearly transcended that state of consciousness. He saw himself as a spiritual being who was not separated from his source. Did Jesus want us to change our sense of identity so that we too can overcome our sense of separation from God? Did Jesus want us to let this mind be in us, which was also in him?
After all, how can we hope to enter the kingdom of God unless we accept that we are worthy to enter? And how can we accept our worthiness unless we attain a higher state of consciousness in which we no longer see ourselves as separated from our source?
Inconsistency No. 11. Why do some Christians ignore Jesus’ own words that if we believe on him, we shall do the works that he did?
Most Christians ignore the statement made by Jesus,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)
Yet Jesus must have seen it as an important statement, so doesn’t it seem logical that we need to gain a deeper understanding of what Jesus really meant? Because so many Christians see Jesus as being far above them, they cannot envision that they could perform the miracles that Jesus performed. Yet either Jesus was out of touch with reality, or we are out of touch with the reality of what Jesus was saying.
What would it take for us to do the works that Jesus did? It would first and foremost take a change in consciousness. In our present state of consciousness, we cannot imagine performing the miracles that Jesus performed. The key to Jesus’ works was his complete faith in God. For us to have that same faith, we would have to be in the same state of consciousness as Jesus. Is it possible that when we let this mind be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus, then we can do the works that he did?
Perhaps we should take a closer look at Jesus’ state of consciousness. Jesus clearly stated that he of his own self could do nothing. It was the Father within him who was the true doer of his works. This shows us that Jesus no longer saw himself as separated from his source. He had attained an inner union with God (“I and my Father are one”), and therefore God could work through Jesus. Is it possible that if we overcome our sense of separation from God, then God can work through us? We might not do the exact same works that Jesus did, but God will use us according to our individual talents.
So if Jesus did not limit God’s ability to work through him, how can we limit God and say that God cannot work through us? Should we not let God be the one to decide what works he desires to perform through us? Should we not strive to transcend the carnal mind so we can stop limiting God?
Inconsistency No. 12. Why do some Christians ignore that Jesus had an inner message and that we cannot understand Jesus without looking beyond the outer doctrines?
In Mark 4, it is stated:
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear [it].
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
It is clear from this quote that Jesus gave teachings at two different levels. He had an outer, exoteric, teaching and an inner, esoteric, teaching. The multitudes were not ready for his inner teaching, so he could give it only to his disciples who were at a higher level of consciousness.
It is difficult to deny that humankind as a whole is at a higher level of consciousness and understanding than was the case 2,000 years ago. Is it possible that many people have now attained a state of consciousness that makes it possible for them to understand the inner, esoteric, message of Jesus?
If so, where might we find this teaching? Is it possible that Jesus could find ways to reveal his inner teaching to us and to have it published as an outer teaching through various sources? Is it possible that the key to finding and recognizing this inner teaching is to go within and establish contact with the source of knowledge? Only by doing so can we recognize the truth in an outer teaching.
Yet the first step is a willingness to open our minds and hearts to the fact that Jesus has an inner teaching. Unless we are willing to seek this teaching, how could we possibly find it?
Inconsistency No. 13. Why do some Christians ignore the importance of free will when Jesus clearly acknowledged the reality of free will?
When we look at the suffering, conflict and injustice found on Earth today, we have two options for explaining it. Either God created it all, or we human beings created it by using our free will to go against God’s laws and intent.
Jesus clearly acknowledged that we have free will and that we can choose to follow or go against the will of God. The strongest example is no doubt his own affliction in the garden at Gethsemane,
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]. (Matthew 26:39)
Because Jesus knew we have free will, he admonished us to get understanding, to increase our faith and to change our hearts—our state of consciousness. The purpose being that we could make better choices and stop sinning.
If we did not have free will, much of Jesus’ ministry would make no sense. When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” he indicated that people made their choices based on ignorance. Obviously, Jesus could not force people to abandon their ignorance as evidenced by the fact that he did not convert those that persecuted and killed him. Therefore, it is up to us to chose to overcome our ignorance.
