by Bryan Belrad

Created on: December 07, 2008

A man named Mathew once wrote: "If it is possible for a man to deserve forgiveness (and salvation) on his own merit, where is the need for Jesus Christ?"

Upon full consideration, it would seem that there isn't one at least, not for that. What good, after all, is a God who does not distinguish between Good and Evil acts, but only considers blind obedience as worthy? That does not sound like a "Savior" god to this thinking person, and especially unlike a god who is supposed to enforce morality. That's why it is so important to understand the Sins of Irrationality and willful Ignorance: faith is valuable, but it must be for the right reasons, else it is meaningless.

It seems to me that Jesus serves a number of purposes in the Christian faith, but it is an extension of his role, an overstepping of bounds, to suggest that the singular act of praising his name is the sole gateway into Paradise. Were that the case, then we would see, as many have suggested, that a serial killer who confesses before being put to death would be spared eternal torment, and a person who, for whatever reason, had never heard of Christ's name would be sent into the lake of fire, regardless of the deeds of his life. If this were true, then Christianity would be a faith that holds morality, and even the potential of a human life, as irrelevant. Why strive to do good, or even to do anything, if Praise for the Savior is all that is required, or even all that matters?

Jesus serves as a teacher, a moral guide, and a teller of stories. He is a bringer of wisdom, in his parables and his acts. And he is granted credibility, not by God, but by his followers, who see his Miracles as proof of Divine approval.

But most of all, Jesus serves as a surrogate forgiver, there to accept a person's earnest apology for a misdeed at those times in life when a person cannot, or will not, forgive him or her self. So, there IS a need for Jesus in Christianity, but it is as a Redeemer, not an amoral Idol.

Yet, as many have noted, the Bible is quite clear in stating that ONLY through worshiping Jesus's name not following The Way, as he taught and through no personal worthiness alone, can a person achieve a state of Grace and be granted an eternal reward. Clearly, this message is in direct conflict with Christ's own philosophy.

Even the story of Jesus itself stands in stark contrast to the rhetoric that has subsumed Christianity for nearly 2,000 years. Had Jesus not died on the cross, then risen again, would anyone hail

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