Burnishing Bigotry - 3rd edition

* Whereas Paul says that we are to worship Jesus himself as the only Son of God (see Acts
24:21, Acts 16:31, Acts 17:18, Acts 18:5, Acts 18:28, Acts 19:17, Acts 28:23, Acts 28:31, Acts 9:20-22,
Romans 1:4, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:8 + Romans 6:5, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 5:18, Romans 7:25,
Romans 8:3, Romans 8:9, Romans 14:9, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 4:5 + 5:15, Colossians 2:9 +
Colossians 3:1-2), Jesus repeatedly informs us that we are not to worship him, but rather are to pay
homage solely to his Father in Heaven (see Mark 10:18, Mark 13:31, Luke 6:46-47, Matthew 11:6,
Mark 12:28-31, John 3:17, John 10:26, John 12:26, John 13:15, John 5:41, John 7:6, John 12:44-45, John
13:35, John 18:37, John 14:6, John 14:15, John 15:4 et al) …
* Whereas Paul creates an entirely new ―Gospel‖ of atonement by equating it with Jesus'
resurrection and our required worship thereof (see Acts 13:30-38, Acts 17:3, Acts 17:31b, 1
Corinthians 15:13-14), Jesus clearly defines his ―Good News‖ – his ―Gospel‖ – as Salvation in the
present moment via selfless acts of Love (see Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14) …
* Whereas Paul professed a Heaven that exists elsewhere, in which only the ―worthy‖
reside for eternity after their deaths (see Acts 17:31a, Romans 8:18, 1 Corinthians 1:7, 1 Corinthians
14:1-3, 1 Corinthians 15:19, 1 Corinthians 15:23-28, 1 Corinthians 15:50, 2 Corinthians 4:14-17,
Philippians 1:23, Philippians 3:13-14, Philippians 3:20 & 1 Thessalonians 1:10), Jesus makes it very
clear that his Kingdom of Heaven is always right here & right now – available to everyone in
every moment of their lives (see Matthew 3:13, Matthew 19:23-26 + Matthew 20:23, Matthew 22:32,
Matthew 24:26-28, Mark 13:34-37, Luke 17:20-21, Luke 17:22-24, John 3:18, John 3:3-9, John 5:25 +
John 7:6 + John 12:31, John 10:34 + John 14:12 + John 18:36 et al) …
*And whereas Paul obviously believes that Salvation comes from being primarily
subservient to Jesus (see Acts 15:20-29 + Acts 16:4 + Acts 13:39, Romans chapter 4, Romans 5:10 +
Romans 7:4, Romans 9:32 + Romans 8:24-25, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21,
Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:7 + 2 Corinthians 1:10), Jesus notes over & over again that our
Salvation comes solely from actively & selflessly caring for others (see Matthew 4:17, Matthew
21:43, Mark 1:15, Mark 5:36, Mark 8:34-35 + Mark 9:35 + Mark 10:21 + Mark 10:43-45, Mark 12:34 +
Mark 13:5-6 + Mark 13:23 + Mark 15:31, Luke 6:27-31, Luke 6:35-36, Luke 6:46-49, Luke 8:15 + Luke
9:23-24 + Luke 10:27-28 + Luke 12:35, Luke 14:12-15 + Luke 18:20-22 + Luke 22:26, John 4:24, John
5:39-40, John 6:63, John 6:53-58 + John 8:31 + John 10:38 + John 12:25, John 13:10 + John 13:34-35 +
John 14:23 + John 15:8, John 15:12-17, John 17:26 et al).
In conclusion, while I make no arrogant claim that Jesus is right and Paul is wrong, I most
certainly do remind Christians & non-Christians alike that their two teachings are not compatible,
that a choice between their two different gospels must be made, and that it might be wise to err on
the side of following (i.e. emulating – & thereby enlivening) the teachings of Jesus – and gently
discarding those of Paul (only where they contradict those of Christ, of course).
―Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God;
whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.‖ ~ 2 John 1:9
―You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the
greatest and first commandment. And a second is just like it:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets.‖
~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 22:37-40)
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