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==149:2. ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE==

==149:2. ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE==

149:2.1 Jesus understood the minds of men. He knew what was in the heart of man, and had his teachings been left as he presented them, the only commentary being the inspired interpretation afforded by his earth life, all nations and all religions of the world would speedily have embraced the gospel of the kingdom. The well-meant efforts of Jesus' early followers to restate his teachings so as to make them the more acceptable to certain nations, races, and religions, only resulted in making such teachings the less acceptable to all other nations, races, and religions.

149:2.1 [[Jesus]] [[understood]] the [[minds]] of men. He knew what was in the [[heart]] of man, and had his [[teachings]] been left as he presented them, the only [[commentary]] being the [[inspired]] [[interpretation]] afforded by his [[earth]] life, all [[nations]] and all [[religions]] of the world would speedily have [[embraced]] the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]]. The well-meant [[efforts]] of [[Jesus]]' early followers to restate his teachings so as to make them the more [[acceptable]] to certain [[nations]], [[races]], and [[religions]], only resulted in making such teachings the less acceptable to all [[other]] nations, races, and religions.

149:2.2 The Apostle Paul, in his efforts to bring the teachings of Jesus to the favorable notice of certain groups in his day, wrote many letters of instruction and admonition. Other teachers of Jesus' gospel did likewise, but none of them realized that some of these writings would subsequently be brought together by those who would set them forth as the embodiment of the teachings of Jesus. And so, while so-called Christianity does contain more of the Master's gospel than any other religion, it does also contain much that Jesus did not teach. Aside from the incorporation of many teachings from the Persian mysteries and much of the Greek philosophy into early Christianity, two great mistakes were made:

149:2.2 [[The Apostle Paul]], in his [[efforts]] to bring the teachings of [[Jesus]] to the favorable notice of certain [[groups]] in his day, wrote many [[letters]] of instruction and [[admonition]]. Other teachers of [[Jesus]]' [[gospel]] did likewise, but none of them [[realized]] that some of these [[writings]] would subsequently be brought [[together]] by those who would set them forth as the [[embodiment]] of the teachings of [[Jesus]]. And so, while so-called [[Christianity]] does contain more of [[the Master]]'s [[gospel]] than any other [[religion]], it does also contain much that [[Jesus]] did not teach. Aside from the incorporation of many teachings from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_religions#Antiquity Persian mysteries] and much of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_philosophy Greek philosophy] into early [[Christianity]], two great [[mistakes]] were made:

*1. 149:2.3 The effort to connect the gospel teaching directly onto the Jewish theology, as illustrated by the Christian doctrines of the atonement—the teaching that Jesus was the sacrificed Son who would satisfy the Father's stern justice and appease the divine wrath. These teachings originated in a praiseworthy effort to make the gospel of the kingdom more acceptable to disbelieving Jews. Though these efforts failed as far as winning the Jews was concerned, they did not fail to confuse and alienate many honest souls in all subsequent generations.

*1. 149:2.3 The [[effort]] to [[connect]] the [[gospel]] teaching directly onto the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_philosophy#Ancient_Jewish_philosophy Jewish theology], as [[illustrated]] by the [[Christian]] [[doctrines]] of the [[atonement]]—the teaching that [[Jesus]] was the [[sacrificed]] Son who would satisfy [[the Father]]'s stern [[justice]] and appease the [[divine]] [[wrath]]. These teachings originated in a praiseworthy [[effort]] to make the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]] more [[acceptable]] to disbelieving [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews]. Though these [[efforts]] failed as far as winning the Jews was concerned, they did not fail to [[confuse]] and [[alienate]] many [[honest]] [[souls]] in all subsequent [[generations]].

