The Bible makes it clear that many people rejected Jesus because he presented new teachings that did not fit within the context of their traditional doctrines. Only people with an open mind could recognize Jesus and accept his teachings. We have seen this in our study of the book of Mark that the scribes and the Pharisees were not open-minded, and in their arrogance they rejected the Living Christ when he stood before them in the flesh.
Over the years I have realized the importance of having an open mind and avoiding the arrogance of thinking your religious teaching can tell you everything there is to know about God, Jesus and spirituality.
One might say that Jesus came to renew religion and to pull the people of his time out of their mental boxes, their stifled, rigid approach to religion. Perhaps it is the role of the Living Christ to always pull people out of their rigidity, to challenge them to expand their understanding and to think outside the box?
When I look at Christianity today, I see clearly that many modern Christians have become as rigid and stifled as the people who rejected Jesus. I pray that I will always search the scriptures and be open to new ideas and keep an open mind when I talk with those that are Christians but might not necessarily think the same way that I do.
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1 comment:
Dave, I think you're right. Jesus is so much greater than our minds can grasp. There is always something to be learned from the other man's perspective. When we think we know it all we know all too little.
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