The importance of recognizing free will is that God or Jesus cannot save us against our free will. To be saved, we must make certain choices, and as we have seen earlier, we must choose to come up higher in consciousness. We must choose to overcome ignorance and open our minds to the truth of God instead of a man-made “truth” that might seem comfortable at the moment. Salvation involves making better choices and to make better choices, we must take an active approach and overcome the state of consciousness that keeps us ignorant of our true identity as spiritual beings.
The foundation for making better choices is to have correct understanding. Ultimately, we can attain this understanding only by putting off the old man of the human consciousness and putting on the new man of the Christ consciousness.
Inconsistency No. 14. Why do some Christians take a passive approach to salvation, expecting Jesus to do all the work for them, when Jesus himself took an active approach?
We have seen that Jesus forcefully denounced the outer approach to religion. According to this approach, being a member of a certain religion, believing its outer doctrines and performing its rituals is enough to attain salvation. We might call this the belief in an automatic or guaranteed salvation.
Jesus’ words indicate that he did not believe in an automatic salvation. If the key to salvation is to attain Christ consciousness, then no outer conditions can guarantee salvation. In fact, Jesus stated that unless our righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we will not be saved. Yet these people were doing everything right from an outer perspective. They were following the outer law to the letter.
It seems clear that Jesus did not believe in an automatic salvation. It simply isn’t enough to be a member of a Christian church, blindly believe its doctrines and rotely follow its rituals. It isn’t enough to declare Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It seems that the salvation that Jesus preached requires us to take an active approach. It requires us to make an effort to raise our consciousness instead of passively waiting for an outside force to do all the work for us.
Perhaps we should stop passively waiting for Jesus to save us and get busy raising our consciousness.
Inconsistency No. 15. Why do some Christians say that all that is required for salvation is to declare Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior when Jesus never said those exact words?
Many Christians claim that if you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will automatically be saved. This is even more surprising since the Christians who say this insist on a literal interpretation of the Bible. Yet Jesus never said that if you declare him to be your Lord and Savior, you will be saved no matter what you do or how you live your life.
Yet we have seen that Jesus denounced the automatic or guaranteed salvation promised by the Jewish authorities. Instead, Jesus indicated that the key to salvation is a change in consciousness which depends on our free-will choices and not on outer conditions.
There is not one place in scripture where Jesus promised that if you declare him as your Lord and Savior, your salvation is guaranteed. On the contrary, he forcefully denounced the Jewish authorities who promised salvation through outer means.
Many Christians have been confused by John 14:6, which states:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Many Christians interpret this statement to mean that the person of Jesus is the only way to salvation. Yet is that really what Jesus meant? We have seen that Jesus denounced an outer salvation and encouraged an inner salvation in the form of attaining Christ consciousness. Jesus obviously came to demonstrate this process, and we can assume that he attained full Christ consciousness.
What happens when you attain this state of consciousness? Is it possible that you identify yourself so completely with this state of consciousness that you naturally declare, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” meaning that the Christ consciousness is the Way, the Truth and the Life? Is it possible that Jesus was saying that no one can come to the Father without attaining the Christ consciousness, as he demonstrated?
This would also explain Jesus’ parable about the man who entered the wedding feast without the wedding garment of Christ consciousness.
If Jesus really meant that no one comes to the Father without Christ consciousness, then elevating the person of Jesus as the only road to salvation is counter to Jesus’ teachings and intent. Is it possible that the outer road to salvation, the automatic salvation, is what is referred to in Proverbs,
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12 )
Let us instead take the inner path to salvation, as Jesus did.
Inconsistency No. 16. Why do some Christians passively wait for the second coming of Christ if Jesus preached an active approach to religion?
Many Christians are awaiting the second coming of Christ. Yet if we accept that Jesus preached an active approach to religion, we can gain a new perspective on this topic. We now have to consider that the second coming of Christ could be an event that depends on how we respond to the first coming of Christ.
Why did the soldiers need Judas to point out Jesus among his disciples? Because the soldiers could not recognize the embodied Christ. We must reason that if people are trapped in a lower state of consciousness, the carnal mind, they cannot recognize the embodied Christ. Thus, as long as the majority of human beings are trapped in this lower state of consciousness, there might be no point in Christ coming again. Who would recognize him even if he walked among us?
