The Roman historian Tacitus seems to admit there was a time pre-Constantine where the Jewish followers of Jesus had it right.
The document declares that there were many unbelieving Jews living along with non-Pauline Jewish followers of Jesus in Rome only a dozen or so years after the Crucifixion. Both groups were supposedly expelled around 50 AD by Claudius over disputes between the two. But as you will see according to Tacitus, the animosity was not at the hands of the followers of Jesus.
Tacitus records a number of referrals to these followers, with one still contested to this day as a reference to the Christ. One sentence that stands out that everyone seems to conveniently overlook is that the Jewish followers of Jesus were condemned for their "hatred of mankind".
Now anyone knowing about Jesus might ask how could His original non-violent and loving neighbour as self followers be accused of such a thing?
If you look at it from the fundamental Jewish or Roman side of things, these followers would not be seen as violent as the description might suggest, but just the opposite, they being contrary to the self serving and often violent ideals of man. They truly followed the teachings of Jesus and rejected the ideals which mankind had traditionally lived by for millennia. They rejected without outright physical rebellion, man's authourity in favour of God's. They rejected the system, but loved the human. Imagine if people did that today.
They were seen as outcasts. This made them not only anti-social towards society as a whole, but also seen as hating all that mankind stood for, thus haters of mankind. And rightly so as Jesus taught.
So as I said, the Jewish followers of Jesus in the beginning had it right, as recorded by the historian Tacitus. Just as Jesus once taught when He spoke of division between man or families, etc. over His Kingdom, today that very same division and clash exists within Christianity itself also, as a minority of mankind hating followers of Jesus irk the nature of the majorly worldly Christian. No different than when it once irked the Romans and Jews.
Those followers are now accused of hating Christianity and not being supportive of the worldly branch of the church when in fact, they are the only ones acting as the original followers once did. They are seen as outcasts by the real outcasts. The division is compounded by the fact that the gentile church later rejected that true path and returned itself to the ways of man when it aligned itself with the Romans. As a result it had to revamp the religion to defend it's now fallen position. The blind have taught the blind to do so ever since, regardless of offshoot denomination of that original fallen church.
Believing in Jesus is useless if we don't do what He taught. Even the demons knew who He was, but they too rejected His ways and refused to follow any ideals other than those which man has followed since the Garden. Yet the gentile church in the re-alignment with the world, accepted the Tempter's offer which Jesus had rejected, that being 'all this can be yours'.
Does this mean there is a right denomination within Christianity, or anywhere else, while the others are wrong? No.
It means that in every church and denomination within Christianity since those first dozen years, there is as previously said, division between those in the majority who still try to have God blend in with their world, and those in the minority who reject man's world for God's will. Jesus never was a fan of the majority or of the trappings of man. His teachings sometimes do eventually reach those willing to let go of their self perceived security which they built upon the shifting sand of human tradition, preferring instead the new found ways of the Kingdom built upon rock.
So...
Why do these worldly Christians, like the Jews before them, become hostile or aggressive, and see those of the Kingdom as 'haters of mankind', meaning of course 'haters' of their doctrines and worldly and often political ways? Why do the worldly Christians see those of the Kingdom as haters even of Christianity itself, especially when they are confronted by those in Christianity who reject the traditional ways of mankind and who simply hope all the worldly come into the light of the Kingdom?
It seems to me nothing more than good old human nature is once again at fault. The very nature that turned us against God and keeps us from re-uniting with Him. When confronted with the notion that we've possibly been 'had' by the Christian religion for centuries, disbelief then often overtakes them.
Tradition is not a guarantee of truth. Can we expect a religion (based on the indisputable fact that it sold (whored) itself back to the world of man) then be trusted to teach us that which condemns itself for that betrayal? Of course not. Why make the conflict of interest obvious and have their system questioned? Sounds like the same worldly ideals similarly used by governments, business or finance.
Even scripture is ignored or misconstrued. Scripture which confirms that the followers of Jesus were on the right path as the religion itself fell back into the world. Ignored no doubt because people don't want their belief to be confused by fact or evidence to the contrary. Doctrine then overrides scripture and the Gospel goes from Kingdom to something else. People end up defending the doctrines or the religion rather than what Jesus taught.
