Truths of Jesus Which Christians Cannot Bear
"I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now."
(John 16:12)
Does anyone really believe that only those teachings of Jesus recorded in the Bible are to be taken into account because he quit teaching us 2,000 years ago, and human open-mindedness has not evolved in the last 2,000 years?
Such an idea is absurd.
In the Catholic tradition many devotees throughout history have been willing to listen to the voice of Jesus (or sometimes Mary) teaching them more sweeping truths as they have opened to evermore expansive levels of spiritual experience. Often these dear ones become recognized as saints.
In Pentecostal prayer gatherings participants surrender themselves to our holy spirit, the very essence of Christ, and they are shown experiences which provide them with entirely new levels of understanding.
All Christians believe in miracles ... and because of their open-mindedness with respect to miracles they learn one of the most important lessons Jesus teaches: "believing is seeing."
Why then is it so hard for some Christians to believe Jesus has now revealed teachings his disciples at the time couldn't bear, but our 21st Century minds can bear? Why is it such a struggle for some Christians to believe Jesus when he says he has given us a clearer explanation and expansion of his teachings in A Course in Miracles?
Do we dare conclude such Christians are stuck in arrogance, self-importance, an insistent attitude of "I am right ... and if anything differs from what I've previously been taught, it has to be wrong?"
Strangely, these unbelieving Christians do grasp perfectly the blocking mechanisms erected by arrogance, because they see such blocks all the time in atheists who constantly declare: "When I see it I'll believe it."
The Christian answer to atheists is always, "How are you going to see something if you aren't really open to seeing it in the first place? We only see what our minds are open to seeing." In the same way, Jesus asks non-believing Christians, "How are you going to see that A Course in Miracles is my teaching if you aren't really open to seeing it?"
Early enthusiasts of A Course in Miracles haven't been much help in this respect. Honest book publishers print the author's name on the book's cover, spine, or title page. But in this case the group which for years published the most widely sold edition has pretended there is no author. In addition to the cover or title page nowhere mentioning an author, in a cryptic 6-page preface to their version, the source of the work is referred to as a Voice, but the fact that the voice has identified itself as Jesus is never once mentioned.
Unlike the sentiment of the old African-American spiritual song, "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere...," purveyors of the Course in the early years of its publication seemed highly interested in hiding the Course's authorship, as if they were afraid of unhesitatingly declaring the good news. Arrogance again? It's as if you can hear them saying, "Yes, I know Jesus makes it obvious within A Course in Miracles that he is the author, but I also know better than to admit it in public."
The fact that Jesus has never quit teaching us and is the author of A Course in Miracles is even in our enlightened 21st Century unbearable to some. And many Christians are unfortunately missing advanced levels of understanding and experience which Jesus wants us to have, because they cannot bear those few aspects of his teaching which Jesus explains in A Course in Miracles, but which had always been interpreted incorrectly throughout history by those who could not bear correct interpretations.
We can almost imagine Jesus in heaven laughing and saying, "Down there on earth adults are so funny! Their little children are far less afraid of truth!"
Wouldn't you agree we all need to move in the direction of becoming more like little children, more open-minded? Maybe a first step is to order Jesus Christ's Course in Miracles, read it, and begin to understand the teachings of Jesus more fully than ever before. Then experiencing a whole new peace and child-like joy we may very well feel like happily telling everyone on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere:
Click on image above to order
Each month our Holy Spirit gives a message which helps individuals open spiritually and understand Jesus' teaching.
Such an idea is absurd.
In the Catholic tradition many devotees throughout history have been willing to listen to the voice of Jesus (or sometimes Mary) teaching them more sweeping truths as they have opened to evermore expansive levels of spiritual experience. Often these dear ones become recognized as saints.
In Pentecostal prayer gatherings participants surrender themselves to our holy spirit, the very essence of Christ, and they are shown experiences which provide them with entirely new levels of understanding.
All Christians believe in miracles ... and because of their open-mindedness with respect to miracles they learn one of the most important lessons Jesus teaches: "believing is seeing."
Do we dare conclude such Christians are stuck in arrogance, self-importance, an insistent attitude of "I am right ... and if anything differs from what I've previously been taught, it has to be wrong?"
Strangely, these unbelieving Christians do grasp perfectly the blocking mechanisms erected by arrogance, because they see such blocks all the time in atheists who constantly declare: "When I see it I'll believe it."
The Christian answer to atheists is always, "How are you going to see something if you aren't really open to seeing it in the first place? We only see what our minds are open to seeing." In the same way, Jesus asks non-believing Christians, "How are you going to see that A Course in Miracles is my teaching if you aren't really open to seeing it?"
Early enthusiasts of A Course in Miracles haven't been much help in this respect. Honest book publishers print the author's name on the book's cover, spine, or title page. But in this case the group which for years published the most widely sold edition has pretended there is no author. In addition to the cover or title page nowhere mentioning an author, in a cryptic 6-page preface to their version, the source of the work is referred to as a Voice, but the fact that the voice has identified itself as Jesus is never once mentioned.
Unlike the sentiment of the old African-American spiritual song, "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere...," purveyors of the Course in the early years of its publication seemed highly interested in hiding the Course's authorship, as if they were afraid of unhesitatingly declaring the good news. Arrogance again? It's as if you can hear them saying, "Yes, I know Jesus makes it obvious within A Course in Miracles that he is the author, but I also know better than to admit it in public."
The fact that Jesus has never quit teaching us and is the author of A Course in Miracles is even in our enlightened 21st Century unbearable to some. And many Christians are unfortunately missing advanced levels of understanding and experience which Jesus wants us to have, because they cannot bear those few aspects of his teaching which Jesus explains in A Course in Miracles, but which had always been interpreted incorrectly throughout history by those who could not bear correct interpretations.
We can almost imagine Jesus in heaven laughing and saying, "Down there on earth adults are so funny! Their little children are far less afraid of truth!"
Wouldn't you agree we all need to move in the direction of becoming more like little children, more open-minded? Maybe a first step is to order Jesus Christ's Course in Miracles, read it, and begin to understand the teachings of Jesus more fully than ever before. Then experiencing a whole new peace and child-like joy we may very well feel like happily telling everyone on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere:
"Jesus has given you
a wonderful new presentation
of his teaching...
...and guess what?
You can bear it."
You can bear it."
Click on image above to order
Each month our Holy Spirit gives a message which helps individuals open spiritually and understand Jesus' teaching.If you would like to be alerted when these messages are published please visit A Course in Miracles Discourses on Facebook. You'll not only be able to read interesting articles, but also reply and comment. Fun!
"...nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)
Click below for more information on A Course in Miracles Light Sessions:
Holy Instant Christian Fellowship in Salt Lake City
