Christ Teachings

Timothy's role was not to add to Christ's teachings, but to guard them, live them, and teach them to others. Yet Timothy was not left to accomplish this task alone. The Holy Spirit would serve as the power to help guard Christ's teachings.

In a previous piece, I described Christianity as fear-based because it postures as a means of keeping Christians safe from hell. Fear is a companion to violence and, more frightening than threats of hell, is the early act by the Christian God wherein

During the early centuries, Christians relied on oral tradition to hand down Christ's teachings. The Bible itself gives credence to the importance of tradition when St. Paul says, “Stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us,

If your religion has the words "Jesus Christ" in its name, it's kind of a tip off that Christ's teachings are important to you. In contrast to the hate spewed by Jeffress, we found that the Mormons we met truly represent the Christian ideal of loving

The book, titled Way To Go, Living in a Broken World is a practical reevaluation of Christ's teachings for modern times. “Martin Luther King's sayings affected race relations in America and (Nelson) Mandela's sayings changed what was happening in South

As Mormons have a proud tradtion of being first to conscript into national service they put themselves at odds with Christ's teachings. Jesus taught his followers would be 'no part of the world' (John 15&17) & said that you would know his disciples by

Understand that any concepts that violate Christ's teachings are not rooted in the heart of God. For instance, in the early 1800's some used the Bible to validate that slavery was God-approved and they believe the Holy Spirit was telling them this.

“Everyone is coming together for the same goal – to better their lives through Christ's teachings. We are here to help them do that, and bridge the gap between youth and adulthood.” The group is scheduled to meet every Tuesday at 7 pm following the

In my opinion, society would be better off if more people would spend more time in prayer, either publicly or privately, and endeavor to follow Christ's teachings themselves and not worry so much about their neighbor. Quote:—-The point I believe is

However, I go beyond the traditional lines and I advocate a return to the simplicity of Christ's teachings, which are to basically love God and love each other. I believe that knowledge will help bring you closer to God, where faith alone may not be

"Congratulations!!! you graduated from 'Christian' to follower of Christ's teachings. The two are nowhere near the same these days!"–Liz the First "You so-called secular humanist 'Christians' are clearly self-proclaimed Christians in name only.

of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, received a bread-and-water sacrament memorializing the body and blood of Christ, and discussed Christ's teachings in Sunday school.

They understood the transformative nature of Christ's teachings and the dignity and truth which they expounded to human beings. This is not to say, of course, that the United States only has room for Christianity as a system of belief.

Read about it here: Those who would say Mormons are not Christian, usually are mis-informed because New Testament Christianity is closer to Jesus Christ's teachings than Fourth Century Creeds. Mormons have a better understanding of Christianity than

In several countries, the Vatican's loss has been the Christian churches' gain, so at least people still have room for Christ's teachings in their lives. But in some countries including the US, statistics reportedly show a growing number of people

Trunzo now focuses on unifying all churches, regardless of denomination, through prayer and living according to Christ's teachings not only in church, but in his everyday life. Question: Why did you choose to pastor in this area?

“Many religious leaders of all stripes have implored their flocks to remember Christ's teachings, love their brothers and sisters, and have pity on the poor when it comes to dealing with the illegal immigration issue. “Sorry, Jesus.

The Bible talks often about slavery — and for centuries was used to justify that diabolical trade — but no one can credibly argue today that slavery is in keeping with Christ's teachings. The Bible reflected the cultural norms of when it was written.

I was struck by the uncaring inhumane features in both op-eds in the May 12 Free Lance-Star. Professor Ritenour's "What would Jesus cut?" theorizes that the state/government has no business in seeing to the needs of those who are less fortunate.

So the statement “I believe” includes the acceptance of Christ's teachings and of the Catholic Church as the only authority to interpret these teachings. One day, when Jesus Christ was preaching, He said: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and

"The Church," he said, "is not interested in numbers in themselves. It is interested mainly in being a sign of the eternal teachings of Our Lord. "Numbers at the cost of losing its identity according to Christ's teachings is not what the Lord wishes

So the statement “I believe” includes the acceptance of Christ's teachings and of the Catholic Church as the only authority to interpret these teachings. One day, when Jesus Christ was preaching, He said: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and

In a veiled reference to the choice Catholics will have to make in the divorce referendum, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has warned that those who do not follow Christ's teachings should not receive the Eucharist. In a homily on Sunday at the St George's

In a veiled reference to the choice Catholics will have to make in the divorce referendum, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has warned that those who do not follow Christ's teachings should not receive the Eucharist. In a homily on Sunday at the St George's

Christians seek to follow Christ's teachings because they are timeless, right and true, not simply out of expedience or popularity. Finally, Christians trust in God's eternal justice to battle against evil in a world we have no ultimate control over.

In a veiled reference to the choice Catholics will have to make in the divorce referendum, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech has warned that those who do not follow Christ's teachings should not receive the Eucharist. In a homily on Sunday at the St George's

In an Easter message, the Prime Minister said Christ's teachings contained a universal message which "speaks to us all", no matter what faith people follow. "He led by example and for millions of us his teachings are just as relevant now as they were

Set aside Christ's teachings and many of us have nothing in common! We can't even worship God without looking to Jesus' doctrine to find out what kind of worship He desires (Matthew 15:7-9 John 4:23-24). The religious division that we see all around us

The religious left and, more frequently, irreligious opportunists transform Christ's teachings from the spiritual to the political/economic. They even interpret the gospel through the decidedly un-Christian lens of humanistic socialism.

In an Easter message, the Prime Minister said Christ's teachings contained a universal message which "speaks to us all", no matter what faith people follow. "He led by example and for millions of us his teachings are just as relevant now as they were

Set aside Christ's teachings and many of us have nothing in common! We can't even worship God without looking to Jesus' doctrine to find out what kind of worship He desires (Matthew 15:7-9 John 4:23-24). The religious division that we see all around us

Christians seek to follow Christ's teachings because they are timeless, right and true, not simply out of expedience or popularity. Finally, Christians trust in God's eternal justice to battle against evil in a world we have no ultimate control over.

In an Easter message, the Prime Minister said Christ's teachings contained a universal message which "speaks to us all", no matter what faith people follow. "He led by example and for millions of us his teachings are just as relevant now as they were

As a Christian, I see a Biblical basis for labeling this church an aberration of Christ's teachings and the New Testament Scriptures. WBC's main premise in its protests is that US soldiers die because of our nation's support of homosexual behavior.

Republians have no souls, that's why they are able to look you in the face and claim to be Christians at the very same time that they do exactly the opposite of Christ's teachings. by larryp0304 February 28, 2011 8:52 PM EST Zandi has no credibility.

This confirms to me that President Obama is a rare example of a principled Christian who pays more attention to Christ's teachings than to the ravings of evil lunatics like James Dobson. It does not confirm that he isn't a Christian.

I see nothing in Christ's teachings that supports homosexual relationships or gay marriage. Not to mention abortion, though it is legal it is certainly not fitting with Christian morality. There were teachings of self-reliance, caring for the children

I am grateful for a church that promotes Christ's teachings. While myself, a mormon, and single (37) and never have been married, I look forward to the day when I will finally meet my future companion and marry. But if not, I am prepared to stay single

I am grateful for a church that promotes Christ's teachings. While myself, a mormon, and single (37) and never have been married, I look forward to the day when I will finally meet my future companion and marry. But if not, I am prepared to stay single

This confirms to me that President Obama is a rare example of a principled Christian who pays more attention to Christ's teachings than to the ravings of evil lunatics like James Dobson. It does not confirm that he isn't a Christian.

