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History books casually describe a period in man's history as the "Dark Ages". But how many people living at that time knew they were living in the "Dark Ages"?
And how many people are aware that we are living in yet another and darker age?
An abundance of publications and the technology to produce them by the millions has given man the false impression that he is "enlightened".
Primitive cultures have always treasured superstitions and myths which have no basis in actual fact. Although true religion and true science should merge in a common quest for truth, Twentieth Century Western religion and science have collaborated in leading mankind to the brink of disaster through their mutual dishonesty and hypocrisy.
Simple truth has been replaced with a mess of myths!
All myths contain at least a dash or two of truth. Because few people are totally dishonest, a bit of truth helps to ease consciences with regard to the fantasies that are woven into myths.
People choose to be deceived. When they find truth too uncomfortable or too expensive, they begin shopping for cheaper imitations to take the place of what they have rejected.
After the choice has been made, myths can become progressively more absurd, and people will continue to accept them rather than return to what they first rejected.
A sensational illustration occurred in Jonestown, Guyana, a few years ago. Almost 1,000 people drank Kool_aid mixed with cyanide in a mass suicide pact.
The world was quick to place the blame on their leader, the Rev. JIm Jones. A host of unsatisfactory explanations were put forward as to how he succeeded in deceiving these people.
The truth was that his followers had plenty of opportunities to opt for the truth rather for Jones' demented obsessions ... but Jones made it so much easier to escape personal responsibiltiy by letting him become their conscience.
Comitting suicide by drinking cyanide is not very comfortable; but, by that stage, the groups mythology had reached a very advanced stage, and even death was easier than retracing their steps back to reality.
The greater tragedy is that Jonestown may only be a step or two ahead of the rest of the planet earth.
While the populations of Russia and America are not lining up to take cyanide tablets, they are lining up to vote for leaders who talk seriously of participating in an all-out nuclear war.
No, the Dark Ages (and Jonestown) are not finished chapters in man's history!
OUR AIM
We wish to dispel some of the myths that are a part of Western religion. We are not saying that Jesus Christ was a myth. All the available evidence suggests otherwise.
But we are saying that a Christian mythology has evolved years which has almost no foundation in the teachings of Jesus Christ.
If you are a "Christian", you may feel threatened by what we are about to say. Some of your most treasured beliefs will be examined in the light of the teachings of Christ, and they will be exposed as hoaxes.
But you need not feel threatened. You have two honest alternatives:
In either case you will have helped us to achieve our aim, i.e. to clear up some of the confusion about what Christ stands for.
At a time when he was about to be executed as a criminal, with even his closest friends either denying him or running for cover, Jesus Christ said that there would come a time when many people would claim to be representing him in order to gain acceptance and popularity! Although it sounded like the ravings of an egomaniac at the time, his prediction has certainly come true today.
Claiming to be a Christian is essential to win a U.S. presidential election, helpful if selling books or records, and a definate advantage when applying for work or seeking leniency in a courtroom. "Christian" has come to mean "decent, respectable, good".
But such a definition hardly applies to many of the teachings and actions of the historical Jesus. If the facts were known, probably most of the people who have labelled themselves "Christians" would be absolutely disgusted with the real Christ.
The religious world disposed of Christ because his teachings posed a threat to them.
And they continue to pose a threat today ... but only if they can be dug from under the tangle of myths that have been used to hide them for centuries.
Although the term "Christian" only appears three times in the Bible, a passage in Acts 11:26 says that the word was used to describe "disciples" or students of Christ. You would be lucky to find one so-called "Christian" in a hundred today who has studued the teachings of Christ sufficiently to tell you even a dozen things he has commanded his followers to do.
If you have been a "Christian" for more than a week and do not know at least ten of Christ's commands, it would be wise to see whose teachings you have been studying and to alter your name accordingly.
This myth overlaps with the "Christian" myth. It starts with the assumption that any mention of "Jesus" is referring to the historical Jesus of biblical records.
But one need only take a trip to Mexico, where it seems that every second male child is named Jesus (pronounced Hay-Zeus), to discover that there are a lot of Jesuses running around who bear no resemblance ot the Jesus of the Bible.
Admittedly, there are references which promise spiritual power if people believe in Christ's name, or if they ask for things in his name. (e.g. John 1:12 and John 15:16)
But Christ is clear that he is not looking for nominal loyalty. He says, "Not everyone who calls me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom og heaven, but he that does the will of my father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophecised in your name? and in your name done many wonderful works?' And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you. Depart from me , you that work iniquity!"
