A Letter to Neale: What about what Jesus said?

Reader question:

Dear Neale... I have a question regarding one of the CWG books. It's about Jesus. You quote, I think, a few times the Bible verse, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life', but I was wondering about the second part of that verse that says 'no one comes to the Father except through me'.

I became a Christian around 6 years ago at the age of 34 and kind of believed everything the church told me. I eventually left the church as so much of what was said didn't add up (especially the bits about God killing his beloved children that's portrayed in the Bible).

I'm of the opinion that much of what is written in the bible can't be trusted and I'm a bit in no-man’s land as regards my faith, and I'm not sure where Jesus figures in all of this anymore. Part of me is wondering, what if Jesus really is the way the truth and the life, and what if the only way to God is through him?

Debbie

P.S. My Dad described God as the great illusionist yesterday and those words will not leave me. They have resonated somewhere deep within me.

Neale Responds:

Dear Debbie...It is my belief that many of the words of Jesus as contained in the Bible have been misinterpreted or misunderstood by those who wrote the passages in the Bible to begin with, or by the Council of Nicaea, in which certain Scriptural passages were given official interpretation and became formal Christian doctrine.

For more on this you may wish to follow this link to Wikipedia's article on the Council... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea

It is my belief, Debbie, that Jesus' intention and his message was that "no one comes to the Father (meaning God) except by doing what I am doing, going the way I am going, living and being the way I am living and being." That is why Jesus said, "Follow me." By those words I believe he meant, "Do what I am doing. Follow my example."

I do not understand him to have meant, "Turn Me into the God you should be following...and if you don't make Me your God, my Father will condemn you." That is not what I understand Jesus to have meant. But you must know that I could be wrong about all of this. I would never want to turn my truth into your truth.

For you to find and experience what is true for you, I believe you must have your own personal conversation with God. I strongly suggest it. Pray about this, Debbie, and pray deeply and often. Ask God to bring you clarity and to wrap you in Divine Wisdom as you explore, with all the purity of your heart and soul, this writing from the Bible. That is the only way to approach the Bible, Debbie...or any spiritual writing, including Conversations with God. Not with skepticism or preemptive doubt, but with an open heart and a willing and receptive mind. Your Soul will nod a huge yes inside of you—you will actually feel it—when you read something that is true for you.

Most of all, ask God to be your Friend and Helper in time of every need, not just the need to understand ancient scripture written by men no more infallible than am I.

Thank you for asking me this question, Debbie. May you have the experience that God goes with you and is expressed through you, all the days of your life.

With Pure Love,