It rejects Jesus Christ's teachings of “individual salvation.” Obama's “collective salvation” is not Christian. Obama's mantra of “redistribution of wealth” is a core tenet of socialism and communism that violates the 10th Commandment of the God of the

I am grateful for a church that promotes Christ's teachings. While myself, a mormon, and single (37) and never have been married, I look forward to the day when I will finally meet my future companion and marry. But if not, I am prepared to stay single

First Communion seems to be of utmost importance most especially to Catholic communities. People prepare really hard for the celebration of the First communion for kids. Some even require special attires to be worn during the event. But why is the First Communion really important?

The idea of the communion started when Jesus Christ celebrated his last supper with the disciples. This is the time that Jesus Christ spoke about his death. He even shared some bread and wine to his disciples and asked them to do this in remembrance of him. Even until now, people do this not only to remember his sacrificial love for people but to even unite with him in spirit.

The Holy Communion is one of the events that remind us of Jesus Christ’s teachings and allow us to learn a lot of things that are valuable in our Christian life.  That is also the reason why the First Communion was included in the seven sacraments of the Catholic faith.

The First Communion is considered as one of the holiest occasions in a Roman Catholic’s life. Most Catholic kids that are allowed to participate in the celebration are of ages seven or eight because it is considered as the age of reason. During this time, they can better understand the significance of this event and understand the reason behind the celebration with their young hearts and minds.

As this event is considered essential, we should also make it special for kids. Giving them first communion gifts will help them value and remember this event in their lives.

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What is the ‘Home Church’ movement?

The ‘Home Church’ movement began during the ministry of Jesus, and continued after his resurrection.

What did Jesus say? “On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.”

In this passage of scripture, Jesus was speaking with Peter. There are two key words in this passage.

The first is ‘rock’. Rock means the foundation that Jesus laid for us through his teachings and his ministry.

The next word to note is ‘church.’ The definition of the word ‘church’ means people and not an institution, dogmatic rules or a physical building.

The early followers of Jesus had no building or place to meet. They began meeting in their homes.

It was the desire of those who followed Jesus and wanted to carry on his teachings, to gather together in one place. All the believers devoted themselves to the Christ’s teachings, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

They prayed, broke bread together and carried the message of the ‘Good News’ to all who had ears to hear and an open heart. “My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.” (Ephesians 1:18)

Now you have an idea of how the home church movement began.

Are there benefits to being part of a home church or cell community? Yes.

Everyone is a Child of God, especially those brave enough to leave the traditional church, and all the trappings that come with it such as money, time, space, meeting member’s needs, etc.

In this day and age, people are nomadic. They do not attend the same church, nor are they part of the denomination of their parents.

Many are looking for a one-stop shopping experience where the church does everything except tie one’s shoes.

This is the cattle call movement of those who will leave their current church on a whim or personal resentment, and move on with their problems like they are thumbing through the racks at a store looking for the best deal.

Are there other benefits to the ‘Home Church’ movement? Yes. The stress level drops because the day-to-day problems of ‘doing’ church are not at the forefront of the group. The comfort of meeting in one’s home is not bound by any hierarchical dogma or institutional rules.

Followers of Christ can come together to pray and fellowship with one another in a quiet, intimate setting; many times moving from house to house.

Some groups meeting once a week and some groups meet once a month, individuals fill themselves up spiritually by being an active participant in Jesus’ on-going ministry. I, in no way, wish to put down organizations or groups that wish to meet in a public venue, or acquire their own space.

I’ve been through that experience and left it behind. The ‘Home Church’ movement is an alternative and growing movement for those who really want to experience Jesus.

There are different ways of ‘being’ church, may you find yours now!

“Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman.” (Galatians 3:28)

Reverend Patricia A. Zorn is the founder of Sacred Walk Home Ministries.
She has been creating uplifting spiritual materials since 1996.
Patricia uses her gift of the written word, taken from her own personal experiences, encouraging and inspiring others to develop a closer relationship with God through prayer.
Visit her website to get a free excerpt of her new book, “30 Messages of Hope, Inspirational Messages of Hope & Healing, Message #1; Prayer.
http://www.sacredwalkhome.com

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.”

This verse from Matthew (and Mark and Luke) on being “the salt of the earth” is often quoted and understood to refer to the expected qualities of those committed to Christ. Christians are expected to be the zest of the earth, to be intrinsically involved in the workings of the earth, helping others to find the love of Christ and become members of his family.

I have no trouble with the fact that Christians should be living lives that reflect and project the loving Light of Christ’s teachings. (See Matthew 5:14-16) What troubles me about the salt verse is the implied threat that goes counter to the God I have come to know as compassionate and merciful: if you lose your taste, you will be thrown out and trampled under foot.

Whenever I begin to feel my internal crap detectors ringing, I have to pause and reflect on why and what I am feeling. Perhaps it is just the prompting of the Holy Spirit pressing me on for further enlightenment and understanding.

Salt is an all-important mineral in the activities of people: it is used as a seasoning, preservative, and disinfectant. It was a trading commodity and used in burial preparations in some ancient societies. Our very bodies are made up of a lot of salt, as is the earth itself. So, it seems, salt is a very earthy thing, used to support many of the earthly activities of mankind’s society.

Looking specifically at the related verse in Matthew 5:13, I couldn’t help but feel that this verse about the salt of the earth was closely related to the two verses preceding it. First, verse 11: “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

Perhaps the “salt of the earth” verse was more a warning from Jesus about the world’s reaction to anyone who decides to follow Jesus’ ways. Perhaps he was describing the perspective of those people who are in control of the earth’s economic systems; perhaps it is about how they will view you as having no further worth to them and their system if you begin to follow a spiritual path. Salt is a thing of the earth and is tied into the systems of the earth. Once you seem to have no more value to those in power on the earth, or you threaten their systems and riches with new ideas, you will be thrown out and trampled under foot.

Is this the fear that is keeping us from adopting the principles of Christ as we shape our economic and social policies?

But then we have the promise of verse 12: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Reading these three verses in the order of 11, 13 and 12 may be an interesting exercise.

Anyway, this is probably an opening for further discussion on the matter. Undoubtedly, there is more to say about this, and I look forward to your thoughts and ideas.

Daniel Schroeder is the current Guardian of the Community of the Gospel, a dispersed Christian Community formed under the canons of the Episcopal Church. For further information, visit http://communityofthegospel.org/ Daniel is author of the book, Reclaiming Eden: Taming the Serpent Ego. He has an MBA in finance and spent 32 years in the financial services industry.

This question has passed through two distinct phases. According to the principal followers of the Tübingen School, Paul had but a vague knowledge of the life and teaching of the historical Christ and even Paul in his early days disdained such knowledge (teachings of Christ) as inferior and useless.

