PAT'S
PERSPECTIVE
Jesus'
Teachings Are Unique
By
Pat Robertson
The 700 Club
CBN.com
-- It has been said that if Jesus is not God, then we should worship the
man who thought Him up, because never did any man speak that way before or since. The
teachings that I have discovered, especially about the kingdom, have truth that
is self-validating. They resonate with the experience of people throughout all
the ages. When these principles are put into practice, they lead invariably to
peace, harmony, victory, and love. This does not mean that the teachings of Jesus
will not bring conflict. Because when someone accepts the teachings of God, there
will be conflict with those who wish to continue in evil. Jesus' words pulsate
with wisdom. For example, His concept about civil government: "Render therefore
to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's"
(Matthew 22:21). The concept of God as a Spirit: "Those who worship Him must worship
in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). The Sermon on the Mount: "Love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you" (Matthew 5:44). The
greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your
soul and with all your mind ... Love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments
hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus' understanding
of the sweep of history was absolutely superb. There has never been anyone in
history who has even come close to Him. Above all else, Jesus rose from the dead,
appeared to people, sent His Spirit to people, and has transformed the lives of
millions. Wherever you find the gospel, you find progress, freedom, liberty, and
family loyalty--all the things that human beings acknowledge as the desires of
their hearts. It is not coincidental that the nations that have been characterized
as "Christian" have surpassed the rest of the world for centuries in almost every
measure of achievement. It is true that there have been many crimes perpetrated
upon humanity in the name of Christianity, but those who did such things did not
really know Christ or His teachings. Christ did not lead people to persecute and
torture Jews and "heretics." Many so-called "heretics" were actually ones who
knew the Lord, and they were being persecuted by zealots who did not know Him.
What
happens in religion is that one generation finds Jesus and lives for Him. The
next generation learns His teaching by rote. The third generation does not really
know it at all, but decides to use religion as a justification for holding on
to temporal power. Such people launched the crusades and conducted the Inquisition.
They were using religion, but they did not know Jesus. Wherever you find political
power and worldly ambition using Christianity, you will often find the absence
of New Testament truth. Then there may be sinful excesses done in the name of
religion. Neither Jesus nor His teachings should be blamed for sinful excesses
committed under cover of His name.
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