*2. 149:2.4 The second great blunder of the Master's early followers, and one which all subsequent generations have persisted in perpetuating, was to organize the Christian teaching so completely about the person of Jesus. This overemphasis of the personality of Jesus in the theology of Christianity has worked to obscure his teachings, and all of this has made it increasingly difficult for Jews, Mohammedans, Hindus, and other Eastern religionists to accept the teachings of Jesus. We would not belittle the place of the person of Jesus in a religion which might bear his name, but we would not permit such consideration to eclipse his inspired life or to supplant his saving message: the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.

*2. 149:2.4 The second great blunder of [[the Master]]'s early followers, and one which all subsequent [[generations]] have [[persisted]] in perpetuating, was to [[organize]] the Christian teaching so completely about the [[person]] of [[Jesus]]. This [[overemphasis]] of the [[personality]] of [[Jesus]] in the [[theology]] of [[Christianity]] has worked to [[obscure]] his teachings, and all of this has made it increasingly [[difficult]] for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims Mohammedans], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindus Hindus], and other [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_religion Eastern religionists] to [[accept]] the teachings of [[Jesus]]. We would not belittle the place of the [[person]] of [[Jesus]] in a [[religion]] which might bear his name, but we would not [[permit]] such [[consideration]] to [[eclipse]] his [[inspired]] life or to supplant his saving [[message]]: the [[fatherhood]] of [[God]] and the brotherhood of man.

149:2.5 The teachers of the religion of Jesus should approach other religions with the recognition of the truths which are held in common (many of which come directly or indirectly from Jesus' message) while they refrain from placing so much emphasis on the differences.

149:2.5 The [[teachers]] of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] should approach other [[religions]] with the [[recognition]] of the [[truths]] which are held in common (many of which come directly or indirectly from [[Jesus]]' [[message]]) while they refrain from placing so much [[emphasis]] on the [[differences]].

149:2.6 While, at that particular time, the fame of Jesus rested chiefly upon his reputation as a healer, it does not follow that it continued so to rest. As time passed, more and more he was sought for spiritual help. But it was the physical cures that made the most direct and immediate appeal to the common people. Jesus was increasingly sought by the victims of moral enslavement and mental harassments, and he invariably taught them the way of deliverance. Fathers sought his advice regarding the management of their sons, and mothers came for help in the guidance of their daughters. Those who sat in darkness came to him, and he revealed to them the light of life. His ear was ever open to the sorrows of mankind, and he always helped those who sought his ministry.

149:2.6 While, at that particular [[time]], the [[fame]] of [[Jesus]] rested chiefly upon his [[reputation]] as a [[healer]], it does not follow that it continued so to rest. As [[time]] passed, more and more he was sought for [[spiritual]] help. But it was the [[physical]] [[cures]] that made the most direct and [[immediate]] [[appeal]] to the common people. [[Jesus]] was increasingly sought by the [[victims]] of [[moral]] [[enslavement]] and [[mental]] harassments, and he invariably taught them the way of [[deliverance]]. [[Fathers]] sought his [[advice]] regarding the management of their sons, and [[mothers]] came for help in the [[guidance]] of their daughters. Those who sat in [[darkness]] came to him, and he [[revealed]] to them the [[light]] of life. His ear was ever open to the [[sorrows]] of [[mankind]], and he always helped those who sought his [[ministry]].

149:2.7 When the Creator himself was on earth, incarnated in the likeness of mortal flesh, it was inevitable that some extraordinary things should happen. But you should never approach Jesus through these so-called miraculous occurrences. Learn to approach the miracle through Jesus, but do not make the mistake of approaching Jesus through the miracle. And this admonition is warranted, notwithstanding that Jesus of Nazareth is the only founder of a religion who performed supermaterial acts on earth.

149:2.7 When the [[Creator Son|Creator]] himself was on [[earth]], [[incarnated]] in the likeness of [[mortal]] flesh, it was [[inevitable]] that some [[extraordinary]] [[things]] should happen. But you should never approach [[Jesus]] through these so-called [[miraculous]] occurrences. [[Learn]] to approach the [[miracle]] through [[Jesus]], but do not make the mistake of approaching [[Jesus]] through the [[miracle]]. And this [[admonition]] is warranted, notwithstanding that [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]] is the only founder of a [[religion]] who performed supermaterial [[acts]] on [[earth]].