The second phase of the question is closely connected with the first. The same theologians, who maintain that Paul was indifferent to the earthly life and teaching of Christ, deliberately exaggerate his originality and influence. According to them Paul was the creator of theology, the founder of the Christianity and constructed the first Church, the preacher of asceticism, the defender of the sacraments and of the ecclesiastical system, the opponent of the true religion of Christ Jesus.

Paul, who was a younger contemporary of Jesus, originally known as Saul, was born in Tarsus, a city Cilicia (Turkey), a few year into Christian era. Although a Roman citizen, he was of Jewish birth, and in his youth he learned Hebrew and received a through Jewish education. As a young man, he went to Jerusalem to study under Rabbi Gamaliel, an eminent Jewish teacher, though Paul was in Jerusalem at the same time as Jesus, Paul never met Jesus and Jesus never uttered a word about Paul.

After Christ left the earth, the followers were regarded as heretics and suffered persecution. For a long time, Paul himself severely participated in this persecution and destroyed many followers of Christ. In order to eradicate the entire followers of Christ, Paul made a master plan. And it worked out. After three long missionary trips within the eastern part of the Empire, Paul returned to Jerusalem. He was arrested there, and was eventually sent to Rome to stand trial. According to his confessional statement,  

Romans :- 3 : 7,   “but if through my lie,  god’s story abounds, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?’ Paul was found guilty, however (most likely about 64 A.D.), (by God’s Grace) he was executed near Rome.

Christian theology, however, was shaped principally by the work of Paul. Christ Jesus (pbuh) presented a spiritual message; but Paul added to that the worship of Christ. Furthermore Paul was the author of a considerable portion of the New Testament, and was the main proselytizing force for Christianity during the first century. For these reasons, some people even content that it is Paul, rather than Jesus, who should really be considered the founder of Christianity. Carried to its logical conclusion, that argument would lead one to place Paul higher on this list than Jesus! However, although it is not clear whether there would be a religion called Christianity without the influence of Paul.

Gospel Of Paul:- Pauline Christology, a man made doctrine?

Romans  1 : 21-27, “Who changed the truth? for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature (son of man) more than the Creator.”

Romans :- 3 : 7   (Paul’s confessional statement)

“but if through my lie,  god’s story (Christianity) abounds,

‘why am I still being condemned as a sinner?’

(Paul was Condemned By Jews)

THE GREATEST LIE OF PAUL.

“And falling to the ground Paul heard a voice saying to him,

Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?

And Paul said, ‘who are you, Lord?’

And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”

This perishable lie contradicts Ref :-  Acts :- 9 : 7  VS  Acts :- 22 : 9.

“the men who were traveling  with me (Paul/Saul) stood speechless,

hearing the voice but seeing no one.”

“Now those who were (traveling) with me (Paul/Saul) saw the light

but did not hear”

Controversial : seeing no one vs saw the light, and 

                      hearing the voice vs did not hear.

Paul in his confessional statement in Romans 3 : 7 states that, “He is a liar,” and lying within the lie. Ref :-  Acts:- 9 : 7 contra Act :- 22 : 9  hence contradiction arises.

PAULINE CHRISTOLOGY:      COMMANMENTS OF PAUL.

Hebrews: 7 : 18 and 19,

“(Paul) On the one hand, (says) the former Commandments of God (Old Testament) is to be set aside (thrown away) because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect). But on the other hand, a better hope {New Testament} is introduced, through which we {Paulians} draw (you) near to god.”

According to Paul:- Law given to Moses and Ten Commandments of God and entire old Testaments are all useless and only his Gospel (New Testament: with novel Idea of Trinity and Christ Crucified, the conjecture for salvation)

FRIST COMMANMENT:  Says God is One and only

Sama Israeyeelu yehuwa ilohinu yehuwa ehad.

“Hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One and Only.”

Here Paul destroys the Commanments and the Law and the Prophets. Paul says, God is not One but one in three a new idea.

DAY OF JUDGEMENT: ETERNAL LIFE: SALVATION:

Romans:- 2 : 16, Paul says: according to my Gospel.

“In the day (of Judgement) God will Judge the secrets of men according to my Gospel.”

Acts 13 : 39, Paul says: 

“And by him (Jesus) that believes are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified (on the Day of Judgement) by the Law of Moses.”

Contradicts with the Teachings of Christ Jesus (pbuh).

“I am not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill.”

MOSES:  John 5 : 46-47,

“For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my (Jesus) words?”

“I can of my own self do nothing, as I hear I judge and my judgement is just.”

CHRISTIANITY MADE IN GREECE JUST LIKE A PRODUCT.

ORIGINALLY GREEKS WERE IDOL WORSHIPERS LIKE PAGAN CHINEESE, JAPANEE AND OTHERS. TILL TODAY PAGANISM CONTINUES IN TWO DIFFERENT TYPES IN GREECE.

ORIGINAL PAGANISM CONVERTED RC PAGANISM.

GRREK GODS.

The Greeks believed that men need not concern themselves unduly about gods who were too busy having a good time to bother about men. ZEUS was considered to be the master of all gods. LIKE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST BUT GREEKS MADE THE SON TO DOMINATE AS THE MASTER OF ALL.

Now you will note how the name Jesus (SOUNDS LIKE ZEUS] came into existence. What was the real name and the real title to him.

ESUA, YESHUA, YESU, ESAU ESA YESA THESE ARE THE PRONUNCIATION OF HIS NAME LATER MANIPULATED AS MENTIONED EARLIER.

TITLE : MESSAIYA, MASSEEQ TRANSLATED AS CHRIST IN GREEK.

BUT THE GREEKS PLANNED TO PAINT IT WITH J. AND STARTED TO COLLECT A NEWLY GREEK PAINTED BIBLE SO AS TO READ THROUGH GREEK GLASSES.

THESE IDOL WORSHIPERS IN THEIR NEW RELIGION CALLED CHRISTIANITY CONTINUED THE SAME IDOL WORSHIP WITH DIFFERENT IDOLS INSTEAD OF THE IDOL OF ZEUS THEY CARVED AN IDOL OF JESUS. SO INSTEAD OF ZEUS, NAME JESUS IS PLAYING THE ROLL BUT JESUS IS NOT REALLY PLAYING THE ROLL. THESE PAGANS PRODUCED THE CHARACTER JESUS TO PLAY THEIR DRAMA. THERE BY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE BEING FOOLED. FOR THE PAST 18OO YEARS SINCE 7O AC TO 18OO AC  THESE RC ROMAN CATHOLISM WAS PLAYING THE DRAMA. AFTER 18OO THESE CSI AND LATER 1000 OF CHRISTIAN SECTS STARTED THEIR OWN PLAY AND DOING SO.

MY QUESTION TO CSI AND OTHERS IS WHO WAS MISLEADIND THE RC FOR THE PAST 2000 YEARS. YOU PEOPLE CAME OUT OF RC VERY RECENTLY. ALL OF THE SUDDEN.

LET US ANALYSE J:

ESU         ZEUS                      JESUS

YESUA                                   JOSHUA

YEHOVA                                JEHOVAH

YAKHOOB                              JACOB

YUSUF                                   JOSEPH

YOHANNA                              JOHANNA   JOHN

THE SO CALLED PAUL COOKED A RELIGION AND THE GREEKS RE-COOKED IT TO THEIR TASTE.

