Divine Heresy: An Opening Statement.

“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”John 8:32

Mankind seeks after a model for something best described as “Right Knowing” which we hope will lead us unto something I'd call, “Right Being.”

I suggest, Jesus served as our very source for that model. To the point of this writing, not in the sense of a perfect, sinless savior, but from his teaching and illustration of "knowing truth" and how he lived his life and interacted with others in light of those truths.

Throughout his teachings, Jesus spoke of a overlying spiritual reality that was accessible and commonplace for all mankind which was grounded in “truth.” As a result of his teaching, “truth,” would now serve mankind to understand the creative intelligence we call God, ourselves and all the relationships that result therein.

The underlying theme and the ultimate key to much of Christ's message is simply, truth.

Yet, religious teachers striving to teach the world about God, continue to take this “modern” teaching he presented, and frame it in an “ancient” portrait, tied to a particular set of beliefs, priorities and practices that have little to do with the original emphasis. As a result, we've missed the most valuable, essential elements he shared that exist with the power to bring about meaningful change in the world. Ultimately, the primary effect of the religious narrative is many thoughtful seekers, longing to draw upon the deeper meanings of a Jesus message, have grown quietly disillusioned due to a narrative that shrouds the most vital elements of his teaching in antiquity and complexity.

Significant re-draft of the core principles and priorities into ESSENTIAL TRUTH to effectively serve modern audiences (in our present incarnation) remains far off. Churches, albeit very well meaning and deeply sincere, sense both the growing tension and the disconnect and continually attempt to “repaint” the same ancient portrait with an updated, “social aesthetic” surrounding their entire religious model. Yet, this does little to move the needle or bring the most vital teachings to the forefront. Ultimately, the model continually fails to bring forth legions of transformed individuals with the capacity to spiritually "self regulate" in a way that is moving mankind forward. In todays church model the messages, the setting, and the music are all adapted to connect with established demographics of our greater society. Yet, underneath an outwardly more comfortable, mainstream aesthetic, is a narrative that continues to undermine much of mankind's capacity to progress and advance into the modern era.

Beneath the seemingly contemporary, socially connected, “modern” experience of church, the religious narrative still misses the essential teachings of Jesus in favor of ancient revelations centered around a "Pre-Christ" image of a God, who exists in the form of a man, who at one time cursed it’s creation for their errors, and in response demanded animal slaughter and blood sacrifices for recompense, and ultimately death by stoning to all who failed to adhere to the greater rule of law. An exhaustive attempt to connect the old testament story to the Jesus story dominates the culture and as a result any tangible enlightenment or individual ascension remains elusive. Bible scholars insist the foundational religious takeaway from the earliest centuries and it's subsequent priority remains as the only correct response to the information. Believers are less interested in knocking, asking and seeking and instead content to spend lifetimes devoted to continual bible study and worship. Even though many struggle to embrace the entirety of the message and find it most difficult to coherently share the results of their findings outside the confines of their church.

There’s naturally a great resistance for any meaningful revision of the foundational teaching by the church as a result of the enormous amount of "established, accepted, religious ideology." But also by the parishioners themselves, who find great difficulty considering any idea of God that veers too far from the beliefs held by countless generations before them.

To be clear, this is a call to seekers to give an honest accounting of what they "truly believe" and how that directs their life and their own impact on greater society as a result of those beliefs. There's far too many sincerely devoted seekers of God who have aligned with a specific belief system, yet exist quietly in the margins either without truly examining the implications or deeper meanings or fearful that questioning, revising or even stepping away would negatively impact their life today or more importantly - impact their "afterlife. "

My message is not only to encourage spiritual sojourners to embrace the essential truths lost to religion and complexity, but in the process, to call attention to the growing tension rising up in our midst. A tension I suggest that must be closely examined and given great consideration by all - whether you consider yourself religious or otherwise. That tension is this:

Resistance to change is anchored in the ancient, biblical Revelation which calls forth doom, destruction, and calamity for all the world and the end of civilization as we know.

What's disturbing is this prophecy persists under the guise that this is an “acceptable outcome” for mankind and actually a good thing, since the emphasis is Jesus will return in the midst of the apocalypse to remedy all the ills of mankind.

I humbly ask, through his very teaching and demonstration, didn’t Jesus already give us the keys to remedy all the ills of mankind and propel us all beyond the ancient ways of understanding?

Therefore, shouldn’t "that teaching" in and of itself be enough to advance creation into a higher way of being in order to avoid such an outcome?

Although discussion is rare, and subtle as it may be, the under pinning belief of an ensuing calamity is running up against modern man’s overall sensibility, and natural inclination to improve the systems that are falling short of effectively serving us. Enlightened men and women expect greater progress toward tangible, societal change. At some level, all of us want this for ourselves, for our family, and for our friends. Why wouldn’t we? But most of us seldom take notice of the opposing ideals of traditionalists - waiting for the second coming of Jesus to bring about change, colliding with those who sense the urge for real progress and positive change - right now.

The resistance of religious leaders to changing the narrative of Jesus is because it's deemed a "veiled attempt to serve sinful, fallen man,” unto a greater license for errant behavior, free of religious guilt. Or in the strongest argument against redrafting priorities, the ultimate defense is that any shift toward a modern, "spiritual" understanding of Jesus is somehow, “Anti-Christ.” I’m suggesting the opposite is true; I see the emphasis of the essential truths Jesus taught as actually, "Pro-Christ."

Mankind’s growing disconnect and even discontentment with certain religious precepts is an organic - even evolutionary - awakening to the greater possibilities for a new age. Not a desire for greater licentiousness or to somehow remove Jesus from the history books. Hardly so. The response to seek a superior result is a natural progression in consciousness. It’s actually a very normal inclination and follows the progression of human kinds understanding from old testament to new testament unto a modern revelation that can be put into practice in the here and now - if we'd allow it to!