Denial is a defence mechanism when security is threatened. Just one peek at truth can topple a mountain of belief and then where would they be? Strange and contrary thoughts if one considers that they expound upon the benefits of rejecting all and being born again, while they themselves at the same time desperately cling to the fleshy womb.
But challenges to their core beliefs instinctively ignites a defense mechanism. The results are then that truth rarely stands a chance. Look up cognitive dissonance and see where many seeking God refuse to see that they've been bamboozled by a worldly institution into believing that they are saved. Reality check. What they've been taught is being saved from becoming haters of mankind. Opposite to being saved from the world of man, as Jesus taught.
So even those who are aware of the conflict between what Jesus taught and what they have been taught by religion often chose to bury that which causes them the conflict (while others simply walk away). They take the wide path offered by their religion and all is well in their little spiritual world until someone comes along and reminds them that they have been duped.
But happily, as long as one breathes, it is never too late to let go and switch sides to the narrow path. To become haters of what mankind actually is, and to become instead lovers of the ideals of God. It's never been a secret to those willing to just let go. The secret has simply been ignored by those who fear that the things man has taught them have been wrong all along. Their security blanket remains safe while they often mock those of God's truth as a result.
Imagine the great revival everyone talks about but which never happens. When Jesus returns and fulfills that which the haters of mankind knew all along. Imagine that revival if it were practiced now. Practiced individually however, it can change our entire view of society and the world, and send us off with a new consciousness called rebirth. A new consciousness purposely hidden for millennia by the world of man intent on protecting itself from a return to the ideals of God, and those same ideals as shown by the haters of mankind.
The world is not our home but our prison. There is no need to defend it and it's ways out of our fear of change. If one chooses, we can break free of that tradition which man has brainwashed us with, including within Christianity. As a result, no 'haters of mankind' will ever ridicule those who break away for doing so, but will welcome them instead.
Should these 'haters' be trusted? Is there a personal agenda? Consider that they are the only ones with nothing personal to gain by having others find the narrow path. Only the worldly Christians left behind, along with the rest of mankind, would ever consider mocking, ridiculing, seeking gain or fearing loss.
Put on your haters of the world of mankind t-shirt. Enter in through the narrow gate, leaving behind the world that they the worldly so desperately cling to. They have had their only reward.
© ...timothyu
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
The document declares that there were many unbelieving Jews living along with non-Pauline Jewish followers of Jesus in Rome only a dozen or so years after the Crucifixion. Both groups were supposedly expelled around 50 AD by Claudius over disputes between the two. But as you will see according to Tacitus, the animosity was not at the hands of the followers of Jesus.
Tacitus records a number of referrals to these followers, with one still contested to this day as a reference to the Christ. One sentence that stands out that everyone seems to conveniently overlook is that the Jewish followers of Jesus were condemned for their "hatred of mankind".
Now anyone knowing about Jesus might ask how could His original non-violent and loving neighbour as self followers be accused of such a thing?
If you look at it from the fundamental Jewish or Roman side of things, these followers would not be seen as violent as the description might suggest, but just the opposite, they being contrary to the self serving and often violent ideals of man. They truly followed the teachings of Jesus and rejected the ideals which mankind had traditionally lived by for millennia. They rejected without outright physical rebellion, man's authourity in favour of God's. They rejected the system, but loved the human. Imagine if people did that today.
They were seen as outcasts. This made them not only anti-social towards society as a whole, but also seen as hating all that mankind stood for, thus haters of mankind. And rightly so as Jesus taught.
So as I said, the Jewish followers of Jesus in the beginning had it right, as recorded by the historian Tacitus. Just as Jesus once taught when He spoke of division between man or families, etc. over His Kingdom, today that very same division and clash exists within Christianity itself also, as a minority of mankind hating followers of Jesus irk the nature of the majorly worldly Christian. No different than when it once irked the Romans and Jews.
Those followers are now accused of hating Christianity and not being supportive of the worldly branch of the church when in fact, they are the only ones acting as the original followers once did. They are seen as outcasts by the real outcasts. The division is compounded by the fact that the gentile church later rejected that true path and returned itself to the ways of man when it aligned itself with the Romans. As a result it had to revamp the religion to defend it's now fallen position. The blind have taught the blind to do so ever since, regardless of offshoot denomination of that original fallen church.