CRUCIFIED: STORY MADE BY JEWS HIGHLIGHTED BY PAUL.

RESURRECTED: IMAGINATION OF PAUL

1 Corinthians 1 : 23 & 25,

Paul says: “We only preached that, ‘Christ Jesus was crucified, this foolishness (Crucifixion) of God is wiser than man and this weakness (Crucifixion) of God is stronger than man.”

IF NOT RESURECTED:

1 Corinthians 15: 12 & 14,

Paul says:  “And if Christ is not Resurrected [or if not crucified) then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain.”

II Timothy 2 : 8,

Paul says:  “Remember that Jesus was raised (Resurrected) from the dead, only according to my Gospel.”

SON OF GOD:

Acts 9 : 20,

“And straight away Paul preached, Christ in the synagogues, that Jesus is the son of God.”

CIRCUMCISION: Paul abolished not Christ?

Galatians 5 : 2,

“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”

Contradicts with Luke: 2 : 21,

“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child Jesus.” Jesus was circumcised, Yowaan John was circumcised and even Paul was circumcised but Paul abolishes circumcision? Who is Paul to alter the covenant?. What will be the result?  Hell fire.

REMARIAGE:

I Corinthians 7 : 8-9,

“I (Paul) say therefore to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them if they can abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry than to burn.”

Mathew :- 5 : 19

“This people (Christians) honoreth me with their lips but their heart is far from me. But in vain they (Christians) do worship me, teaching the commandments of men (Paul).

120million Paulians are living on the Earth they are not Christians they are Paulians.

Matthew:-  5 : 31 and 32 and 19 : 9

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife (for marital unfaithfulness) must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, other then marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries that woman commits adultery”.

As the DIVORCE is not yet solemnized.

Bible :- The word bible is not found in the bible, this word is derived from a Greek word bib’lo meaning books or collection of information collected by different historians at different intervals and also the word Trinity is not found in the bible.

1.Jews were following the religion of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him).

John 5 : 46-47, “For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me. But if you believed not his writings, how shall you believe my words?”

2.Some of the Jews believed Christ Jesus and followed him and were sincere disciples and follwers. And there were no other people other then Jews were his disciples.

3.Paul originally Saul decided to destroy the disciples of Christ Jesus and made a master plan as if a follower of Christ Jesus and found the new religion called Christianity and with that strength Paul destroyed the real followers of Christ Jesus. Paul did not take a single Jew to his new religion, he only targeted Greeks and Samaritans etc, etc,.

Introduction to The Gospel of Luke:
a commentary & meditation 

Luke, the “beloved physician”

Paul 100. A.D. calls Luke the “beloved physician” (Col. 4:14).  Luke was a companion and fellow worker of Paul (2 Tim. 4:11; Philemon 24).  They traveled extensively. Luke was a keen observer of the human condition. His gospel is the easiest to read and understand, because it presupposes that his audience is not familiar with Jewish customs and practices.  
“It seemed good to me also to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theo-philus” (Luke 1:3)

The Acts of Paul, tell us that Luke was in Israel for some time in search of information.  This would have given him an opportunity to speak with many contemporaries of Jesus.

The Gospel for the Gentiles ( Non-Jewish)

Luke was a Gentile New Testament writer who was not a Jew. He addressed his gospel to a fellow Gentile.  Luke intended his gospel for the Gentile Christians. Paul addressed to the Gentiles and likely encouraged Luke to write such an account.  Luke wanted to give an account of the gospel to a non-Jewish audience who were not accustomed to Jewish beliefs and practices (Circumcision, prayer, fasting and so on) and who lived in a society dominated by Greek culture (idol worship) and language. Luke wrote his gospel in the common Greek of the day. It was likely written between the years approximately 63-70 A.D.( not sure)

“That you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed” (Luke 1:4)

Luke is an evangelist like Matthew and Mark.  He writes that Gentiles may know the truth of the things in which he has been instructed (by Paul) (Luke 1:4). Luke also writes as an historian.  He has investigated the matter closely and he intends to give an orderly account of what might have (not sure) happened.  He is the only gospel writer to give an account of the ascension.  He also uses the Greek word (Theo) title for Lord.  The above extract is from   Wikipedia.

Paul targeted the Gentiles, Greeks and Samaritans for his newly found religion called Christianity, Greeks were idol worshipers, worshiping sun as god in the form of an idol; still it is there in Rome, in order to convince the idol worshipers, Paul planned and made idols for Christ Jesus, his mother and for other disciples thus formed a religion with idolatry, while Christ Jesus was against idol worshiping as per the laws and commandments mentioned. So Paul is an opponent of Christ Jesus’ faith about God, that are set out in John 17: 03, idol worshiper Paul is against Christ’ teachings, other Idol worshipers of various religions can easily be converted to Christianity by giving another idol of Christ Jesus and the dogma that he died for your sin, this is what practiced by RC since Paul. I am plainly giving the facts without any hatred, only the reader has to be in the center point of his mind and analyze, if any one could not understand, may contact me for clarification. For 1800 years only RC were Christians even today they are the majority rest are below percentage.

CONCLUSION.

Muslims believe in Christ Jesus rightly and following him accordingly hence the Muslims are the best Christians (followers of Christ) and the so called Christians are Paulians.

CRUCIFIXION   /   CRUCI-FICTION  :-

Who preached that Christ Jesus was crucified?

Answer: Paul, “1 Corinthians 1 : 23 & 25” “We preached that, ‘Christ Jesus was crucified,  this foolishness of God is wiser than man and this weakness of God is stronger than man.”

II Timothy 2 : 8, “Remember that Jesus was raised (Resurrected) from the dead according to my (Pual) gospel.”

1 Corinthians 15: 12 & 14, “And if Christ is not Resurrected [or if not crucified)

then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain.”

“Now if Christ be preached (by us) that he rose (Resurrected) from the dead, how say some among the Jews that there is no Resurrection of the dead?”

1 Corinthians 15:42,43 and 44. Hebrew 09:27 Resurrection on the day of Judgement only.

“And as it is written for men to die once, but after this the Judgement.”

Mark :- 14: 34, 35 & 36, “And said unto them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful unto DEATH: tarry ye here and watchful. And Christ went little ahead of them, and fell on his face to the ground, and prayed that if it is His Will, let the hour pass away leaving him in peace. And Christ Jesus said, “Abba, Father, “all things are possible for You. Remove this DEATH from me, yet not that I will but what You Will.”

Mathew :- 26: 36, 37,  38 & 39, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful to DEATH.”

And going a little farther Christ Jesus fell on his face and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if it is possible, let this DEATH pass from me, nevertheless , not as I will, but as You Will.”

Luke :- 22:41,42&43., “And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed saying, “Father, if  You are Willing, remove this DEATH from me. Nevertheless not my will, but Yours be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven consoled him and strengthened him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Hebrews:- 5 : 7, “Who (Christ Jesus) in the days of his flesh; offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears to Him, Who was able to save him from DEATH and *he was heard* because of his godly fear.”

Cup : “Taste of death.”       *he was heard* means prayer was accepted

“I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”

Christ Jesus said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful to DEATH” ? !!!!!!!