The saying that “It takes one to know one” might have a profound message. Is it possible that the second coming of Christ cannot occur until a critical mass of people attain Christ consciousness and can therefore recognize Christ come again? In other words, the second coming of Christ might be an event in which many Christed beings will walk the earth, clearly recognizing the Christ in themselves and each other.
It might be up to us to bring about the second coming by raising our consciousness and attaining Christ consciousness.
Inconsistency No. 17. Why do some Christians ignore that Jesus said we can inherit the kingdom of God?
Who inherits the kingdom of an earthly king? Only his son or daughter. So who can inherit the kingdom of a heavenly king? Obviously, only those who see themselves as sons and daughters of God.
We have seen that Jesus told us to transcend the lower state of consciousness in which we see ourselves as separated from God. When we attain Christ consciousness, we see our true identity as spiritual beings, but what does this mean? The Old Testament states that “without him [God] was not anything made that was made.” It also states that God created man in his image and likeness. Jesus said, “Ye are Gods.”
Does this point to the fact that we were all created as sons and daughters of God? If so, the importance of free will becomes paramount. By misusing our free will, we have become trapped in a lower state of consciousness in which we see ourselves as separated from God. Therefore, we cannot accept our true identity as sons and daughters. The key to salvation is to attain a higher state of consciousness and reclaim our identity as sons and daughters of God. Only by doing so can we inherit the kingdom. The consequence is that Jesus did not come as an exception. He came as an example to show us a path that all of us have the potential to follow until we join our older brother, Jesus, in the kingdom.
Perhaps Jesus came to show us that the son of man, by attaining Christ consciousness, can become the Son of God?
Inconsistency No. 18. Why do some Christians equate Jesus with God when this seems to violate the first commandment?
The first of the ten commandments states that “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” The fact that this is the first commandment might indicate that it is the most important one and that it outlines the relationship we should have with God. The second commandment states that we shall not take unto us any graven image. The indication seems clear.
We live in a world in which everything has some kind of form. God is clearly beyond this world, and therefore no form in this world can accurately portray the God that is beyond this world and perhaps beyond form. If we create an image in this world of form and worship it as God, then we cannot worship the true God who is beyond any form in this world. Consequently, we are worshiping a false god and putting a man-made idol before the true God.
So why do many Christians equate Jesus with God and worship him as God incarnate? Jesus never said that he was God. In fact, he clearly stated that the servant is not greater than his Lord. He said that “I and my Father are one” but that is not the same as saying that Jesus is God. Was Jesus actually saying that he had recognized and accepted that he was created by God, created in his image, and therefore he was no longer separated (in his mind) from God?
If we accept that Jesus came to show us a path that we too can follow, then equating Jesus with God can be seen as the worship of an idol. The problem being that if we think Jesus was God and that we are fundamentally different from Jesus, then it follows that we can never attain the oneness with God that Jesus attained. Thus we can never escape the state of consciousness in which we worship idols because the only escape from this state is to attain Christ consciousness so we can see that all human beings are sons and daughters of God.
So we need to consider that worshiping Jesus as God can be a violation of the first commandment and a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of Jesus’ mission. In reality, Jesus might have come to show us that we all have the potential to awaken from our spiritual sleep and accept our divine inheritance.
Inconsistency No. 19. Why do some Christians think Jesus was the only Son of God?
According to the scriptures, Jesus never stated that he was the only Son of God and neither did any of his followers or his adversaries. The Old Testament has several verses that use the words “sons of God,” indicating that there must be more than one Son of God. One example is,
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6 )
Is it possible that the expression “Son of God” is a religious title? In other words, all people are created as sons and daughters of God. However, as long as we are trapped by the carnal mind, we cannot accept our spiritual identity, and therefore we see ourselves as human beings who are separated from God. When we transcend this state of consciousness and attain Christ consciousness, we can divide the real from the unreal.
We can now see and accept the truth that we are sons and daughters of God. Thereby we can serve God in a greater capacity and we earn the title of Son or Daughter of God.
Inconsistency No. 20. Why do some Christians put Jesus on a pedestal, making him into an idol that none dare follow?