149:2.8 The most astonishing and the most revolutionary feature of Michael's mission on earth was his attitude toward women. In a day and generation when a man was not supposed to salute even his own wife in a public place, Jesus dared to take women along as teachers of the gospel in connection with his third tour of Galilee. And he had the consummate courage to do this in the face of the rabbinic teaching which declared that it was " better that the words of the law should be burned than delivered to women. "

149:2.8 The most astonishing and the most [[revolutionary]] feature of [[Michael]]'s [[mission]] on [[earth]] was his [[attitude]] toward [[women]]. In a day and [[generation]] when a man was not supposed to [[salute]] even his own [[wife]] in a [[public]] place, [[Jesus]] [[dared]] to take [[women]] along as [[teachers]] of the [[gospel]] in [[connection]] with his [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_150 third tour of Galilee]. And he had the consummate [[courage]] to do this in the face of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbinic_Judaism rabbinic] teaching which declared that it was " better that the [[words]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah the law] should be burned than delivered to [[women]]. "

149:2.9 In one generation Jesus lifted women out of the disrespectful oblivion and the slavish drudgery of the ages. And it is the one shameful thing about the religion that presumed to take Jesus' name that it lacked the moral courage to follow this noble example in its subsequent attitude toward women.

149:2.9 In one [[generation]] [[Jesus]] lifted [[women]] out of the disrespectful [[oblivion]] and the [[slavish]] drudgery of the ages. And it is the one [[shame]]ful thing about the [[religion]] that presumed to take [[Jesus]]' [[name]] that it lacked the [[moral]] [[courage]] to follow this [[noble]] example in its subsequent [[attitude]] toward [[women]].

149:2.10 As Jesus mingled with the people, they found him entirely free from the superstitions of that day. He was free from religious prejudices; he was never intolerant. He had nothing in his heart resembling social antagonism. While he complied with the good in the religion of his fathers, he did not hesitate to disregard man-made traditions of superstition and bondage. He dared to teach that catastrophes of nature, accidents of time, and other calamitous happenings are not visitations of divine judgments or mysterious dispensations of Providence. He denounced slavish devotion to meaningless ceremonials and exposed the fallacy of materialistic worship. He boldly proclaimed man's spiritual freedom and dared to teach that mortals of the flesh are indeed and in truth sons of the living God.

149:2.10 As [[Jesus]] mingled with the people, they found him entirely [[free]] from the [[superstitions]] of that day. He was free from [[religious]] [[prejudices]]; he was never intolerant. He had nothing in his [[heart]] resembling [[social]] [[antagonism]]. While he complied with the [[good]] in the [[religion]] of his [[father]]s, he did not [[hesitate]] to disregard man-made [[traditions]] of [[superstition]] and [[bondage]]. He [[dared]] to teach that [[catastrophes]] of [[nature]], [[accidents]] of time, and other calamitous happenings are not [[visitations]] of [[divine]] [[judgment]]s or [[mysterious]] dispensations of [[Providence]]. He denounced [[slavish]] [[devotion]] to meaningless [[ceremonials]] and exposed the [[fallacy]] of [[materialistic]] [[worship]]. He boldly [[proclaimed]] man's [[spiritual]] [[freedom]] and [[dared]] to teach that [[mortals]] of the [[flesh]] are indeed and in [[truth]] [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_40#40:5._MORTALS_OF_TIME_AND_SPACE sons of the living God].

149:2.11 Jesus transcended all the teachings of his forebears when he boldly substituted clean hearts for clean hands as the mark of true religion. He put reality in the place of tradition and swept aside all pretensions of vanity and hypocrisy. And yet this fearless man of God did not give vent to destructive criticism or manifest an utter disregard of the religious, social, economic, and political usages of his day. He was not a militant revolutionist; he was a progressive evolutionist. He engaged in the destruction of that which was only when he simultaneously offered his fellows the superior thing which ought to be.