Who (Christ Jesus) in the days of his flesh, withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down, fell on his face, being in agony earnestly offered up prayers and supplications with vehement cries and tears, to God, Who was able to save him from DEATH, his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground, saying, “O my God, everything is possible for You, if You are Willing, remove this DEATH  away from me. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven consoled him and further strengthened him on what he feared saying, “your prayer and supplications are heard (accepted) because of your godly fear”.

John: 3 : 14, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent (Alive) in the wilderness, even so must the son of man (Christ) be lifted up:”.

Muslims believe in Christ Jesus rightly and following him accordingly hence the Muslims are the best Christians, Christ Jesus worshiped God and Muslims are worshiping God only, Christ Jesus was circumcised on the 8th day and Muslims are circumcised and the so called Christians are Paulians and not real Christians.

Date of the Crucifixion / Cruci-fiction. Conjecture Full of Doubts.

It is assumed (only assumption/conjecture) that the Crucifixion took place under Pontius Pilate, and hence Our Savior must have died between A. D. 26 and 36        (not sure)(Ant., XVIII, iv, 2). It is not clearly laid down in the Gospels that the Crucifixion took place on a Friday. For we are told that the Resurrection took place on Sunday, and also that it occurred three days after the Crucifixion, but according to the Greek and Jewish mode of reckoning, the third day is what we should call the second day. A difficulty is, however, raised as to whether Our Savior died on the 14th or 15th of Nisan. Some are of opinion that, whilst St. John held the Crucifixion to have been on the 14th (xix, 31), the Synoptists were in favour of the 15th (Mark 15:42. But it does not seem possible that either St. John or St. Matthew, who were so intimately connected with the facts related, should have been mistaken in this matter, or that, in the same way, either the Synoptists or the Fourth Gospel erred. Nor are we without explanations to reconcile the apparent differences between the Gospels. St. John, we know, favors the 14th of Nisan. But St. Mark, too, tells us how Simon of Cyrene helped Christ to carry the Cross (xv, 21), and how Joseph of Arimathea buried the Body — facts which seem to tell against the Festival Day (xv, 43 sqq.). Besides, the weight of Christian antiquity is in favour of the 14th of Nisan, as are such competent modern scholars as Professor Sunday and the late Bishop Westcott.

If we could make up our mind fully that the Crucifixion took place on the 14th of Nisan, it would help us to determine in what year it happened. For though we cannot always be certain whether a Friday fell on the 14th or 15th of Nisan, still we can be fairly satisfied that the years 29, 30, and 33 fulfilled the necessary conditions, though von Soden, in Cheyne’s “Encyclopedia”, is of opinion that the year 29 does not do so. It has already been seen that the Crucifixion must have happened somewhere between 26 and 36. It may also be taken that it did not occur after 33, because in the next year caiphas was deposed from the high-priesthood by Vitellius. We are left, then, with the years 29, 30, and 33 to choose between for the death of Jesus Christ. We cannot be certain in our choice. But naturally we should expect the date of such an important event to be handed down by tradition; and we find a very ancient tradition, going back to A. D. 150, for the date A. D. 29, in the consulship of the Gemini. In favour of it are Clement of Alexandria, Origen, the Apocryphal Acts of Pilate, Hippolytus, and the Pseudo-Tertullian.

- 147.5 million Americans claim affiliation with a religious group

- 94% of those who claim affiliation are members of Christian or quasi-Christian denominations

Every culture offers every opportunity for evaluation on the part of the individual as to whether the spiritual beliefs which that culture encompasses are spiritual beliefs that are comfortable for the individual living within it; it is a matter of conscious choice on the part of every individual in every lifetime to decide for themselves whether the doctrine that is being taught – the doctrine that is predominant throughout the culture – is a doctrine that ‘rings true’ for their inner self.

In many cases, individuals have found that the doctrine advocated by the Christian sect which constituted their upbringing did not ‘pass the test’ of meeting the requirements for being the spiritual foundation on which their lives were based, and – as a result – many individuals have turned their backs on the Christian faith that dominates their society. In some areas, a ‘cold war’ has been declared, with Christians condemning free thinkers as ‘false prophets of God’ and free thinkers condemning Christians as ‘narrow-minded and judgmental.’

From both directions, this separationist attitude is inappropriate and against the Universal Law of Acceptance, which recognizes both the right and the responsibility of every individual to live their life according to their own personal truth. In an all too human need to justify our negative attitudes towards each other, both sides prefer to focus into the ‘negative aspects’ of the other’s belief system. We can only bridge the gap if we are willing to move beyond our emotional need to feel that ‘we are right and they are wrong’ and come to recognize and respect the positive aspects of all belief systems – including Christianity.

Modern society has a tendency to ‘categorize’ groups of people by race or religion. We seldom take the time to look beneath the surface to explore the differences that make for individual truth within an umbrella spiritual foundation. We may unwittingly judge others simply as “Christians,” using our limited exposure to one or two sects as our justification for our belief that “Christians are narrow-minded” or “Christians are anti-New Age.” This is the equivalent of someone deciding that anyone who believes in God is “just like the Muslims” or “just like the Wiccans” or “just like the Universalists.” If we truly want to create a world where people live together in harmony, then we must begin with the basics, and one of those basics is not only understanding but accepting belief systems that are different from our own.

Because we have chosen to be a part of a culture in which Christianity IS the primary spiritual foundation, it is our responsibility to know enough truth – as opposed to personal expression – about Christianity to deny or confirm its place in our spiritual foundation. Too often, we have allowed extremists to stand in the way of our personal pursuit of spirituality through the Christian belief system; our emotional response to those who judge anyone who thinks differently than they do is a major obstacle to peaceful co-existence. Both factors say, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” Both factors DO judge the other as ‘wrong.’ On both sides, we are not living according to what we say we believe: our actions and our attitudes are in direct conflict with our words.

There is a common bond that neither side recognizes: there is no such things as “a Christian,” anymore than there is such a thing as “a new-ager.” The strength of the Christian religion (and 1.5 billion adherents world-wide – one in three adults in the world – DOES constitute strength!) lies not in a passive acceptance of doctrine as it has been taught by the Church over the centuries, but in a continual need on the part of the followers to break away from the predominating belief system and ‘find and follow their own truth.’ Depending on the source you turn to, there are between 200 and 1000 Christian sects registered in this country alone.

Such diversity in beliefs has not been accomplished passively, and the reception to the changes advocated by each budding denomination was similar to – but much more intense than – the reception being given by the ‘core Christians’ to those free thinkers who are seeking a new truth that will, inevitably, threaten the position of the core. It has been – and will continue to be – an ongoing cycle, a cycle that is not exclusive to the Christian faith.

Every major religion in the world experiences this cycle, in which a basic truth on which the religion is built serves as the catalyst for spiritual evaluation on the part of the followers, and – inevitably – the catalyst goes in one of two directions: either an individual agrees with the truth offered, and “follows,” or disagrees, and “leads” in a new direction toward a new truth. This cycle of spiritual evaluation and confirmation is the purpose of organized religion: like most other elements of life on the physical plane, it is a learning tool, but it is useless if we are not willing to use it as the tool it was intended to be by thinking about the truth it offers and comparing it to our own instead of ignoring it as ‘inappropriate to our needs.’

