From: MM24681@UAFSYSB.BITNET (Michael Million)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: Teachings of Jesus
Date: 15 Oct 92 13:54:59 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU


 Greetings to All:  It is certainly a beautiful 'time' to be alive.
  Dan Graham writes:
  >From:         "DRCV06::GRAHAM" <GRAHAM%DRCV06.decnet@DRCVAX.AF.MIL>
       <...text deleted...>
  >Where, then, are we to find the gospel?
  >If your answer is that we learn the gospel via direct revelation in
  >our hearts, then the Bible is a gigantic lie and Christianity is too
  >and each must proceed on his and her own way through the mysteries of
  >the universe, guided by some "inner light" that has no basis for
  >being tested nor with which nobody can contend.  The result of this
  >is that there is no error nor truth.

    ...and from "Dr. Nancy's Sweetie"<kilroy@GBORO.GLASSBORO.EDU>
       <...text deleted...>      [sorry I don't know your name!]
  >...there are millions of things in this world that can kill you, but
  >you trust that reasonable precautions are taken and that they will
  >keep you safe.

 Thank both of you gentlemen for these comments/questions and please
 forgive me for limiting the text to just those edited above.  These
 comments contain an insight of spirit which confirms to me that I need
 to make a disclosure of good news.  But first, let me redress the
 socialization of religion issue.

 I have mentioned the sovereignty of the individual and that also of the
 sum total of humanity on earth; and that the constantly changing con-
 figuration of intermediate groups and institutions are not essential to
 salvation.  Were it otherwise, we would be *dependent upon man-made*
 organizations to recognize our potential of eternal salvation as faith
 sons of God the Father..  I have repeated Jesus' definition of his
 church and there can be no doubt but that it includes ALL MEN from all
 corners of the earth.  What I tell you now is that over time, Paul and
 his contemporaries applied all of Jesus' spiritual implications regard-
 ing *himself (Jesus) and the individual believer* to the CHURCH as a
 group of believers; in so doing they effectively killed the noble truth
 that Jesus taught about the concept of the kingdom in the heart of the
 individual true believer.  I would never say Paul was a liar, but that
 he was shrewd and resourceful; a thorough study of Hebrew, Stoic,
 Persian and Greek beliefs of the day will unravel the influence of
 earthly religions from the divine religion of Jesus.  It is not that
 Paul was so encumbered, but that the peoples of the times were very
 much encumbered.  Jesus swept away all notions of sacrifice and atone-
 ment.  And belief in such matters as his resurrection should never have
 been considered essential to salvation; that the dead rise is a _result_
 of the transmuted life of the believer, not a requirement!
 When 'Christian doctrine' presumes to have an essential role of even
 mediation, much less adjudication and absolution between the individual
 and God, a tragic breach of sovereign relationships is effected.  Paul
 and his successors partially transferred the issues of eternal life
 from the individual to the church.

 I could ask, where is our conviction in the words of Jesus?  Do we not
 believe that the Father lives in our hearts and spirits?  Do we not
 believe that He breathes with us and knows all about us?  Do we not
 really believe that God can or would take the time to monitor every
 detail - large and small - of our spiritual lives?  True religion is
 a matter of personal experience. Let "faith" stand for the individual's
 relationship with God rather than some creed a group of mortals are
 able to agree upon as a religious _attitude_!

 When religious activities of a church members become more involved in
 the furtherance of the church itself rather than the message of eternal
 salvation for all men, a *disservice* is done to those effected.  When
 the church leaders spend their time and energy in 'administration'
 instead of acting as ministers, when there is a diversion of religion
 from the service of God to the service of the church, when a 'chosen-
 people' attitude prevails, the socialization of religion will have
 fossilized truth and standardized worship, and lost the basic precepts
 of Jesus' teachings: the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
 (I do feel there is a role for a church and I will discuss such at some
 other time).  Jesus would never say 'we are Christians and they are
 non-Christians' - truly there are only believers and non-believers -
 ALL mankind are brothers and sisters!

 There are two ways in which an individual may come to know God.  One
 is by direct personal experience and the other is by direct revelation.
 To the extent that the church (any church) presumes to stand between
 God and the individual, it is false and an impediment to understanding
 the message of personal salvation.

 I have heard it said:
 "It is far better to have a religion without a church than to have a
 church without a religion."     <and>

 "In the spirit fellowship of the believer-son with the Divine Father
 there can never be doctrinal finality and sectarian superiority of
 group consciousness."

 Communion and worship of God the Father is *the* life enriching exper-
 ence, *the* means of spiritual transformation which we seek.  This can
 happen to anyone, anyplace with only their recognition and acceptance
 of the divine inner light...and their sincere words to God, personal
 and intimate.  Your spiritual body will grow and be changed eternally
 by divine love.
 Dan says...
 "...guided by some inner light with no basis for being tested nor with
 which nobody can contend?"  I don't believe you believe this!  Jesus
 found the Father with his human mind resources JUST as we are able to do.

 So YES Dan, I agree with you that there must be a standard.  Those of
 you who have been patient with me, and read this far, I am indebted.
 I have good news that indeed, the Son has seen that his teachings have
 been mis-applied and *has* ensured our safety.  I tell you now that the
 true gospel of Jesus is alive and within easy reach. Not only by his and
 his Father's spirit in the inner realms of personal experience, but we
 have also been further blessed with an external and direct revelation.
 In deliberating about how to express this priceless resource, I have
 determined that I can speak no words with which you are unfamiliar.  I
 feel it is an honor, as well as a heavy responsibility, to be a local
 bearer of this news. Since the name of the work contains words which are
 not familiar to our ears (only our hearts), I have determined that I
 will give full details by private e-mail to those requesting same. The
 continued discussion of the teachings of Jesus will be my focus on this
 list.  I will not get into discussions concerning the nature of the
 revelation manifestation - just its message.  Each individual owes it
 to themselves to hold this work in their owns hands and judge for
 themselves its import.  I do not intend to be mysterious about these
 matters; some will speak disparagingly regardless of my methods or
 intentions.  I will refer to the work as the UB; I will tell you now of
 these designations:
          Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 55-10554
          International Standard Book Number: 0-911560-02-5

                                a brother in Jesus,   Michael