Believing in Jesus is useless if we don't do what He taught. Even the demons knew who He was, but they too rejected His ways and refused to follow any ideals other than those which man has followed since the Garden. Yet the gentile church in the re-alignment with the world, accepted the Tempter's offer which Jesus had rejected, that being 'all this can be yours'.
Does this mean there is a right denomination within Christianity, or anywhere else, while the others are wrong? No.
It means that in every church and denomination within Christianity since those first dozen years, there is as previously said, division between those in the majority who still try to have God blend in with their world, and those in the minority who reject man's world for God's will. Jesus never was a fan of the majority or of the trappings of man. His teachings sometimes do eventually reach those willing to let go of their self perceived security which they built upon the shifting sand of human tradition, preferring instead the new found ways of the Kingdom built upon rock.
So...
Why do these worldly Christians, like the Jews before them, become hostile or aggressive, and see those of the Kingdom as 'haters of mankind', meaning of course 'haters' of their doctrines and worldly and often political ways? Why do the worldly Christians see those of the Kingdom as haters even of Christianity itself, especially when they are confronted by those in Christianity who reject the traditional ways of mankind and who simply hope all the worldly come into the light of the Kingdom?
It seems to me nothing more than good old human nature is once again at fault. The very nature that turned us against God and keeps us from re-uniting with Him. When confronted with the notion that we've possibly been 'had' by the Christian religion for centuries, disbelief then often overtakes them.
Tradition is not a guarantee of truth. Can we expect a religion (based on the indisputable fact that it sold (whored) itself back to the world of man) then be trusted to teach us that which condemns itself for that betrayal? Of course not. Why make the conflict of interest obvious and have their system questioned? Sounds like the same worldly ideals similarly used by governments, business or finance.
Even scripture is ignored or misconstrued. Scripture which confirms that the followers of Jesus were on the right path as the religion itself fell back into the world. Ignored no doubt because people don't want their belief to be confused by fact or evidence to the contrary. Doctrine then overrides scripture and the Gospel goes from Kingdom to something else. People end up defending the doctrines or the religion rather than what Jesus taught.
Denial is a defence mechanism when security is threatened. Just one peek at truth can topple a mountain of belief and then where would they be? Strange and contrary thoughts if one considers that they expound upon the benefits of rejecting all and being born again, while they themselves at the same time desperately cling to the fleshy womb.
But challenges to their core beliefs instinctively ignites a defense mechanism. The results are then that truth rarely stands a chance. Look up cognitive dissonance and see where many seeking God refuse to see that they've been bamboozled by a worldly institution into believing that they are saved. Reality check. What they've been taught is being saved from becoming haters of mankind. Opposite to being saved from the world of man, as Jesus taught.
So even those who are aware of the conflict between what Jesus taught and what they have been taught by religion often chose to bury that which causes them the conflict (while others simply walk away). They take the wide path offered by their religion and all is well in their little spiritual world until someone comes along and reminds them that they have been duped.
But happily, as long as one breathes, it is never too late to let go and switch sides to the narrow path. To become haters of what mankind actually is, and to become instead lovers of the ideals of God. It's never been a secret to those willing to just let go. The secret has simply been ignored by those who fear that the things man has taught them have been wrong all along. Their security blanket remains safe while they often mock those of God's truth as a result.
Imagine the great revival everyone talks about but which never happens. When Jesus returns and fulfills that which the haters of mankind knew all along. Imagine that revival if it were practiced now. Practiced individually however, it can change our entire view of society and the world, and send us off with a new consciousness called rebirth. A new consciousness purposely hidden for millennia by the world of man intent on protecting itself from a return to the ideals of God, and those same ideals as shown by the haters of mankind.
The world is not our home but our prison. There is no need to defend it and it's ways out of our fear of change. If one chooses, we can break free of that tradition which man has brainwashed us with, including within Christianity. As a result, no 'haters of mankind' will ever ridicule those who break away for doing so, but will welcome them instead.
Should these 'haters' be trusted? Is there a personal agenda? Consider that they are the only ones with nothing personal to gain by having others find the narrow path. Only the worldly Christians left behind, along with the rest of mankind, would ever consider mocking, ridiculing, seeking gain or fearing loss.
Put on your haters of the world of mankind t-shirt. Enter in through the narrow gate, leaving behind the world that they the worldly so desperately cling to. They have had their only reward.
© ...timothyu
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