149:2.11 [[Jesus]] [[transcended]] all the teachings of his forebears when he boldly substituted clean [[hearts]] for clean hands as the mark of true [[religion]]. He put [[reality]] in the place of [[tradition]] and swept aside all pretensions of [[vanity]] and [[hypocrisy]]. And yet this fearless man of [[God]] did not give vent to destructive [[criticism]] or [[manifest]] an utter disregard of the [[religious]], [[social]], [[economic]], and [[political]] usages of his day. He was not a [[militant]] [[revolutionist]]; he was a [[progressive]] evolutionist. He [[engaged]] in the destruction of that which was only when he [[simultaneously]] offered his fellows the superior thing which ought to be.

149:2.12 Jesus received the obedience of his followers without exacting it. Only three men who received his personal call refused to accept the invitation to discipleship. He exercised a peculiar drawing power over men, but he was not dictatorial. He commanded confidence, and no man ever resented his giving a command. He assumed absolute authority over his disciples, but no one ever objected. He permitted his followers to call him Master.

149:2.12 [[Jesus]] [[received]] the [[obedience]] of his followers without exacting it. Only [[three]] men who received his [[personal]] call refused to [[accept]] the [[invitation]] to discipleship. He exercised a peculiar drawing [[power]] over men, but he was not dictatorial. He commanded [[confidence]], and no man ever resented his giving a command. He assumed [[absolute]] [[authority]] over his [[disciples]], but no one ever objected. He [[permitted]] his followers to call him Master.

149:2.13 The Master was admired by all who met him except by those who entertained deep-seated religious prejudices or those who thought they discerned political dangers in his teachings. Men were astonished at the originality and authoritativeness of his teaching. They marveled at his patience in dealing with backward and troublesome inquirers. He inspired hope and confidence in the hearts of all who came under his ministry. Only those who had not met him feared him, and he was hated only by those who regarded him as the champion of that truth which was destined to overthrow the evil and error which they had determined to hold in their hearts at all cost.

149:2.13 [[The Master]] was admired by all who met him except by those who entertained [[deep]]-seated [[religious]] [[prejudices]] or those who [[thought]] they [[discerned]] [[political]] [[dangers]] in his teachings. Men were [[astonished]] at the originality and [[authoritative]]ness of his teaching. They [[marveled]] at his [[patience]] in dealing with backward and troublesome [[inquirers]]. He [[inspired]] [[hope]] and [[confidence]] in the [[hearts]] of all who came under his [[ministry]]. Only those who had not met him [[feared]] him, and he was [[hated]] only by those who regarded him as the [[champion]] of that [[truth]] which was [[destined]] to overthrow the [[evil]] and [[error]] which they had [[determined]] to hold in their [[hearts]] at all cost.

149:2.14 On both friends and foes he exercised a strong and peculiarly fascinating influence. Multitudes would follow him for weeks, just to hear his gracious words and behold his simple life. Devoted men and women loved Jesus with a well-nigh superhuman affection. And the better they knew him the more they loved him. And all this is still true; even today and in all future ages, the more man comes to know this God-man, the more he will love and follow after him.

149:2.14 On both [[friends]] and foes he exercised a strong and peculiarly [[fascinating]] [[influence]]. Multitudes would follow him for weeks, just to hear his [[gracious]] [[words]] and behold his [[simple]] life. [[Devoted]] men and women loved [[Jesus]] with a well-nigh [[superhuman]] [[affection]]. And the better they knew him the more they loved him. And all this is still true; even today and in all [[future]] ages, the more man comes to know this [[God]]-[[man]], the more he will [[love]] and follow after him.

==149:3. HOSTILITY OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS==

==149:3. HOSTILITY OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS==