The Mark of Christianity part 2 - The Cross of Jesus

The Mark of Christianity part 2 - The Cross of Jesus

I pray that what is said here brings enlightenment and peace. I was disturbed when I discovered the underlying philosophy of a movement that promotes unity and peace and sacrifice for the poor – goals I totally agree with but not at the expense of the Cross of Jesus and His resurrection. At the heart of their philosophy is this statement:

“The (real) Christos (anointed one) is a place in consciousness where you become aware of who and what you are. When you become aware of the presence within, you awaken from a deep sleep. You become aware of the beauty around you. Things that once seemed a burden are no longer a burden. You become aware that nothing is yours and yours alone. You are aware that all things and all people belong to God. You know you are his child and you see that if you are a child of God, all others are children of God.” http://www.theonenesslovefoundation.org/aboutthefounder.htm

The “real Christos” is not a place in our consciousness, a state of awareness. That is reducing Jesus to a mere state within and leaves us without any sure hope or anchor. If we a left on our own to rediscover a new consciousness and peace and peace in others we are still on our own defining our own truth which often collides with other definitions. We need a reference point outside of our own consciousness and thinking. Humanity is confused and lost - a ship without lighthouses and radar – a plane without a pilot.

What is this reference point? Jesus walked on earth, died in our place so that we could be forgiven, destroyed the power of death and is now present for all to receive. We become children of God when we receive Jesus and walk across the great gulf of sin and meet with the father - “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).

Awareness, peace and unity of purpose is a great goal - but can it be achieved without seeing our own hearts of unbelief, hopelessness, selfishness and pride and our desperate need for repentance and forgiveness?

The Cross of Jesus stands in our place as our sacrifice taking all our sin and paying the penalty for all injustice and deception. “When you were dead in your transgressions (sin), He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions (Colossians 2:13).

What are defining moment! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

For it was the fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross, and although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:19 – 22)

I know that organised religion has often forgotten the centre – the meaning of the Cross. This does not mean we begin to redefine God as being us and everyone as a reaction against meaningless doctrine and blatant hypocrisy. We all stand as individuals before God in our weakness and pride and frailty and gaze upon the love of God demonstrated in the cross of Jesus. As we all bow the knee and regain true consciousness through accepting our plight and receiving forgiveness through Jesus, peace can be known with God and each - other. We are not the centre, we are not God and we do not make up God. God waits for us as a father to accept the free gift of His grace and forgiveness in Jesus.