I have a friend who has been investigating the restored gospel for the last 4 years and then in earnest within the last six months. She is fully on board with everything she's learned so far, but she has a very hard time with understanding why Jesus Christ is so important. Why is He needed at all? I know that seems like such a WILD contradiction. "Christianity speaks to me...except the Jesus part" What?!? But understand, that the fruits of the Spirit are sweet. And we all have the light of Christ within us to lead us home. It only makes sense that we would be drawn to the doctrine, even without a full understanding of each principle.
Jesus is pivotal in the Plan of Salvation. I've been through the reasons with her in so many ways I can't even keep track. My friend thinks He is only necessary for people who have a guilt problem. But for those, such as herself that can let's the past go (i.e. who can learn and move on), don't need a Savior. "Bible Jesus is limited to small cross section of humanity. He lived thousands of years ago and all of the stories are from a small strip of land on the other side of the world. He is not relevant to me"
Several weeks ago I had a dream that I was at a Education Week style conference. There was a class called, "Identities of Jesus Christ throughout the world".
The synopsis was that Jesus personally visited the other sheep of his fold (John 10:16). The teacher was going to go into detail all of the different names that Christ goes by in the different parts of the world and how he was and is still worshiped by cultures everywhere.
I was SOOOO excited to attend, but I woke up before I could cross the threshold into the lecture hall and hear anything. My disappointment upon awaking was bizarre considering that I knew it had all been a dream.
While still in bed, fresh from waking up, I grabbed my phone and did a Google search using the name of the class from my dream. My first hit was a brief article identifying different religious and mythical figures and listed some of the parallels to Jesus Christ. It blew me completely out of the water.
I've continued to research all of the main religions, many minor ones, several extinct ones and found Jesus Christ in EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Not only that but the otherwise non-typical themes/symbols cross over between religions that you never would have thought would have had such a DUH connection. Adam and Eve were also very prevalent and to a very minor degree so is Noah. Ironically Noah is the one people often grab onto being able to recognize the familiarity. But Christianity in general is unfortunately closed minded, full of judgement, hard hearted and steeped in so much false doctrine that they are blinded to truths that are right in front of them. If reading that makes you angry, check yourself.
What's worse than the holier-than-thou Christians is that because so much atrocity has been done in the name of God, that non-believers blame Heavenly Father or His son despite their condemnation the reign of blood and horror on this earth. There is one who thinks he is the god of this world, and he is bent on our destruction.
Many Christians believe that yes, there were other sheep, which was why Jesus gave his followers the commandment to preach the gospel to all the world. Now stop for just a second. How important is it for people to hear the gospel message? Which is: The prophesied Messiah has redeemed us from our sins. He was crucified and Lives Again! Which is: Have faith in Him, repent of your sins, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and follow Him into eternal life.
How big was the known world in 33AD? There were entire continents of people for over a thousand years that lived and died before modern Christian missionaries visited their part of the world. How many millions of God's children is that? And then Christians believe that those who haven't heard and accepted the gospel go to hell. Are you kidding me? Put yourself their moccasins. I'm going to hell for not accepting a message that I would never even have the opportunity to hear?!?! No wonder people hate the god of that doctrine.
Instead, Jesus Himself took the message to otherwise unreachable parts of His world. Who has more at stake in his flock? Who has more love for the sheep? The under shepherd or the Shepherd Himself?
Christians, can you seriously tell me that the man who overcame DEATH itself cannot then visit other parts of the world to preach His gospel? Traveling the world over vs. WALKING OUT OF THE GRAVE. Which is harder? C'mon.
To all of seekers of truth: I invite you to travel the world with me. Open your mind. Open your heart. Let me show you what I found!
Aimee
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