We have seen that Jesus might have come to demonstrate a path that we can all follow, a path that leads us out of the bondage of the carnal mind and into the promised land of the Christ consciousness, the kingdom of God. If this is indeed true, then it is essential that we take Jesus down from the pedestal and stop seeing him as an idol.
As long as we see Jesus as the only one who could attain Christ consciousness, we are directly opposing the true purpose of his mission. We are, in fact, doing exactly what Jesus’ adversaries, the Devil himself, wants us to do instead of what Jesus wants us to do.
Jesus said that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. The only thing that prevents us from having the kingdom, the abundant life, is that we are using our free will to reject that kingdom by thinking that we are not worthy of it. And by elevating Jesus to an idol as the only son of God, we are only increasing our bondage. We might say that Jesus came to be a tool for our spiritual liberation. Yet by turning him into an idol, we have turned him into a tool for our continued imprisonment in a lower state of consciousness.
How can we possibly claim to be true followers of Jesus if we refuse to follow in his footsteps? If we love Jesus, should we not follow his commandments and example and let this mind be in us which was also in him? If none of us dare follow in Jesus’ footsteps, it would seem that he has failed as a teacher. Let us stop denying the Christ in ourselves and give Jesus his ultimate victory of bringing all of his brothers and sisters home to the kingdom.
Inconsistency No. 21. Why do some Christians think it is blasphemy to see yourself as a son or daughter of God if Jesus didn’t think so?
When Jesus said, “I and my Father are one,” he was accused of blasphemy. Yet Jesus clearly didn’t see this as blasphemy. We have discussed that Jesus had overcome all sense of separation from his source and therefore accepted himself as a Son of God. We have also seen that Jesus might have considered all people as Sons and Daughters of God. After all, Jesus said, “Ye are Gods.” He also said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my little ones, you have done in unto me,” thus affirming his oneness with all life.
If we truly are the sons and daughters of God, how can accepting our divine source be blasphemy? And if we are created by God, how can we accept our true identity without accepting that we are sons and daughters of God? So the true blasphemy might be to deny our real identity and thereby deny our spiritual Father.
Inconsistency No. 22. Why do some Christians ignore the message hidden in the parable of the talents.
In the parable of the talents, Jesus describes an important facet of the relationship between man and God. The servants who multiplied the talents given to them were praised. The servant who buried the talents in the ground and did nothing to multiply them was chastised. Jesus makes it clear that God does not want us to take a passive approach to life. God wants us to make the best of whatever opportunity we have.
Jesus also indicates that it really doesn’t matter whether we have much or little according to an earthly standard. What matters to God is that we made the best possible use of whatever opportunity we were given. If we multiply whatever talents we have, then God will give us a harvest by multiplying what we bring to the altar of life. If we, for whatever reason, refuse to multiply what we have been given, then God has nothing to multiply, and we will lose all.
This is another reason to abandon the passive approach to life and salvation taken by some Christians. This is another reason to not wait for Jesus to save us. However, this parable becomes especially important in light of our discussion about Christ consciousness. We might consider that the most precious talent we have been given is the potential to manifest Christ consciousness. And whatever strides we make in that endeavor, will be rewarded by God. However, if we make no strides, then we have no reward.
If Jesus came to demonstrate the path of attaining Christ consciousness, would it not be sad if we turned him into an exception and used him as an excuse for not multiplying our talents of Christ consciousness?
Inconsistency No. 23. Why do some Christians think Jesus has taken upon himself all sins that could ever be committed?
Let us first state the fact that Jesus never said that he would take on all of the sins that could possibly be committed for all eternity. In essence, this would have given a blank check to humankind. Therefore, we might need a deeper understanding of vicarious atonement. The inevitable consequence of this belief is that it no longer matters how we live our lives. Taken to its extreme, this idea implies that if a person like Adolf Hitler confessed Christ on his deathbed, he would automatically be saved.
The problem here is that if you can commit evil acts and be saved by confessing Christ, then why did Jesus give the sermon on the mount? Why did Jesus say,
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6 )
It seems clear that to Jesus salvation did depend on how people live their lives. Yet if all that is required for salvation is that we confess Christ, then all of Jesus’ directions and warnings would seem to have been for naught. So either Jesus didn’t really understand that he is the key to salvation, or the idea that he has taken upon himself all future sins is out of touch with his true teachings.