The order of God’s universe is evident everywhere, and the cycles through which the learning process takes place are always the same, following the pattern established when the souls split into multi-dimensional aspects and ‘left the whole’ (God) in pursuit of truth. They have gone off in innumerable directions as they experience on innumerable levels of existence, and it is only when they all return from the deviations of truth, and their learning process has been accomplished, that they all agree that Universal Law is truth, and they become a Whole again.

So it is with religion: every major religion in the world begins with a premise that is offered as truth, and every soul involved in that culture must either accept that truth or ‘go off in their own direction.’ What is evident in the self can always be expanded outward, and just as we as individuals pursue our own truth, so groups (or churches, or religions) pursue theirs. Eventually, we all end up in the same place, recognizing that Universal Law is the root of all religion, and the doctrines which any individual chooses to apply to express that Universal Law within their own life is purely a matter of conscious choice.

No small part of the transition currently taking place is a need within the group consciousness to ‘get back to’ the point from which we started: recognizing that Universal Law is the root of every major belief system on the planet, and the only difference between ‘what you believe’ and ‘what I believe’ is the way we choose to express our spirituality on a daily basis. We have all become lost in the doctrine of the various religions – including Christianity – and as a result we have failed to see that the REAL core truth around which the various religions have been built is Universal Law.

It’s no wonder that those who have chosen to express their spirituality outside of the Christian community are often confused as to what Christianity really is; we should take the time to realize that many Christians feel the same way. There are a bewildering number of Christian sects, each working independently of the next, and each confirming, through their very existence, that Christianity has played a major role over the past two thousand years in providing the ‘core truth’ against which each generation within each culture has sought to find their own truth. If we are willing to look at the Christian religion objectively, instead of feeling threatened by it, then we will see it for the diverse religious organization that it is, and respect that diversity as a perfect example of willingness to go against the popular conception of ‘truth’ to express the personal relationship with God in a new and different way.

Life – and the learning processes that comprise it – follows a natural sequence, and the spiritual growth sequence offered through the 2000 year history of the Christian religion is one that leads to culmination in ‘one truth for all,’ recognizing Universal Law as the framework on which life should be built. Contrary to the popular Christian perception that this “one world religion” will be a “false religion” that will lead people away from Christ, the recognition of Universal Law as the core truth on which all religions are structured will not change anything. We will always have a diversity of religions, through which individuals will explore their spirituality in a way that is comfortable for them and that agrees with their ‘inner truth’ about how that spirituality should be expressed. The only thing that will change is the level of acceptance with which each religion views the others, and it is the lack of that level of acceptance that stands in the way of practical co-existence now.

The purpose of any religion is to open the door to a higher awareness of the role that God intended them to play in life, and a higher understanding of the way God intended life to be. Christ taught Universal Law, but through the centuries, many of Christ’s teachings have been twisted, and it is disagreement within the Christian community as to ‘what teachings were twisted when’ which has historically been the driving force behind the establishment of new sects.

I would remind you of a basic thought that is too often lost in the doctrine today, and that is that there was no ‘Christian church’ during Christ’s lifetime. Christ chose not to teach in the synagogues; instead, he taught informally, sitting on the grass, or standing on a mountain, or sitting in someone’s house, and it was the followers of Christ who established the Church and in turn established the doctrine that would govern that church. The Catholic Church – and I would remind you that the Latin phrase for ‘universal’ is ‘catholic’ – was the original Christian church, and the majority of individuals within the first one hundred years after the death of Christ were a very loose congregation of individuals who saw the church as an opportunity for fellowship and interactions with other followers of Christ’s teachings, much as today’s seekers congregate loosely in their personal pursuit of truth.

Having been born into a culture in which Christianity is the predominant religion, we cannot hope to come to terms with our own spiritual foundation unless we are willing to work with the learning tool that Christianity provides when it serves as the catalyst for confirmation of our own belief structure. We must be willing to move our focus away from those ‘die-hard’ individuals who fear change in any form, and focus, instead, into following the example of those who have come before us, and drawn their own conclusions regarding spiritual truth in spite of Christian majority within the culture, and in doing so, we must come to respect the fact that – as evidenced within the diverse nature of what is all too casually referred to as ‘the Christian community’ – the past two centuries have been witness to drastic changes within ‘the church’ as generation after generation has done what it is that we are hoping to accomplish. They have explored, and they have found a different truth, and they have suffered and died in their efforts to live by that truth.

There is much to be learned about ‘finding and following your own path in life’ by exploring the history of Christianity. Take responsibility. Study. Evaluate. Find your own truth, for it is only in doing so that you can objectively explore the entity Jesus Christ and the role, if any, he plays in your belief system.

Lois Grant-Holland is a Life Path Focus Counselor offering Life Path Focus Sessions, Karmic Astrology Charts, Channeled Guidance, Intuitive Readings and Classes and Workshops to spiritual seekers on all positive paths, and is the site facilitator at The A.N.S.W.E.R. – (The Seeker’s Resource Guide to Alternative, New Thought, Spiritual Growth, Wellness and Enlightenment Resources.) You can visit her website at [http://www.loisgrantholland.com]

The major premise of Christian counseling is that truth makes people free when they believe it and obey it. A certificate in this type of counseling is a step that will help a professional counselor who desires to work faith and prayer into patient care. The ultimate goal of counseling is to help others move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability and spiritual maturity. This counseling philosophy is that the Bible provides strength, direction and healing using the wisdom and guidance that cannot be found in any man made technique or intervention.

The Bible teaches that Biblical Christian counseling is so important. The emphasis in Christian Counseling is not on doctrinal methods or content but on Jesus Christ’s teachings and life. The foundation for this counseling is the application of God’s truth to the heart. God is the ultimate healer and professional counseling is one avenue God can work through in the process of healing and change. Godly Counseling is for those who want to abide by the teachings and traditions of Christianity, who desire to gain full reliance on God, but at the same time,are struggling to understand the deeply complicated workings of the human psyche.

Whether you or a loved one is struggling with depression or anxiety, experiencing on-going marital problems, or have concerns over your children, Biblical Counseling will be able to help. The Bible teaching about why counseling is needed is plain.

The goal, then, of Biblical counseling is not overcoming pain as is true of most secular counseling. Counseling is the process in which a professional counselor uses the tools of the mental health profession, the truths of the Bible, and the wisdom of life experience to help those in need. Biblical counseling is founded on the belief in a relationship with God and with each other and can help you find godly answers in a fast-paced, ungodly world.

Biblical Counseling is dedicated to providing professional counseling services that integrate mind, body, and spirit, and bring people to relational wholeness with God, self, and others.

A degree in Christian Counseling is a way for someone interested in combining their faith with their interest in counseling. Godly counseling is Christ-centered and based on scriptures. A certificate in Christian Counseling is a way for counselors interested in combining their faith with their counseling practice to become specialized.

God is the ultimate healer and professional Biblical counseling is one avenue God can work through in the process of healing and change.

Find the latest information on Christian Counseling Debt as well as Christian Counseling Centers.

