Is it possible to find the real Jesus? That depends on how you answer a more fundamental question: Are you willing to set aside your preconceptions and let the evidence take you wherever it will? I have done just that and I guess I find myself still doing that sometimes.
Beliefs have very real consequences, so finding the truth is important. Think about Jim Jones and the tragedy in Guyana several years ago. Nine hundred followers drank the poisoned Kool-Aid in loyalty to and in fear of Jim Jones, who claimed to be the Messiah. Men, women, and children died a terrible death because of one false teacher who claimed to be God.
Faith is only as good as the one in whom it’s invested. If Jesus isn’t who He says He is in the Bible, then I will not find another faith or my own faith smoothie, but just live for myself. Why live for a Jesus who isn’t really the Son of God who now sits at the right hand of the Father? I would contend that what we belief is of utmost importance. It determines how we live our lives and how we view death.
I have done a lot of studying the past several years to see if the Christianity of my youth is really true. The facts about Christianity in my church growing up was mixed with legalism and man-made rules. When I left home as a young adult, I started questioning all of it and had to rediscover Christ bit by bit. I had to find out what the Bible really says and if it can be trusted. I tested everything that was taught to me by other people, including pastors. The Bible says we should test every spirit. I took that literally.
What I have discovered in studying several parts of the Bible inductively (having scripture prove scripture, NOT having commentaries prove scripture) has changed my life. I will be discussing more of that in detail in future posts.
Who is the real Jesus? Is He the Jesus Seminar Jesus? Is He one of several Masters? Is He just a teacher, a prophet that lived 2,000 years ago? Is He the “nice” God while the Father is the “mean” God? Is He an example for me to find the god within me? Or, is He really who HE says He is?