Throughout time, we’ve looked to God and the church for our answers. Yet, we’re also painfully aware, now more so than ever, that much of our failed human history and our recurring cycles of strife and separation have occurred - and are still happening today - right alongside a religious footprint that mainstream religions insist is relevant and necessary going forward.

And while these cycles continually manifest right before our eyes, we look again to God and “his” messengers, to triumph over the strife and our resulting dissolution. But instead of overarching victory, a vacuum has formed. One void of any greater progress, or relevant revelation with the capacity to result in true societal reformation that serves the masses. More so today than ever, as a result of the void, we observe political posturing and it's media puppets appearing to align with religious ideals, yet while pinning neighbor against neighbor. Not only are these influences in direct opposition to the teachings of Jesus but exist as an regressive element to the progress he made and called for.

The greater organized religious establishment strives to bring about mankind's greater good yet appears helpless to extinguish the inferno blazing before us today. Due in part to an underlying attitude that permeates all our consciousness and resides in implication of the Abrahamic religions who continue to build upon old testament foundations that tragically are anchored in separation (in all its forms), war, conflict, sexism, classism, prejudice and societal hierarchy. I'm not suggesting religion is somehow the root of all evil whatsoever, without it, we would have even less to guide or enlighten us. But, nevertheless I'm simply calling attention to the patterns that have halted modern mans progress and the fact that they are continually held as the backdrop for much of our greater religious teachings. I contend, Jesus provided a message, rooted in a new reality and equilibrium which was to set the world free from those captive to former patterns, priority, and hierarchies and frankly disabled by the same - as he described as being deaf, blind and unable to walk or advance through life "in a right manner." Unable to see, hear or walk - in the light of Truth.

Equally hindering our greater progress is the deluge of all forms of suggestion that perpetuate the same old testament elements which continue to frame our collective subconscious. Continually driving home these beliefs to the point of creating an indelible archetype in minds :

• We're indeed separated by our differences and competition for survival is utmost.

• War and retribution remain the appropriate response to our differences.

• Women continue to exists as man’s temptress and remain as "lessor beings" to men.

• The ranking of people and their inherent worth is based on money, position, celebrity and power.

As a species, we must progress beyond those elements that underlie our collective, historical strife.

And in that examination, individuals must look at the current religious conclusion that implies dissension, demise, violence and ultimately calamity are somehow acceptable since they are all part of the "greater plan of God.” And instead seek a collective response to transcend those ideas in favor of the essential truths Jesus shared which exist to transcend antiquity and propel us forward as a species.

"...so that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us..." John 17:21

The intention I read Jesus sharing was to create legions of spiritually self regulating individuals, who live out their lives as "being one with the Father," thereby illustrating his new reality for mankind through an indwelling Holy Spirit and in knowing truth. But in this new model, we are to accept our connection to the Father as a simple reality. As a kingdom of heaven which is found "in our midst, readily at hand." In doing so, we are to accept that things within us and around us are indeed influenced by God - and are commonplace! We should stop thinking that the only tangible connection to God the Father or guidance by the Holy Spirit is somehow limited to or reserved for only apostles, saints, clergy or lived out in new testament stories or in the miraculous. Because we've accepted a religious response which implies God is with others who are more accredited or ordained, or that God is in a place other than where we exist in any given moment or that God can be only truly be encountered in another incarnation. We must stop associating the idea of God with Religion and instead consider the creative, love intelligence that surrounds us, wholly provides for and supports us as simply; Reality.

I understand Jesus as one who completely stepped out from the footprint of old testament thought, the established religious structure, and the resulting mindset, in favor of a modern understanding of the true nature of the creative intelligence we call God, the true nature of man and all the connections therein.

When I look to the vehement opposition Jesus displayed to the religious leaders who viewed the world through such a lens and opposed his "new" teaching, I'm faced with the question, “I wonder who then is the thief that Jesus is speaking of?”

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

In light of Jesus’ proclamation, ”I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” is it any wonder why we have difficulty walking upright against the religious riptide that restricts the world's progress by calling forth an “apocalypse” to bring an end to all of Gods very own creation?

Men and women today, equipped with modern sensibilities, struggle to see through the complexity of a religious “belief system,” which is formed from a very specific lens, during a very specific time and place, with a narrative and revelation from a very specific group of people. In light of all we know of our universe today and all the amazing science that surrounds it all, I very respectfully suggest, certain accepted beliefs or ideas we're told to embrace are even pre-historic. And so, as a natural, even evolutionary response, we expect better answers to essential questions. We have an urge within not only to just survive but to thrive into the next millennium. I'm bewildered as to why religion insists we believe in the irrational yet, forsake what's transcendent. And ultimately, how little we hear of what Jesus taught that we may simply know as “Truth.”

I’m suggesting our entire planet, amidst its growing pile of rubble, which religion suggests “must stand by and wait for Jesus to return and sweep away,” has yet to receive the truths Jesus has “already” provided and even gave his life for, in order to forego such calamity and chaos.

The pattern for our world is clearly failing in worsening recurring cycles. I'm convinced our placid acceptance of this failure is due to a quiet subtle, deeply ingrained, ancient religious assertion that it's all okay. The “essential truths” of Jesus exist now, as they always have, as a model for “Right Knowing,” in order to lead us all into a greater sense of “Right Being.” When such truth is plainly shared and delivered - without the religious overtones - it's my hope "then" the world can finally embrace such a reality to serve mankind along our collective path forward.