The only thing saving Islam from being branded what it is – a pagan Fascism of unfettered violence – is its status as a religion. But why it that status accorded to an Arabian moon cult based around the Meccan moon deity Ali-ilah and denied for instance in many countries to Scientology, and those who believe that humans came from an alien race ? Islam is no more credible in its theology than the followers of the grinning Bishop Cruise. The only difference is that Muslims have conflated moon worship with Jewish monotheism. An outlandish lie and distortion to be sure, but one fully consumed by useful idiots around the world.

Read the Koran and Arab-Islamic history for yourself. Ignore the media and academics and sundry ‘experts’ who piously proclaim that the family deity of Mohammed constitutes a religion in the Christian-Judeo sense of that word. It doesn’t. Islam was once regarded as Mohammedanism or the cult of Mohammed. This is a far more intelligent analysis of what we really face, than the usual mindless one-world, multi-cultural bromides that an Arabian moon cult is just as ‘relatively good and religious’ as anything the ‘criminal’ history of Western civilization could possibly produce.

Imagine if you are still a thinking, mentally balanced and unipolar personality who has not been brain washed by the media and educational system.. You are a blank slate, able to rationalize and in control of your functions. You are sitting by yourself when suddenly an excitable Arab comes up to you and says the following:

-You must obey Ali-ilah, the Meccan male moon god, which was protected by the family of someone called Mohammed, who 1400 years ago created this thing called Islam around the worship of this moon deity.

-He tells you with wide eyes that this moon god knows all, determines all and will either kill you or elevate you to heaven – depending on his mood and whether he believes [or it believes] that you have been sufficiently Muslim.

-He declaims with a gaping mouth that you must read and memorize the book around this cult called the Koran and prostrate yourself 5 times daily towards Mohammed’s family home and beg the moon deity for forgiveness. You must chatter these ritualised lines of prostration in Arabic – a language you don’t understand.

-You are informed by this animated Arab that in order to humiliate yourself you must raise your buttocks into the air and force your forehead onto the ground.  You need to recognize that the moon deity controls all and that you are worthless – or so this man says.

-He pulls out the cult’s book and shows you some of its content.  From what you can read the pages seem  full of hate, violence, racism, supremacism and claims to universal rule and will to power. The thoroughly energized Arab man wags his finger in your face and solemnly intones that the book is holy, created by the moon god, and not to be touched by non-believers.

-He sits beside you and puts his hand on your knee soothing your concerns by imparting that this Arab cult – supported worldwide by 1.6 billion people – also demands that you travel at least once to Mecca, pay a lot of money to the cult’s institutions, kiss their main black rock, throw stones at imaginary little devils and run around their shrine.  All part of the community spirit he smilingly assures you.

-And he gives you the best part as he leans towards you barely able to contain himself.  Not only can you have a lot of women and at least 4 wives; but your women will have to obey you; wear bed sheets in public; enjoy being beaten [lightly] by you for any offense; and if you so desire having sex with 9 year olds is okay as well since this Mohammed the Prophet did it.  Also he slyly adds – young females being sold into sex slavery or killed for dissing their parents is also acceptable.

You probably would think the Arab man insane.  This is a religion ?  Of what exactly ?  You would be even more perplexed if a state paid employee was accompanying the twitching Arab proselytizer and informed you that not only is the Meccan moon cult a ‘religion’ but it is a vibrant part of the ‘multicultural mosaic’ of your country, and indispensable as part of society’s diversity objective. He warns you sternly never to criticize the Meccan moon cult and if you do, you might end up in prison.

Being intelligent you might stutter out some questions such as; ‘why is this cult a religion?’; ‘who granted it such referential status ?”; ‘is it religious in practice or violent, insane and irrational?’; ‘shouldn’t reality and what happens in the real world, determine whether or not we declare an ideology to be religious?’; ‘since when is racism, supremacism and misogyny enlightened and spiritual ?’….

All good questions of course but in the end they mean nothing. In the era when Mohammedanism was viewed as a program which was the opposite of Christ’s teachings, such informed observation was common place. In today’s world where people get their information from Oprah, the BC news networks, and self-loathing educational and media sources, a program of Jihadist Fascism, in train for 1400 years, is declared a religion.

Islam has none of the properties of a religion which is why of course it is declared to be one, and which is why the state is so violent in protecting it.

Some say that Islam is not a religion. But Craigsread explains in plain and simple terms Why is Islam a religion and why so many people are drawn to it.

I’d like to start with the role of woman in the church in the past and how their decisions effect us today; women’s relationship to the Priesthood today, and the role of women in the expanding church of tomorrow.

Woman’s roles have changed in our society over the past decades. I have a little story of a conversation between a father and his son that could have happened in my life time. The son tells his father that they ran the 30 yard dash at school that day.  “Really?” says his father,  “How did you do?” ” I came in second place” says the son.  second?” says his father, “that’s great.  Who came in first?” Mary Smith says the son. ” What?” exclaims his father, “you were beaten by a mere girl?” “Dad” explains the son, “girls aren’t so mere anymore.”

There have never been so many doors open to women as there are today.  It was not long ago when, according to a report made by the University of Utah, more than half the woman graduated in just six different majors: elementary education, English, home economics, sociology, history, and nursing.  These are worthy pursuits and my own interests lie in some of those areas, but the opportunities open to women are ever-widening and more and more we see woman gettinjg law degrees, medical degrees, MBA’s, degrees in computer science, degrees in electrical engineering.  What tremendous contribution these woman are making in the working world.  I believe they are making it a better world for all of us as their understanding of right and wrong flavour everything they do.

What does our Heavenly Father think of all these changes?  What has the Saviour continuously taught about women and their role in the earth life?

We will start by examining the lives of woman in the church during the life of Christ.  It will be of great benefit in understanding The Family:  A Proclamation to the World to review what the Savior himself taught about women and how he interacted with them.

To fully appreciate what it was like to be a women at the time of Christ we need to see women in the historical and social context of their day. They lived in the Jewish subculture of the Greco-Roman world. The stage was set hundreds of years before Christ was born by great thinkers like Aristotle who said, “The female is as it were a deformed male.” (Now Aristotle was a great thinker, he just seems to be a little confused on this one issue.) Cicero in the century just before Christ came into the world remarked, “Our ancestors have willed that all women, because of their lack of judgement, should be under the power of guardians.” Now if a women was unmarried her guardian was her father and if she was married her guardian was her husband.  Under the Roman Empire a husband could divorce his wife for nothing more than her going out with her head uncovered.  Under the law adultery was a criminal offense for women, but not for men.  In the Jewish subculture women were generally excluded from public life and were often required to cover their heads or faces or both when in the presence of men.  Woman along with children, did not count  towards the minyan, the minimum number of people necessary for public prayer.  Females could not be called upon to read the scriptures in the synagogue, and women were not to be taught the Torah; indeed women were not allowed to touch the scriptures in Jesus’ day.  Men were cautioned about talking to women, even their own wives. Jose ben Johanan of Jerusalem said, “Talk not much with womankind.  They said this of a man’s own wife:  how much more of his fellow’s wife! Hence the sages have said:  He that talks much with womankind brings evil upon himself and neglects the study of the Law and at the last will inherit hell.”

