4 Teachings Of Jesus That His Followers (Almost) Never Take Seriously

It’s no secret that those of us who claim to follow Jesus Christ consistently fall short of living up to the way of life of our Rabbi. Being a disciple of Jesus is a lifelong journey towards conforming ourselves to the image and way of life that Jesus taught. However, so often, followers of Jesus chose to blatantly ignore some of the clearest instruction of our Rabbi and obscure it with vague theology so that we can get off the hook. Other times, followers of Jesus are taught something explicitly contradictory to the plain words of Jesus and then spend their lives obeying the instruction they received instead of the commands of Jesus.

However we end up at the place of disobedience, all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus struggle to obey the commands of our Lord. One of the most transformative periods in my faith was when I took time to re-read the Gospels of the New Testament and get reacquainted with Jesus’ himself, in his own words. As I studied the words of Jesus, I discovered that so much of what he asks of us as his disciples is incredibly clear and yet so much of it was new to me. I had never heard it in church or Sunday school or actually heard someone teach the exact opposite of the words of Christ. It was during that season of my life where I took inventory of how I lived and what I believed and aligned to the person and teachings of Christ that my faith was radically transformed for the better.

Below I have compiled a short list of 4 clear teachings of Jesus that most of us who exist within Evangelicalism have either never heard, refuse to acknowledge, or believe the exact opposite of. It’s my hope that by rereading these teachings of Christ, you will be inspired, like I have been, to return to the Gospels and begin to reshape your faith and life around the way and teachings of our Master, Jesus. Get ready and buckle up, because most of what Jesus says is pretty bold and potent. It’ll shake up your faith!

1. Jesus, not the Bible, is God’s living and active Word that brings life.

“You don’t have His word living in you, because you don’t believe the One He sent. You study the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me. And you are not willing to come to Me so that you may have life.”- John 5:39-40 HCSB

The Christian life is one that is fundamentally rooted in the reality that Jesus Christ is living and active. He interacts with us on a day to day basis and desires that we cultivate an intimate relationship with him. The more we commune with the Spirit of Christ, the more life and truth we are exposed to and are able to comprehend. However, for many Evangelicals, we rely more on the Bible than we do on the living and active Spirit of God within us. We fear that following the Spirit could lead to confusion and subjectivity and so we root our faith in the Bible. The problem is that a faith that is rooted in the Scripture alone is not sustainable. It will dry up and wither on the vine. While the Bible is an important and authoritative guide for Christian faith and practice, it isn’t the foundation or center of our faith- Jesus is. And if we truly believe that he is alive, we should also have faith that communing with him will produce spiritual life within us. He is the living Word that we can ask anything to and expect, in faith, to receive and answer. Sometimes he will speak through Scripture. Other times he will speak through our friends and family. Other times he will find unique and special ways to reveal himself to us. But in order to maintain a vibrant and living faith, we must not make the Bible our substitute for communion with the living Word of God. Studying Scripture is valuable, but nowhere near as valuable as cultivating a day to day relationship with the God incarnate.

2. The only way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven is through DOING the will of God.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 ESV

“An expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”“What is written in the law?” He asked him. “How do you read it?”He answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.“You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.”- Luke 10: 25-28 HCSB

“We are saved by faith alone, apart from works!” This is a very popular Protestant catch phrase. The doctrine of sola fide (faith alone) was developed by the Reformers in response to the Roman Catholic Churches corrupted teachings that emerged in the 16th Century teaching that one could gain favor with God and shave off years in Hell and Purgatory by giving money to the church or doing acts of penance. The intention of the doctrine of faith alone was very good- to correct the error that our salvation could be earned or that God’s grace could be manipulated. But like most doctrines that are formulated in response to another group’s doctrine, it often goes too far. One of the clearest teachings throughout all four Gospel accounts is that the way to enter the Kingdom of God is through living in obedience to the Law of Christ. Time and time again, Jesus makes very clear statements that condemn those who think that they will be saved because they believe the right things or do the right religious rituals. Jesus responds to people who believe they are religious and deserve heaven by saying that their outward religiosity is detestable to God and the only thing God desires is that they would exercise their faith by obeying the command of God- to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. (Micah 6:8) Jesus says if anyone claims to be right with God but doesn’t serve the poor, needy, oppressed, marginalized, sick, diseased, and sinful, then they do not have a relationship with God. No matter what they proclaim with their lips. No matter how religious they may appear. Jesus says those who don’t obey will have no part in his Kingdom. He makes very clear that the way to “inherit eternal life” is through loving God and loving our neighbor. Isn’t it astonishing, then, how many Christians today have been taught that salvation comes through right believing instead of right practice- a message that is fundamentally contrary to the words of Jesus. (And even more to his little brother James who says, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” James 2:24 ESV)

