Why are people so determined

[Elijah John]

Why are so many people so determined to worship Jesus? It is not a Biblical imperative. "Worship Jesus" is not a Commandment. And there is plenty of Biblical evidence that Jesus is not God. (Just talk to any Jehovah's Witness, most seem adept at supporting their beliefs with Scripture)

So why is it that so many people are so determined to worship Jesus? Even in light of evidence (Biblical and otherwise) that Jesus is not God.

Childhood or cultural conditioning? Indoctrination? Or hero worship taken to the extreme?

Is the prevelance of Jesus-worship evidence of a very human tendency to worship our heroes?

[myth-one.com]

[Replying to myth-one.com]

You said they both existed for 33 years. Do you believe that Jesus and the Word cease to exist after his 33years on earth?

Jesus as a man ceased to exist as there was no longer any purpose for his physical existence. He was made flesh for the purpose of living a sinless life and dying.

Following His sinless life and death, his mission was accomplished and there was no longer any cause for the man Jesus to exist.

The Word is an immortal spiritual body which can never die. He will exist for ever.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 76 by myth-one.com]

I think saying Jesus and The Word are "different types of beings" is needlessly confusing as it gives the impression we are talking about two different individuals. Jesus as The Word was a spirit (ie existed in a spiritual body). God miraculously enabled that same person to be born as a human to live on earth in a physical body. Just as a person that dies and is resurrected in a spiritual body is the same person, so Jesus when he died was resurrected as the same person ( with the same memories, personality, knowledge, experience, likes and dislikes ect) just in a different body, a spiritual one. In short The Word and Jesus are the same person.


JEHOVAHS WITNESS



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[JehovahsWitness]

it is also true that Jesus the Christ is true God

Jesus is never idetified in scripture as "the True God", are you sure you have the correct interpretation?

[Elijah John]

it is also true that Jesus the Christ is true God

Jesus is never idetified in scripture as "the True God", are you sure you have the correct interpretation?

"True God and true man". That is the teaching of the RCC and other Churches. Not clearly stated in the Bible if at all. Correct interpretation? That's debatable, but it is an interpretation, whether by the Church or by the individual.

[marco]

[Replying to post 73 by myth-one.com]

It is correct to say that Jesus the Christ is true man, but it is also true that Jesus the Christ is true God, the Son of God the Father. See post 55.

On the question of "true man" we can ask whether parthenogenesis allows him to be so designated. If we forget the miraculous birth, he otherwise seems to be a man with a man's flaws and failings.


But God? He consistently directs that title away from himself. To read God into Jesus we would have to ignore Christ's own words. We could take Thomas as somehow recognising the truth when Thomas is given as an example of not actually knowing the truth; his exclamation can be taken in various ways without ascribing divinity to Christ. The passage from John is at best ambiguous and offers no certainty. When it comes to it are we to take John over Jesus in what we believe? Perhaps not.

[Jack]

[Replying to marco]

I guess you could if you don't believe the scripture to be infallible, or inspired by God.

[Elijah John]

[Replying to post 73 by myth-one.com]

It is correct to say that Jesus the Christ is true man, but it is also true that Jesus the Christ is true God, the Son of God the Father. See post 55.

On the question of "true man" we can ask whether parthenogenesis allows him to be so designated. If we forget the miraculous birth, he otherwise seems to be a man with a man's flaws and failings.


But God? He consistently directs that title away from himself. To read God into Jesus we would have to ignore Christ's own words. We could take Thomas as somehow recognising the truth when Thomas is given as an example of not actually knowing the truth; his exclamation can be taken in various ways without ascribing divinity to Christ. The passage from John is at best ambiguous and offers no certainty. When it comes to it are we to take John over Jesus in what we believe? Perhaps not.

No certainty found in the Bible, only ambiguity. There is more evidence in the Good Book that Jesus is not God.

It took the Church 300 plus years to declare it's certainty, People underestimate just how much influence that Church declaration has had over their own Bible study. In one way or another, the overwhelming majority of pastors follow suit in passing along that decree, in one way or another.

And regarding the Divine nature of Jesus birth, yes, how can he be "true man" when he could have always called on his Divine half to resist temptation. Seems he had (or has) an advantage the rest of us don't possess.

Easier to be perfect, presumably, when one is the "only begotten Son of God".

[Elijah John]

[Replying to marco]

I guess you could if you don't believe the scripture to be infallible, or inspired by God.

Isn't it possible that Scripture is fallible, but still inspired? Remember, the Bible did not drop from Heaven, dictated by the Creator. It was inspired and compiled over centuries. And that inspiration, can (and I believe is) perfect, but the human receptors were flawed. Human bias and imperfection in the writing, taints the pure and perfect Word of God.

[myth-one.com]

[Replying to post 76 by myth-one.com]

I think saying Jesus and The Word are "different types of beings" is needlessly confusing as it gives the impression we are talking about two different individuals. Jesus as The Word was a spirit (ie existed in a spiritual body). God miraculously enabled that same person to be born as a human to live on earth in a physical body. Just as a person that dies and is resurrected in a spiritual body is the same person, so Jesus when he died was resurrected as the same person ( with the same memories, personality, knowledge, experience, likes and dislikes ect) just in a different body, a spiritual one. In short The Word and Jesus are the same person.

The Word is an immortal spirit which cannot die.

Jesus is the Word made flesh for the purpose of dying.

But if Jesus and the Word are the same person, then the immortal part of Jesus cannot die, and the "plan of salvation" has failed.

==========================================================================

There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (I Corinthians 15:44)

There are two body types, and they do not mix:

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

[marco]

[Replying to marco]

I guess you could if you don't believe the scripture to be infallible, or inspired by God.

The only way you can deduce Jesus is God is by a roundabout process, inventing an unbiblical Trinity in the process. All that Jesus is reported to have said directs us NOT to him as deity, but to the Father. One can believe in Scripture and its inspiration but NOT believe Jesus is God.

One mustn't claim one's private convictions are infallible. The writers may have been infallibly inspired; not the readers.