[zeek]

Originally Posted by OBW

I recently read a book in which the author early on describes the "seven Jesuses I have known." And he was right. So many groups sub-define Jesus through their lens, highlighting certain attributes and ignoring or downplaying others. But if we take a look at the highlights in the various groups, we actually get a more robust view of Jesus than any one of them.

And which one is true? All of them. (Well, there may be something false to be found somewhere, but we are talking about true Christianity.) Jesus is the Savior, Redeemer. He is the leader and servant. He is our elder brother and the one who makes us brothers (something that seems more father-like). He said to abide and to obey. He said to disciple, to baptize, and to teach. He said to love everyone like you love yourself. He said to care for the widow, orphan and the poor. He said to love God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. He was a child born of a virgin. He is the mighty God. He is meek and he cleared the Temple.

If you only want one of those, or only the ones that display certain attributes, then you are seeking only part of what God is.

The problem comes when some of those Jesuses are contradictory and therefore mutually exclusive. Like the pacifist Jesus and the one who leads Christians into war. Or how about the reticent Jesus of the synoptic gospels and the self preaching Jesus of the Gospel of John? These are problems for people who find contradictions illogical. The greatest of these is the problem of the claims that Jesus was both man and God. I maintain that there is no rational way of explaining that claim.