Many modern day Evangelical preachers spend a lot of time talking about the kinds of people that God is opposed to and who he condemns. They spend time talking about how to transition from a position of condemnation before God to a position of Grace through believing the right things about Jesus. They often talk about those who disagree or live contrary to their understanding of what is “righteous” as those who are under condemnation from God. But what’s funny is that as one examines the teachings and life of Jesus, we find him not only befriending, loving, and affirming some of his societies most despised and vile people, but chastising the religious leaders who condemned them for their sin. Whether it is Jesus’ conversation with Rabbi Niccodemus in John 3 where Christ explains that it is his mission to redeem the world and not to condemn it or the instance where a woman is caught in the act of adultery and is taken outside to be stoned by the religious officials (as the law required) and Jesus steps in to stop the condemnation and proclaim freedom and forgiveness to the broken woman, it is clear that Jesus is not in the condemning business. Instead, it seems Christ is in the business of restoring humanity to the most broken and wicked of people. It seems that his passion is to see the weak, sick, and broken become strong, healthy, and whole in his Kingdom. It seems that he spends very little time (almost none) telling sinners why they’re wrong or speaking words of condemnation over them, but rather practically loving and extending grace to the most screwed up of individuals. Maybe we Evangelicals, who are known for our condemnation of entire people groups with whom we disagree, could learn something from Jesus on this point.

4. You’re supposed to sacrifice yourself and speak words of blessings for those you disagree with the most.

It seems like every week there is a new major controversy taking place within the Church. Most of the time, the situation revolves around one group of Christians disagreeing with another and then taking to the internet to write slanderous posts about the other. If it’s not infighting, then it is Christians engaging in culture wars, working to defeat those whom we disagree with politically and socially by painting them as soul-less monsters. But that response is absolutely contrary to the way of Jesus. Jesus calls his followers to love the people they disagree with most and to speak blessings over them when all we really want to do is curse them out. No matter what the situation is or what kind of enemy we have, Christians are called to bless the people who hurt us the most. This includes in theological battles, political disagreements, national wars, and personal conflicts. Christians are called to a radical position of nonviolence and forgiveness, grace, and even blessing of our enemies. There is no way around it. And when Christians chose to ignore these clear teachings, our hypocrisy is glaringly obvious to the watching world. Want some proof? Take a couple minutes to watch this clip of the famous Agnostic Comedian, Bill Maher, talk about Christian’s refusal to obey the teaching of Jesus. (Contains explicit language)

That video may be hard to stomach but Bill Maher is 100% correct. “If you ignore every single thing Jesus commanded you to do, you’re not a Christian.”

The point of this post is to encourage those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus to reexamine how we are living our lives and practicing our faith. It is so easy to get so caught up in the flow that we fail to recognize just how far away from shore we have been carried. The words of Jesus are pretty darn clear, but oftentimes in our zealousness for our faith, we often get pulled away from the basics and eventually end up living in a way that we believe is honoring to God, but is actually contradictory to everything he has taught us.

In this post, I have offered just four examples. There and hundreds of teachings contained in the 4 Gospels of the New Testament, teachings that, if we obeyed, would absolutely flip our lives and world upside-down for the glory of God and the good of all people. What the Church as a whole and Evangelicals in particular desperately need in this age is a return to the plain teachings of Jesus. We need to be willing to set aside out theological debates and meanderings for a season and focus on simply reading, conforming, and obeying the will of Christ, both as revealed in Scripture and as we are led by his Spirit. The world is desperately longing to encounter Jesus through us and for far too long we have been giving them a cheap knock off that we have exported under his name. But it’s clear to everyone that what is passing for Christianity today is almost totally divorced from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

My prayer is that we would all turn our faces towards our risen Savior and seek to selflessly follow his commands. I am convinced that the Jesus’ way is the only way that will heal our broken world. I am convinced that the whole earth is groaning as it waits for men and women to take of their crosses and follow in the way of redemption. I am convinced that when those of us who call ourselves “Christian” re-orient ourselves in Jesus, the power of God will flow through us in an unprecedented and miraculous way that will bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Oh how I long for that day.

‎“Those who aren’t following Jesus aren’t his followers. It’s that simple. Followers follow, and those who don’t follow aren’t followers. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus into a society where justice rules, where love shapes everything. To follow Jesus means to take up his dream and work for it.”
― Scot McKnight

>>Did the "people in the assembly" vote to "appoint" Paul?<<

We are not told. What difference does it make? It's simply that there was a dispute rising from some who said they had to be circumcised and they didn't think that was right. The simply chose Paul and Barnabas to go back to the apostles and clarify. Trying to inject the understanding developed by the Catholic Church doesn't work.

>>Would it be possible to throw the caucus into disarray by letting more or less people assemble?<<

Again, don't try to inject today's erroneous understanding back into scripture. Whether the assembly their was 10 people or 100 makes no difference.

>>These are Biblical arguments.<<

No, they are not. The questions you are asking exhibits a total misunderstanding of the first century assemblies.

It is not possible for a human to conceive all of God’s will. We can only perceive what God’s will is for our own lives. By the leading of the Holy Spirit and reading the word are we able to apply those influences to first understand our situation and then apply those leading and teachings to our choices.