Realizing this it becomes clear how truly remarkable Jesus conversing with the woman at the well in Samaria.  A women’s testimony was not admissible evidence in court (which is why you start to understanding that the disciples doubted Mary Magdalene’s testimony that she had seen the risen Christ when they had not.) These words by Flavius Josephus just about sums it all up, ” A women is inferior to her husband in all things.” apparently, this was true no matter what kind of husband her husband was. Three times a day a Jewish man prayed these words, “Blessed art thou.. who hast not made me a heathen (or Gentile),… who hast not made me a woman, and … who hast not made me a slave.  The Greeks, similarly, were thankful they were “born a human being and not a beast, next a man and not a women, thirdly, a Greek and not a barbarian.”   so Jews were thankful they were not Gentiles and Greeks were thankful they were not barbarians but woman, however made both their lists.

On to this scene Christ is born of Mary who was probably about 12 or 13 years old at the time of Jesus’ birth if she followed the marriage customs of the day.  Mary was in every sense Jesus’ first true disciple.  She was recorded as being present on several occasions throughout his 3-year mission and she faithfully reappears at the cross as both a mother and a follower.

One surprising fact is that women were so often the subject of Christ’s parables.  Jesus’ parables are the very key to undertstanding his mission.  another very interesting aspect of Jesus’ parables is that they often address a single concern or teach a single principle with two similar stories:  one with a  man at the centre and one with  a women at the centre.  One example of these parallel parables are the story of the lost sheep which concerns a man and the story of the lost coins whuch concerns a woman.  One involves the indoor labors of a woman and the other the outdoor labors of a man.  Not only in parable but in direct teaching of his gospel to individuals Jesus rejects the societal view of woman. for example his teachings about adultery.  He said, in Matthlew 5:27-28, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Here Jesus completely dismisses the rabbinical suggestion that simply looking at a woman inevitably causes lust. He did not warn his followers against looking at a woman, but against doing so with lust. Women were to be recognized as individuals in their own right, as human beings, fellow disciples, not as objects of men’s desires.

The same with Jesus teaching about marriage and divorce.  Jewish men could divorce a wife for three main justifications:  First, sexual misconduct; second, “if she spoiled a dish for him” ( a major incentive to brush up on those culinary skills!), and finally “even if he found another fairer than she.” But Jesus taught, “for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they shall be one flesh: so then, they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God joined together, let no man put assunder.” “And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.  And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.”  He did not teach that divorce as prohibited but that divorce, for the whole purpose of remarrying another was.  He had acknowledge the right of a woman to divorce, which was unheard of at the time.

One of the most memorable of Jesus interactions with women during his 3 year mission is the story of the woman taken in adultery. This  beatiful  story takes place in the temple. This is significant. Jesus had gone early to the temple to teach when the scribes and pharisees brought to him a woman taken in adultery, “in the very act.”

According to the law of Moses a man who suspected that his wife might have committed

adultery, brought her to the temple to undergo a test or and an ordeal to prove her innocence or guilt. She was brought to the altar and obliged to drink a draught composed of water, dirt from the temple floor and the ink scratched from parchment containing a curse.  The drink would supposedly have no effect if she were innocent.  If she were guilty however her belly would swell. In addition to this test she was brought to the court of woman for inflicted humiliation.  Keep in mind that is if she was only suspected no convicted.

At some point during her judgment the convicted adulteress was brought to Jesus for reason of debate and  discussion.  The big question in my mind is where is the man she was caught in the very act with? Oh! But of course it wasn’t a sin for him.

The men asked Jesus to judge her case, saying, “Now Moses in the law commands, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  Then Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he heard them not.  They continued to press for an answer so Jesus stood and said, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her.”

Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.  The crowd was convicted by their own conscience and began to leave.

Finally everyone left except the woman “standing in the midst.” Jesus stood up and spoke to the woman, “woman, where are those thine accusers?   Hath no man condemned thee?  She said no man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee : go, and sin no more.”

Jesus treated men and women alike.  Each could communicate with him, follow him, be companions with him. and love him.

He in no way sought to deny or diminish the differences between men and woman, he emphasized their partnership.

Looking forward to our own history of the last century in the LDS church we are again impressed with the remarkble position of the wives, mothers, and daughters during the time of the restauration of the gospel on the earth.  Space limiting me we will look at one example.  Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of the prophet Joseph Smith.  Like Mary, the mother of Christ, Lucy never wavered in her love and devotion to her son.  She believed  him from the very beginnibg when he returned from the sacred grove to tell his mother that he had seen a vision.  She was a disciple and follower of her prophet-son.  But she wasn’t just a follower, she was a gifted leader as well, fearless and decisive.  In 1831, there was a group of saints who were leaving the Waterloo area, travelling down the Erie Canal to Buffalo.  At one point in the story ice in the harbor at Buffalo was blocking passage.  A man from the shore cried out to them, “Is the book of Mormon true?”  Listen to Lucy’s reply in her own words:  “That book, replied I, was brought forth by the power of God, and translated by the gift of the Holy Ghost; and , if I could make my voice sound as loud as the trumpet of Michael the Archangel, I would declare the truth from land to land, and from sea to sea, and the echo should reach to every isle, until every member of the family of Adam should be left without excuse. For I do testify that God has revealed himself to man again in these last days, and set his hand to gather his people upon goodly land.” Then turning to her own company, she said, “Now, brethren and sisters, if you will all of you raise your desires to heaven, that the ice may be broken up, and we be set at liberty, as sure as the Lord lives, it will be done.” At that instant a noise was heard, like bursting thunder.  The captain cried, “Every man to his post.” The ice parted, leaving barely a passage for the boat. They had narrowly passed through when the ice closed together again.

The sisters of the early restoration in a very literal sense paved the way for social, economic, religious and personal advancement, not just for the few of them gathered in Navoo but for all woman from that time forward.

One scolar of the woman’s movement just recently noted: “One of he interesting anomalies of nineteeth century women’s history is the fact that one of its most vocal feminist groups comprised the Mormon women of Utah defending their territorial right to vote… Utah was the second territory in the United States to grant female suffrage…Utah woman were the first to vote in the country.”

What does our great history have to do with today and the struggles we face? And most importantly how can we best help each other to grow closer to our Savior and increase our potential to become like him?

The principals for a healthy relationship between  a man  and a woman are the same  weather that woman are husband and wife, brother and sister, worker and co-worker, or bishop and primary president.  In all of these circumstamces the man and the woman are partners in some type pf endeavor, be it marriage, a family, a business or a ward.

What kind of partners should women be?

President Kimball said they should be full partners.  Aan earlier latter day prophet, Harold B Lee, said “wife in a home, a women is expected to be… an intelligent and inspired participant in the family partnership.” President  Joseph Fielding Smith in 1959 said, “Our sisters are entitled just as much to the inspiration for their needs of the Holy Spirit as are the men, every bit.”

We need to keep uppermost in our minds the most important thing we all have in common and that is our shared testimony of the Savior. As brothers and sisters we share in a single system of salvation.  We walk the same straight and narrow path.  We read the same scriptures.  We serve in the holy temples together and we partake of the same sacrament and share spiritual gifts one with another.  We all depend upon the same atonement for eternal life.  To all men and women the Lord promises all that he has to give.  Our savior has told us that he will help each of us reach our potential so that we may assist him in bringing about his purposes.

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To comment, e-mail laurier6@gmail.com