When my wife married me, she took my name. If, however, she should leave me and live with someone else, and then ask my father for assistance "in my name", my father would say that she had "taken my name in vain", which would make him doubly angry.
Some evangelicals teach that you need only say the name "Jesus" and it will scare away demons and heretics. But there is no more magic in the name than there is in a Catholic crucifix or "holy water" to ward off evil.
Such superstitions are totally un-Christian myths. In fact, the devil himself is quoted as confessing that Jesus is "the Holy One of God." (see Luke 4:34)
What does scare him (and those phoney church leaders) is anyone who is obedient to Christ.
So when you hear religious people praying to or praising "Jesus", they could just as easily be praying to or praising Satan. The name of their god is not so important as his teachings. (John 8:37-47)
Possibly because of embarrassment by the contradictions of nominal Christians, a fairly recent movement of new, "improved" Christians has arisen...the "born again" believers. For these people, it is not good enough to say you are a Christian. Anyone can do that. To be accepted by a born againer one must say he is "born again".
(It never crosses their minds that people can just as easily lie about being born again as they can lie about being Christian!)
Justification for the myth comes from a statement Jesus made to a religious leader: "Unless a person is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven." However, explanations for what "born again" means range from mere statements of faith to dramatic behavioural changes. (See the Holiness Myth)
Generally, however, a "born again" mythologist believes that he is a Christian because he said a little prayer, asking "Jesus" to come into his "heart", and stating that he was sorry for his sins. This ritual is often referred to as accepting Christ as your personal Saviour or saying the sinner's prayer.
The fact that there is no support for such a myth anywhere in the teachings of Christ does not daunt the born againers however. As with so many primitive religions, people have religious experience while performing the ritual and credit the ritual itself with powers that it doesn't actually have.
To understand what it really means to be born again one must study the rest of what Christ taught. He said we must become like little children, in utter dependence upon our heavenly Father for all our material necessities. When someone asked Christ what he needed to do to have eternal life, he instructed the man: "Go, sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and come and follow me." (Luke 18:22) On another occasion, he told a group of people, "Anyone who doesn't give up everything that he owns cannot become a Christian." (Luke 14:33)
This gives us a clearer picture of what Christ meant by being "born again". There is no hint of a "sinner's prayer", or asking a name into one's heart to be born again.
Of all the myths included in this series, the grace myth is probably the closest to the truth. It is not easy to spot the errors in it, and perhaps because of this it has had a very wide spread acceptance.
The grace teaching (since this much of it is not mythological) is that nobody is perfect, and therefore, acceptance by God could never depend on our goodness, but rather on God's grace and forgiveness. The death of Christ on the cross has somehow made that grace available to all mankind.
The myth aspect of the teaching take two forms. The first has been touched on in comments on the born again myth: People teach some kind of religious act (saying a prayer, attending mass, etc.) as a necessary requirement to receive God's grace.
Someone has rightly said that all it takes to preach the grace of God and the cross of Christ is to tell everyone in the world that they are already forgiven through Christ...whether they like it or not. Anyone who believes you is forgiven. Believing is an incredibly simple act and does not require any religious ritual to make it genuine. (In fact, the religious trappings usually result because the faith is hollow and counterfeit!)
The second perversion of the grace teaching is the myth that it is wrong to teach or to seek to obey the teachings of Christ because this would be an attempt to "work your way to heaven".
Lets get it clear from the start: The traditional passages of Scripture in support of the grace teaching do not come from the teachings of Christ, but from the writings of the apostle Paul. And yet Paul himself warns against twisting what he has said to excuse ourselves from Christs disciplines. (Galatians 5:13 and 1:8) And St. Peter said that ignorant people twist what Paul taught about God's grace to excuse their lack of diligence to be found obeying Christ when he returns. (2 Peter 3:14-17)
If we are to honestly preach the message of God's grace in Christ, we must let people know that they do not need to go to church, say prayers, stop smoking and drinking, etc. to be forgiven by God; but we should also be aware that if they really believe that Christ has made all of this possible, then they will assume that the commands of Christ are also part of God's good news and they will seek to obey them as well...remembering all the time that, if they do not obey them perfectly, God still loves and forgives. Can you see how this is significantly different from ignoring Christs commands, or in some other way excusing ourselves from taking them seriously?
Some people who have seen the fallacy of teaching people that they have no need to obey God, have tied to emphasise the need for a change in behaviour on the part of those who have accepted God's grace in Christ.