In light of our discussion of Christ consciousness, we can find an alternative explanation. Perhaps the real key to the atonement for sin is to attain Christ consciousness? Jesus came to show the way, to demonstrate that we all have the potential to manifest Christ consciousness. And by doing so we will atone for our sins and attain salvation—not through the outer person of Jesus but through the inner “person” of the Christ consciousness, the Christ self.
Inconsistency No. 24. Why do some Christians ignore that ideas and concepts were taken out of the Christian faith for political reasons? Why isn’t there an open and determined effort to put back what was taken out?
By taking an objective look at the history of the Christian religion, it is easy to see that various concepts and ideas have been taken out and banned as heresy. It is also relatively easy to see that in some cases this was done for political reasons. Sometimes this was done in the distant past, and even if the reasons had some validity 1,500 years ago, those reasons may be completely invalid today.
Why aren’t modern Christians outraged at the thought that certain church authorities took out ideas that were part of the Christian faith? Why don’t people think that perhaps such ideas were part of early Christianity because Jesus taught these ideas? Why aren’t Christians outraged at the thought that the Church might have taken out what Jesus wanted us to know? And why isn’t there a concerted effort, supported by many Christian denominations, to put back what was taken out and thereby build the most accurate image possible of what Jesus really taught?
Why wouldn’t modern Christians want to know exactly what Jesus taught and what he believed? Don’t people want the truth about Jesus, or are they satisfied with their current doctrines and interpretations because they make them feel comfortable? Are Christians afraid that the real Jesus will jump out of the box and disturb their sense that they have Jesus under control?
With the discoveries of ancient texts, such as the Dead sea Scrolls and the Nag Hamadhi Library, and the advance in scientific methods, we have an unprecedented opportunity for attaining a more accurate view of Jesus and his true teachings. So why aren’t we taking advantage of this opportunity?
Inconsistency No. 25. Why do some Christians ignore the need for progressive revelation when Jesus saw himself as part of an ancient tradition of progressive revelation?
Jesus stated,
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)
The time of the prophets was a period during which God anointed certain people to serve as prophets and bring forth the Living Word in order to give people divine directions and warnings. In other words, God was giving people progressive revelations as they were needed.
Many Christians seem to assume that when Jesus said he came to fulfill this phase, he put an end to progressive revelation. Some Christians seem to think that neither God nor Jesus has had anything to say to us for 2,000 years.
Yet the scriptures state that Jesus appeared to his disciples for many years after his resurrection. He taught them and gave them directions. Paul’s letters demonstrate that he too saw himself as an instrument of progressive revelation. Jesus clearly saw himself as part of an ongoing tradition of progressive revelation, and he attempted to continue this progressive revelation after his departure.
Do we fully understand why this progressive revelation stopped? Did Jesus stop it, or did people stop it because they were no longer willing to listen? The Gnostics carried on progressive revelation for centuries, whereas the organized Christian church never fully recognized it.
Consider why Jesus didn’t organize the writing down of his teachings? Perhaps he saw no need to do so because he intended to continue to give us teachings in the form of the Living Word? Perhaps he did not want to write anything down, given what he had seen the scribes and the Pharisees do to the scriptures of the Old Testament? Perhaps Jesus wanted to avoid this battle over the interpretation of scripture by establishing an ongoing tradition of giving us new teachings through the Living Word? When you have the Living Word of God, you have no need to interpret the scriptures of the past.
We might also consider the statement that as we are faithful over a few things, God will make us ruler over many. Perhaps Jesus intended that as humankind applied his teachings and attained a higher degree of understanding and a higher level of consciousness, he would give people more advanced spiritual teachings through the Living Word? Perhaps he intended to publicly release the advanced teachings that he could give only to his disciples during his lifetime?
The question for all Christians now becomes whether we want to hear the Living Word. In other words, if Jesus has a message for today’s spiritual people, do you want to hear it? Or are you satisfied with a set of 2,000 year old scriptures and the numerous interpretations of those scriptures?
Do you want to know the real Jesus and his true teachings, or are you satisfied with an image of Jesus, and idol, that has been built over these 2,000 years?
Copyright © 2009 by Kim Michaels