Part 3: Obey

This is the final article in a three-part series looking at the model Jesus provided for evangelisation. Here Todd focuses on how Jesus asked people to obey Him. Todd views this as matter of common sense. If you have come to believe in Him, doing what He says is the only rational path. When the storms come, and we do as He instructed us, we survive. Our lives then become a testament to the power of His teachings and may draw others. -Editor

How do we grow the church? The purpose of these articles has been for us to take a look at how Jesus started the Christian church. Up to this point we've looked at asking people to follow us, to just see for themselves the healing teachings. After a while, Jesus asks them to believe. Now that they've seen and believe, things actually do take a different turn. This is the practical part, the “do” part. They were asked to obey.

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The Real Reason Jesus is an Inspiration

Todd takes a fresh look at Jesus as a role model. Even if we can't personally live up to His example, we can be blown away by His commitment and love. Todd takes us through the real meaning of Jesus' actions and shows us the amazing inspiration to be had from contemplating His example.

I can see why mainstream Christianity gets so much inspiration from Jesus: just before we were all going to hell, Jesus stepped in front of His Father and said, “Take me instead.” He stood up to the Almighty for us. That’s inspiring. However, my New Church educated brain knows things did not actually happen that way. Instead a divine human was on earth that straightened out the mess that finite humanity created. That, to me, never was a fair fight. Infinite good versus finite evil? “He could not but conquer” (Arcana Coelestia 1812). Of course hell was going to lose! It never had a chance.

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