The mistake is that their change in behaviour take the form of health and social taboos that rarely ever have anything to do with the teachings of Christ.
Some of the disciplines looked for in believers of Christ are: no smoking; no drinking; no use of culturally offensive language; no casual mention of sex; no going to movies or dances; alterations to dress styles; etc. All of this is called "holiness". But it has little if any connection with the holiness that Christ taught.
Besides, true holiness should not have to be legislated in a book of rules. We cannot make ourselves holy. What we can do is to respond to Christ's love by following and obeying him. Holiness will grow from this.
The word "holy" means "set apart". Early Christians were certainly set apart from the rest of their society, but it wasn't based on the issues stressed by the holiness people.
Throughout the Old Testament people had been taught that the way to make one day a week holy was to stop working for money and give one's full attention to the things of God. Christ simply taught that his followers could exceed the Jewish concepts of righteousness by setting their whole lives apart for service to God. He taught: "Do not think about what you will eat or what you will wear (for all the nations of the world seek these things), but seek God's kingdom." (Mat. 6:25-34)
Matthew the tax collector did not have to change his language, clothing, or eating habits to convince people that he was "holy". All he did was quit his job and follow Jesus. (Luke 5:27-28)
The holiness myth is a poor substitute for scriptural holiness!
Weekly meetings of most denominations are referred to as prayer meetings, praise meetings, and/or worship services. Praise is regarded as an essential (if not predominant) element in the Christian community.
Unfortunately, we discover once again that Christ had almost nothing to say on the subject. His criticisms of people who say to him, "Lord! Lord!" appear to treat praise with a bit of scepticism. (See also the Jesus myth.)
Human experience has shown that people who say the nicest things about us in public are often the most damning behind our backs. Continual and forced flattery is a very poor cover-up for genuine communication.
Anyone who needs (or even desires) an audience when he is praising God must have a very shallow private relationship with him.
I do not need to flaunt my relationship with my wife to prove my love for her, or to prove I am not ashamed of her. In fact, if I did, most people would regard it as a sick perversion of a very private matter.
Christ taught, "Do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, that they may be seen of men. But, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father in secret." (Mat. 6:5-6) Where is this being taught and practiced today?
Genuine praise and worship are not public acts but continual attitudes. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) And obedience is the highest form of praise.
In recent years literally millions of people have become wildly enthusiastic about a religious experience they call "the baptism with the holy spirit". Because experiences (see also the born again myth) are so hard to identify and categorise, it has become general practice to associate and even equate Holy Spirit baptism with the phenomena of speaking in tongues (To speak in tongues, just concentrate on an idea or feeling you wish to communicate. Make sounds with your mouth, but don't try to form meaningful words. This is helpful in all types of communication, but especially in prayer. The spirit of what we are saying is often more important than the words used.)
Saying that tongues is always a gift from God is like saying that all worship (regardless of who is being worshipped) is good. The experience can be used for good or evil.
Tongues-worshippers have had to come up with numerous explanations for the wide divergence of beliefs amongst people who share the same experience: from Catholic Pentecostals who prophesy in the name of Mary, to Children of God who practice religious prostitution; from the Jonestown suicide cult, to sects that worship the devil.
One minister in a sect that teaches that one must speak in tongues to be a Christian, said, upon learning that some satanists speak in tongues, "Well, they must have God's Spirit, but they're just using it incorrectly." How blind can people be!
Of course they don't have God's Spirit! And the same could be said for most of the more orthodox tongues-talkers as well.
Most tongues-talkers worship their bellies or emotions (Philippians 3:19). It's a good feeling to find speech fluency by this exercise. But it should not numb our brains to the need for rationality as well. (1 Corinthians 14:14-20) The phenomena is totally irrelevant in gauging one's real relationship with God.
Christ made only one six-word reference to the phenomena, and nowhere else in the entire Bible is there anything that says a person must speak in tongues to be filled with the Holy Spirit; nor does it say that a person who speaks in tongues necessarily possesses God's Spirit. On the contrary, Paul says, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1) In other words, without God's Spirit of love, tongues is just a lot of noise!
When backed into a corner, almost every denomination will tell you that there is no Christian basis for calling the building where they conduct their meetings a church. No one wants to take the blame for starting this ridiculous myth, but almost everyone seems prepared to perpetuate it.
When they're not calling building churches, they are calling religious clubs churches. "What church do you belong to?" is one of the first exchanges when religious people meet. Some very progressive church-goers have a concept of all the buildings and all the denominations combined being the "church". But they are wrong.
When factions started in Bible times, St. Paul wrote, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised in the name of Paul?" (1 Corinthians 1:12-13) As long as people are identified by denominational loyalties, they are not Christians. A Christian has but only one loyalty and that is to Christ.
Christ did not come to start a religion. He came to announce that God is capable of reading the thoughts and intentions of every heart and can judge each person according to their own honesty and sincerity.
When a woman argued with Christ about which synagogue was the right one to attend, Jesus said, "The hour comes when you shall neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem worship the Father in spirit or in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit..." (John 4:21-24)
Religious people too often put their faith in what they can see. They like to be able to package things up into neat little boxes. It is easier to accept or reject people on the basis of a denominational title than it is to honestly listen to them as individuals.
To Nicodemus, Jesus said, "The wind blows where it likes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8) P> And to the religious leaders Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not come through observation; neither shall they say, Come here! or Go there! for the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)
Jesus also preached that, unless we become like little children and start all over again with non-religious concepts of spiritual matters we won't be able to see his kingdom, or church, at all. (John 3:3)
Speaking of the period just before he returns to earth, he said that there would be many religious leaders claiming to have God's anointing (Mat. 24:4-5), and they would teach that the way to find Christ is to come to where they meet. (Mat. 24:23-26) His instructions are: "Don't follow them."
No issue in Christian history seems to have caused more problems in proportion to its size than the issue of water baptism.
As mentioned in the church myth, St. Paul had discovered by the time he wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth that baptism, and particularly who performed the baptism, was becoming an excuse for divisions.
Paul exclaims in exasperation, "I thank God that I baptised none of you...For Christ sent me not to baptise, but to preach ..." (1 Corinthians 1:14-17)
But how does this line up with Christ's great commission in Matthew 28:19-20? "Go teach all nations, baptising them, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."
The problem comes from confusing John the Baptist with Jesus. John taught, "I baptise with water, but he (Christ) shall baptise with the Holy Ghost." (Luke 3:16) Are we disciples of Christ or disciples of John?
Water baptism was a Jewish symbol of commitment to God, and, as a Jew, Christ fulfilled the symbol by being baptised in water by John. (Mat. 3:13-15)
Jesus later taught, "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time, the kingdom of God is preached." (Luke 16:16) So, John's baptism has nothing to do with Christianity. (See also Luke 7:28)
Although Christ tolerated water baptisms on the part of his disciples, he refused to perform them himself. (John 4:2)
Paul taught that there is only on Christian baptism (Ephesians 4:2), but after the early Christians were baptised (or "covered") with God's Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they still tried to make Jews out of Gentile Christians. Non-Jews (e.g. the Ethiopian eunuch and Roman centurion) were expected to be circumcised, water baptised, and to follow Jewish health rules. Later, however, the requirements were shortened to two simple rules: avoid fornication and idolatry.
So how does a Christian baptise someone with the Holy Spirit? Look again at the great commission quoted above: Teach them what Christ taught us. Jesus said, "The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life." (John 6:63) WE baptise (or "cover") people with Christ's teachings; THEY accept what they hear; and GOD gives them his Spirit.
But this is all too simple for the baptism mythologists!
Religionists see everything in black and whites, especially when it comes to one's eternal destiny. Either one is "saved" or one is eternally "lost". This is why so many simplistic formulas (e.g. sinners' prayers, various baptisms, speaking in tongues, joining the right church, etc.) have been created to determine who is saved and who is lost.
The heaven myth teaches that something can be done in an instant of time which will assure a person of a ticket to heaven after they die. To prove their faith in the myth, people are encouraged by their various religious leaders to proclaim loudly and longly that they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are "saved".
This arrogant attitude in itself is proof of a lack of real confidence on the part of these people, and it is what puts most people off conversations with religionists. A self-righteous, know-it-all attitude rarely attracts honest, intelligent listeners.
Jesus Christ spoke of eternal life, but he never spoke of "going to heaven when you die." He taught much about going to the kingdom of (or from) heaven, which is here on earth right now in the form of the truths that Christ taught, and the people who accept and practice them.
This kingdom is only a revolutionary force now, but when Christ returns, he promises to establish visible rule over the whole earth.
So "heaven" is not where we go, but rather where the kingdom (and its king) come from (John 3:13-21)
Believing in Christ cannot be completed in a moment of time (as though one could dispense with that chore and then get back to what really interests him). It is an on-going relationship which may either deepen or dissolve as we get to know more about him and his teachings. (John 8:30-31)
Salvation (or being saved) begins right now, as the truths of Christ save us from the lies, fears, greed, and hatred of this present evil world. The more one gets away from the teachings of Christ, the more lost he becomes in the mess of myths and confusion that exist in a godless world and in man's counterfeit religions.
The Bible myth is that the Bible is the complete and infallible "Word of God". It teaches that every word of the Bible carries equal authority, and that nothing done or said since its 66 books were completed can properly be termed "inspired".
When we challenge this myth, we are, in fact, showing more faith in the Bible than those who teach the myth.
The Bible itself says only that Jesus Christ is the Word (or perfect revelation) of God. (John 1:14 and Revelation 19:13-16) And the Bible itself proclaims its lack of inspiration in some passages. (e.g. 1 Corinthians 7:12, and 25) The Bible also instructs Christians: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God," making it clear that followers of Christ can be just as inspired today as they ever were.
Certainly the Bible is the best record we have of the teachings of Christ, as well as the writings of many great men of God. But the real purpose behind the Bible myth is to convince people that knowing God's will is a very difficult task, requiring years of training in the Greek and Hebrew languages, an intimate knowledge of Jewish holy days and ceremonial laws, expertise in church history, and familiarity with Greek, Roman, and Jewish customs at the time of Christ.
In actual fact, a little bit of honesty will put you miles ahead of most theologians, who seem to be more interested in scoring points for their denominational viewpoints than in finding the truth.
The proof text for the Bible myth is Paul's statement that all Scriptures (holy writings) are inspired by God and are helpful to followers of God. (2 Timothy 3:16)
However, when Paul reminded Timothy a few moments later to bring the cloak and parchments he left at Troas (2 Timothy 4:13) it was clear that he did not see this as a "holy writing" inspired by God with eternal significance to men of God everywhere!
Many holy writings are, indeed, found in the Bible; and prophetic books such as The Revelation must be treated with special care (see Revelation 22:18-19), since true prophets do not write opinions, but relay messages just as they receive them from God. (See 2 Peter 1:20-21) Often these messages are not clear until they actually come to pass, and altering them to fit an imperfect interpretation can be quite dangerous.
But to be inspired and to be profitable are not the same as to be infallible. Nor do all passages rate equally with regard to their profitability. For example, we no longer stone adulterers, or practice polygamy; so why should we place the rest of the Jewish Old Testament on a par with the teachings of Christ? And why rate an apostle's writings equal to Christ's teachings?
A particularly tempting myth is the one that teaches it is never God's will for anyone to be sick. According to this myth, one need only believe hard enough and all sicknesses will disappear. Of course, if they do not disappear, then it is proof of some spiritual weakness on the part of the sick individual.
This myth has led to all sorts of dishonest trickery. (According to 2 Thessalonians 2, it is called "lying signs and wonders".) People try to convince themselves and others that they have succeeded in bringing about a miracle through there own faith.
Certainly any God who can create the universe and all that is in it would have no problem healing any sickness. But believing that God is able to perform miracles is not enough for the healing mythologists. They insist that you "claim" your healing as a God- given right this very moment. (As though God could be bluffed into following your orders!)
Jesus obviously did miracles, and he even promised that his followers would do greater things than he did. (About the only thing greater than raising the dead is giving eternal life to someone, something Christ's disciples could only do AFTER his resurrection and ascension.) What people seem to miss is that Jesus taught almost nothing at all about healing. You don't teach healing; you just do it. And Christ did it. We might point out that he also told people not to say anything about it when he did. (eg. Matthew 9:30) However, the healing myth is mostly talk and sensationalism and very little quiet action.
What Christ did teach about healing and other miracles was that they are not for everyone (Luke 4:23-29), and that it is only evil, selfish people who put their faith in them. (Matthew 16:4 and John 2:23-25)
The favourite proof text for the healing myth comes from an Old Testament prophecy about Christ: "He was bruised for our iniquities...and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) But one might just as well say that Proverbs 12:18 teaches that a wise man can heal sickness by licking your body! Health and healing mean much more than physical fitness (eg. Proverbs 13:12)
The apostle Paul taught that our physical bodies have not yet been redeemed, and that God's Spirit has come to comfort us in our sicknesses. (Romans 8:22-26)
One can ask for healing; but no one can claim or demand it, as taught in the healing myth. Real faith is like that of Job: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." (Job 13:15) Job was not trusting that God would heal him. Real faith is not in healing, but in God. Job trusted that whatever God allowed to happen would be best for him. That's real faith!