A church that worships prosperity (or any other doctrine) isn’t a church of Jesus.

That depends on what is found in the book. Does it align with the current New Testament? Are there any false doctrines contained within text? Can the authenticity be verified? If there are no problems, why not?

>>How do you appoint an elder?<<

An elder is simply one of the older members of that assembly who has exhibited the ability to serve in that complicity who by consensus of the assembly is chosen to serve in that capacity.

>>Is he an elder across any denomination or only in that particular one?<<

Denomination? There are no denominations in the first century assemblies. You perhaps need to study the Greek word used. It is NOT church as the Catholic Church has corrupted the meaning. The Greek word used is ekklesia which simply means "those called out". The assemblies were simply local people from an area who became believers who met together.

>>Which elder is eldest? Is it by age or some other criteria?<<

An elder member of that assembly who met the gualifications spelled out by Paul who was chosen by the members of that group to serve in that capacity.

>>This is a nonsense argument and you know it.<<

You purport to tell me what I know?? It is not nonsense it is what scripture teaches.

>> “Who gave Jesus his authority?” <<

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The Father

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>> “Who can baptize and what is the methodology?”

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Anyone that has the Holy Spirit can baptize.

One simply plunges into a running stream, head up stream, and allows the running water flowing over to symbolize the washing off of past sins, and the sin nature.

This must of course be accompanied by belief that these things will happen, confession of sins and sin nature, and sincere lifetime walkout in faith.

>> “Which commands/ordinances are they to obey?” <<

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In our time, all that are personally applicable. The Temple ordinances were suspended until the millennial kingdom, due to the removal of the vail and destruction of the Temple.

The rest of the commandments are to be learned gradually over time, just as they were at Moses time, by hearing them read in your place of worship.

>>The rest of the commandments are to be learned gradually over time,<<

I've shown you from Gods' word that the commandments are not the same as the "book of the law" nor was it to be treated the same.

Deu 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it beside of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

The ten commandments were put inside the ark and are forever. The book of the law was put beside the ark and are not in affect during this age of grace. To try to combine them contrary to God's word is not wise. Nor is it wise trying to put people back under the law.

>>The age of grace began when Adam sinned, and will end at the last trump.<<

Interesting that Paul said the dispensation of grace had been given to him for the Gentiles. If you can't see the different way God deals with man after pentecost I suggest some study of scripture rather than the teachings of the prophet of the enemy.

1 Timothy 1:6-11 ESV

Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

Do you somehow not understand that dispensationalism is total bunk?

Do you not understand that all men are saved by the same grace? - Have you ever read Hebrews chapters 3 and 4?

That verse names all men.

There is not a man alive or dead that has not practiced one or more of the behaviors listed.

This is the kind of confusion that happens you yank a verse of Paul’s letters out of the total context, which you do on your every post.
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Paul didn't preach dispensationalism.

Read Hebrews!

Paul stated that his gospel was the same gospel preached to the Israelites in the desert.

Hebrews 3:

[12] Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
[13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
[14] For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
[15] While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
[16] For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
[17] But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
[18] And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
[19] So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:

[1] Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
[2] For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
[3] For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

“This is the kind of confusion that happens when you yank a verse of Paul’s letters out of the total context, which you do on your every post.”

Confusion? Speak for yourself, seems very clear to me. Since that was not posted to you and is a decent chunk of Scripture only, with no context claimed, whar ARE you going on about?
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Verses posted ripped from their chapter can lie like a rug.

This is especially true of Paul’s letters.

With Romans,one has to read the whole letter to make sense of it.

Pre-trib Dispyism is a study in heresy, and clipping scripture to support it can make one a deliberate deciever.

>>Paul stated that his gospel was the same gospel preached to the Israelites in the desert.<<

Say what? Christ had already died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven already then?

Hebrews 3 is simply comparing the rebellion of the Israelites to rebellion in his day and the lack of faith. Hebrews 4 again is simply making a comparison. They both had good news of faith. Both are talking of the faith which was exhibited by obedience. Dispensation does not mean that the means of salvation has changed. I'm beginning to think you may need to understand the meaning of the word Paul uses in Ephesians 3:2.

Look in the mirror and repeat:

“I’m beginning to think you may need to understand the meaning of the word Paul uses in Ephesians 3:2.”

Seriously! Dispensation as used in the Bible means most closely “provision.”

“Pre-trib Dispyism is a study in heresy,...”

Okay. Sounds like a disease. You a doctor?

“...and clipping scripture to support it can make one a deliberate deceiver”

First you have to know what is is to use it that way. I could label you an Armstrongite but would that be fair? Sounds like you might be a refugee from the WWCofG but how would I KNOW that? I don’t.

Your online demeanor is frankly rude, being clearly observable from your posts and witnessed to by rebukes from the Moderator (unsolicited by me, for the record). The constant accusations make one wonder just what it is you are here to accomplish, since civil discussion with you seems near impossible.

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