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Download: html Who Is Jesus? (Chapter 12)How can a conscientious person become a Christian, when the history of Christianity is so darkened by the sin, intolerance, wars, excesses and divisions of generations of its adherents?Millions of individuals through the ages have come to personally know and love Jesus, and have been empowered by Him to lead wonderful lives of love and service to their fellow man. But sad to say, generally speaking, Christianity as an institution has failed miserably in fulfilling the mission that Jesus gave His original Apostles and followers: To share God's Love with a needy World! Most so-called "Christian" organisations and denominations have become so preoccupied with their internal squabbles, selfish accumulation of wealth, construction of elaborate and wasteful church buildings etc. that they have, in effect, forgotten and lost sight of Jesus' original command to "love thy neighbour as thyself!" Our objective is not to persuade you to become a member of a religious organisation. — Jesus is not a religion! In fact, Jesus Himself never actually started any denominations or hierarchical organisations! He simply went about doing good, helping people and sharing the Love of God with all whom He could. He never had a synagogue, mosque, church or temple of any kind, nor did He have a congregation whom He met with on a certain "holy day" of the week. He never put up a sign or advertised, "Come to My church on Holy day! He only said, "Come unto Me! (Matthew 11:28) He absolutely refused to compromise with the powerful and corrupt religious system of His day, but rather worked totally outside of it, reaching and sharing His Love and Truth with the poor and common folk who had long ago abandoned and been abandoned by organised religion. Once, while speaking to a woman who was arguing with Him over whether God should be worshipped in a certain "holy" mountain in Samaria, or in the Jews' temple in Jerusalem, He answered her, "The day is coming, and now is, when you shall neither worship God here upon this mountain not yet at Jerusalem. For they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth. — For the Father seeks such to worship Him!" (John 4:21-23) Jesus made it clear that forms and ceremonies, rituals and religious buildings were in no way necessary to worship God, but that we could simply love and worship Him in spirit, in our hearts and in truth, by following the light of His Word. Who Is Jesus?, Copyright © 1998-2010, The Family International |