One of the most fervently espoused and financially profitable myths in religion today is the prosperity myth. Basically, it teaches that Christ came to bring economic prosperity to his followers. 
It is a cross between the New Guinea "cargo" cults (which look for God to drop wealth from aeroplanes in the sky) and the Hindu caste system (which teaches that it is the will of God for poor people to be poor). The prosperity teaching claims non-Christian nations are poor because they are non-Christian, and Western powers are rich because they are Christian. The role that multi-national corporations play in stripping the poorer countries of their resources is either ignored or is identified as an expression of God's will.
Within a capitalistic economy, the prosperity myth says that religious zeal on the part of the individuals will be rewarded with economic success. A good Christian will work hard for his employer, thus winning promotions over non-Christians, and it will inspire employers to hire Christians because they are the most eager to make money.
A few obscure Bible passages are quoted in support of this myth. In John's third epistle he writes: "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." The assumption is that prosperity must mean an abundance of material possessions.
However, the Oxford Concise Dictionary makes no reference to material wealth in its definition of the word prosper. It gives only two words as a definition: succeed; thrive. Tradition, however, has told us that success has something to do with things that money can buy. And the prosperity myth draws heavily on that tradition.
If there is any serious doubt as to whether John was talking about wealth, one need only compare his letter with other New Testament records.
St. James says, "Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him? Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called? Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. You have heaped treasure together for the last days." (James 2:5-7 and 5:1-3)
St. Paul warns against men who teach that wealth is a sign of God's blessing, saying, "anyone who wants to be rich falls into a trap that drowns men in destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Timothy 6:5-10)
And Christ taught, "Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of God is theirs...But woe unto you that are rich, for you have received your consolation!" (Luke 6:20-25)
If a personal enemy of Christ had unlimited power to discredit him, he could not do better than to create a religion that opposed and contradicted everything that Christ taught, and then claim that Christ founded it. And that is precisely what has happened.
Jesus said that the religious builders have been trying to put their building together without the most important piece: the cornerstone. (Mat. 13:24-30; and Luke 20:17-18)
It isn't that they haven't tried to find a cornerstone, or criteria by which to assess truth and error. It's just that they have tried everything except the teachings of Christ.
At the conclusion of his sermon on the mount, Christ said, "Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house on a rock. And everyone that hears these sayings of mine and does not obey them shall be likened unto a foolish man who built his house upon the sand." (Mat. 7:24-27)
Many of the teachings of Christ have been referred to in this booklet, but in case the positive side of what he taught has been lost in criticisms of the myths, we will state at least some of it here.
Jesus said that the whole world lives in fear of starving to death, little realising that the Creator of the universe has the ability to see that everyone has everything he needs. (Matthew. 6:30-33)
He says that if we will stop working for food (John 6:27) and spend our time spreading this message of God's providential care all over the world (Mark 16:15), he will take care of our needs.
That is what we are doing, and we have found that, by starting here, our "building" has fitted together, the Bible has made sense, and God has amply provided for our needs.
Sound interesting? Why not contact us if you are interested in more information, or if you'd like to work with us. (John 4:35; and Luke 10:2)
Acts 11:26: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
John 1:12:But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name
John 15:16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Luke 4:34:: Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
John 8:37-47: I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46 ¶; Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Luke 18:22: Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Galatians 1:8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
2 Peter 3:14-17: Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Matthew 6:25-34: Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Luke 5:27-28: And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
Matthew 6:5-6: And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Phillipians 3:19: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.
1 Corinthians 14:14-20: For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
1 Corinthians 13:1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Corinthians1:12-13: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?<P> John 4:21-24: Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.<P> John 3:8: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 17:20-21: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Matthew 24:4-5: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:23-26: Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
1 Corinthians 1:14-17:I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Matthew 28:19-20: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Luke 3:16: John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Matthew 3:13-15: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
John 4:2: (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Ephesians 4:2: With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.
John 6:63: It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
John 3:13-21: And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 8:30-31: As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.
John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Revelation 19:13-16: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
1 Corinthians 7:12: But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
verse 25: Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:13: The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
Revelation 22:18-19: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
2 Peter 1:20-21: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Thessalonians 2:9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and
Matthew 9:30: And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Luke 4:23-25: And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land.
Matthew 16:4: A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
John 2:23-25: Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
Isaiah 53:5: But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Proverbs 13:12: Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Romans 8:22-26: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 ¶; Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Job 13:15: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
1 Timothy 6:5-10: Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 ¶; But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Luke 6:20-25: And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Luke 20:17-18 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Matthew 7:24-27 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Matthew 6:30-33 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.