Changes

195:9.2 But [[paganized]] and [[socialized]] [[Christianity]] stands in need of new [[contact]] with the uncompromised [[teachings]] of [[Jesus]]; it languishes for lack of a new [[vision]] of [[the Master]]'s life on [[earth]]. A new and fuller [[revelation]] of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] is destined to [[conquer]] an [[empire]] of materialistic [[secularism]] and to overthrow a world sway of [[mechanistic]] [[naturalism]]. [[Urantia]] is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most [[amazing]] and enthralling [[epochs]] of [[social]] re[[adjustment]], [[moral]] quickening, and [[spiritual]] [[enlightenment]].

195:9.2 But [[paganized]] and [[socialized]] [[Christianity]] stands in need of new [[contact]] with the uncompromised [[teachings]] of [[Jesus]]; it languishes for lack of a new [[vision]] of [[the Master]]'s life on [[earth]]. A new and fuller [[revelation]] of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] is destined to [[conquer]] an [[empire]] of materialistic [[secularism]] and to overthrow a world sway of [[mechanistic]] [[naturalism]]. [[Urantia]] is now quivering on the very brink of one of its most [[amazing]] and enthralling [[epochs]] of [[social]] re[[adjustment]], [[moral]] quickening, and [[spiritual]] [[enlightenment]].

195:9.3 The teachings of [[Jesus]], even though greatly [[modified]], [[survived]] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults mystery cults] of their birthtime, the [[ignorance]] and [[superstition]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], and are even now slowly [[triumphing]] over the [[materialism]], [[mechanism]], and [[secularism]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]. And such times of great testing and threatened [[defeat]] are always times of great [[revelation]].

195:9.3 The teachings of [[Jesus]], even though greatly [[modified]], [[survived]] the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_cults mystery cults] of their birthtime, the [[ignorance]] and [[superstition]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Ages_(historiography) dark ages], and are even now slowly [[triumphing]] over the [[materialism]], [[mechanism]], and [[secularism]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]. And such times of great testing and threatened [[defeat]] are always times of great [[revelation]].

195:9.4 [[Religion]] does need new [[leaders]], [[spiritual]] men and women who will [[dare]] to depend solely on [[Jesus]] and his incomparable teachings. If [[Christianity]] [[persists]] in neglecting its [[spiritual]] [[mission]] while it continues to [[busy]] itself with [[social]] and [[material]] [[problems]], the spiritual [[renaissance]] must await the coming of these new [[teachers]] of [[Jesus]]' [[religion]] who will be exclusively [[devoted]] to the spiritual regeneration of men. And then will these [[spirit]]-[[born]] [[souls]] quickly supply the [[leadership]] and [[inspiration]] requisite for the [[social]], [[moral]], [[economic]], and [[political]] reorganization of the world.

195:9.4 [[Religion]] does need new [[leaders]], [[spiritual]] men and women who will [[dare]] to depend solely on [[Jesus]] and his incomparable teachings. If [[Christianity]] [[persists]] in neglecting its [[spiritual]] [[mission]] while it continues to [[busy]] itself with [[social]] and [[material]] [[problems]], the spiritual [[renaissance]] must await the coming of these new [[teachers]] of [[Jesus]]' [[religion]] who will be exclusively [[devoted]] to the spiritual regeneration of men. And then will these [[spirit]]-[[born]] [[souls]] quickly supply the [[leadership]] and [[inspiration]] requisite for the [[social]], [[moral]], [[economic]], and [[political]] reorganization of the world.

195:9.7 [[Selfish]] men and women simply will not pay such a price for even the greatest [[spiritual]] [[treasure]] ever offered [[mortal]] man. Only when man has become sufficiently [[disillusioned]] by the sorrowful [[disappointments]] attendant upon the [[foolish]] and [[deceptive]] pursuits of [[selfishness]], and subsequent to the [[discovery]] of the barrenness of [[formalized]] [[religion]], will he be disposed to turn wholeheartedly to the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]], the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]].

195:9.7 [[Selfish]] men and women simply will not pay such a price for even the greatest [[spiritual]] [[treasure]] ever offered [[mortal]] man. Only when man has become sufficiently [[disillusioned]] by the sorrowful [[disappointments]] attendant upon the [[foolish]] and [[deceptive]] pursuits of [[selfishness]], and subsequent to the [[discovery]] of the barrenness of [[formalized]] [[religion]], will he be disposed to turn wholeheartedly to the [[gospel]] of [[the kingdom]], the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]].

195:9.8 The world needs more firsthand [[religion]]. Even [[Christianity]]—the best of the religions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]—is not only a religion about Jesus, but it is so largely one which men [[experience]] secondhand. They take their [[religion]] wholly as handed down by their [[accepted]] religious [[teachers]]. What an [[awakening]] the world would [[experience]] if it could only see [[Jesus]] as he really lived on [[earth]] and know, firsthand, his life-giving teachings! Descriptive [[words]] of [[things]] [[beautiful]] cannot thrill like the [[sight]] thereof, neither can [[creed]]al [[words]] [[inspire]] men's [[souls]] like the [[experience]] of knowing the [[presence]] of [[God]]. But [[expectant]] [[faith]] will ever keep the [[hope]]-door of man's [[soul]] open for the entrance of the [[eternal]] [[spiritual]] realities of the [[divine]] [[values]] of the worlds beyond.

195:9.8 The world needs more firsthand [[religion]]. Even [[Christianity]]—the best of the religions of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century twentieth century]—is not only a religion about Jesus, but it is so largely one which men [[experience]] secondhand. They take their [[religion]] wholly as handed down by their [[accepted]] religious [[teachers]]. What an [[awakening]] the world would [[experience]] if it could only see [[Jesus]] as he really lived on [[earth]] and know, firsthand, his life-giving teachings! Descriptive [[words]] of [[things]] [[beautiful]] cannot thrill like the [[sight]] thereof, neither can [[creed]]al [[words]] [[inspire]] men's [[souls]] like the [[experience]] of knowing the [[presence]] of [[God]]. But [[expectant]] [[faith]] will ever keep the [[hope]]-door of man's [[soul]] open for the entrance of the [[eternal]] [[spiritual]] realities of the [[divine]] [[values]] of the worlds beyond.

195:9.9 [[Christianity]] has [[dared]] to lower its [[ideals]] before the [[challenge]] of human [[greed]], [[war]]-madness, and the [[lust]] for [[power]]; but the religion of [[Jesus]] stands as the unsullied and [[transcendent]] [[spiritual]] [[summons]], calling to the best there is in man to rise above all these [[legacies]] of [[animal]] [[evolution]] and, by [[grace]], attain the moral heights of true [[human]] [[destiny]].

195:9.9 [[Christianity]] has [[dared]] to lower its [[ideals]] before the [[challenge]] of human [[greed]], [[war]]-madness, and the [[lust]] for [[power]]; but the religion of [[Jesus]] stands as the unsullied and [[transcendent]] [[spiritual]] [[summons]], calling to the best there is in man to rise above all these [[legacies]] of [[animal]] [[evolution]] and, by [[grace]], attain the moral heights of true [[human]] [[destiny]].