Jesus did actually visit
Its one of the oddest notions that we have created in the modern world, or maybe it has always been around and we perfected it. The conspiracy theory. When something isn’t what it appears, when the facts seem too convenient, or when we want there to be some sort of conspiracy, we develop a theory. Enough people believe it the theory takes on a life of its own. There are some I love more than others… the Flat Earth or BigFoot. Other just seem a bridge too far .. alien abduction. You can never argue with a theorist. They have, what they consider to be, inconvertible truth, they have a demonstrated intent and villain, they know. They will not be dissuaded because that would mean caving to the mind control of the forces propagating the now uncovered lie, a control tactic. So the convicted enlightened denizen who has embraced and absorbed the knowledge will not be shaken.
We were born, created, however you deem our existence to have been crafted, with a mind capable of stubborn thought. We all have it. We know. There is no not knowing, it is a gift from God that once we have the pinnacle of intellectual pursuit , the ‘knowing’ stage, our ways are fixed and everything it seen in the light of the knowledge we now possess. It fills our very spirit. Religion has the ability to change the knowing. When someone becomes deeply religious or spiritual they accept and even higher more advanced justification of knowledge. The God told me, I am his servant and will die for this stage. The stage that produces martyrs and saints. Now why the good lord made us with this capacity is really a question that we should ask Him when we meet. It seems like a character flaw, although in certain cases it can be seen as a benefit. Knowing that you have chosen the right woman or man to live your life with and establishing that knowledge is a good thing. The conviction of that and the attitude that creates an atmosphere where you fall deeper in love each day, that’s a really good thing. Now when you gaze shifts and you decide that there is a better path and become just as convinced, that might not be so good. So ordered devotion to that knowledge is good, disordered is not good. There needs to be some rules, some guidelines.
When Jesus died it was a recorded death. It was historically written down, there is no doubt that a man named Jesus walked the earth, was a great preacher, and was crucified. It was recorded by the Romans, the early Church had eye witness accounts. There are accounts of the Jewish leader fearing a claim would arise that He had risen from the dead. An event that we as Christians hold dear and claim to be a bedrock, knowledge belief. Not contestable. What is interesting was that Jesus than needs to sit his apostles down for a bit and re explain how they are to act. Sort of life, I was your friend and said a lot of profound things, you all nodded, but I am not sure you listened. So before I go lets go over it one more time. Just to clarify the issues before I give you the Spirit, which is going to cement the knowledge in your brains and make you unshakeable. Let’s clear up any miscommunications so we can move forward. That’s sort of the way I read it. He straightens everything out and than says now you are ready. I am going ot go and leave the Spirit. Thus the greatest Truth or the greatest Conspiracy Theory was created.
It is quite possible to be a hypocrite. Unlike other conspiracy theory, you can craft your own beliefs. Give them divine inspiration and die for them. All the while suspending your beliefs in situations where you perceive greater benefits from temporary non compliance with your beliefs. I know this because I have been a hypocrite. I had very strong morals and ethics but have suspended them when they interfered with my desire to earn money. I have reinstituted them afterwards with great fervor, readily condemning myself and committing to never do that again. Which makes me a hypocrite. If I actually held a truth to be self evident and everlasting, but ignored it, than did I really hold it to be thus, was I lying to myself, or was I a hypocrite who believes things when convenient. People who hold to truth when it is inconvenient are martyrs or heroes, something I have not been accused of being, but I am still alive and maybe I will rise to that occasion.
Now what does this have to do with Jesus. The historical man did exist, the resurrected man is a matter of faith. But if I do claim that the resurrection happened, that Jesus by resurrecting did prove that He was God, well than how should my action portray that. It would make sense for me to become like a conspiracy theorist and insist on this truth, blocking out any attempt to dissuade me from following any other truth. But I know that I don’t do that. Even if I wanted to I seem to possess an ability to not follow through. I think most of us do. Is that a sign of unbelief? of hypocrisy? Maybe, but the apostles and disciples had the same problem. They only overcame it after Pentecost. The Spirit came down and firmly convinced their minds of the fact of the Resurrecting to such a degree of certainty that they could not be shaken. It was an outside force that pushed them, and unseen force that transformed a mind that we can not see touch or understand. Inspired by this we should all reach out for that Spirit. But we balk because that would mean that we would lose the ability to be hypocrites. What if, once filled with the Spirit the Spirit compels us to stand up in a public square and preach. Surely we would lose face to our social circle. Does God really need that? He already has enough saints, and they seem to be doing a great job. Much easier to just write a check or make them a meal and encourage those committed to the good work. But that is not what we are asked to do. We are asked to walk on the water, pray for those who persecute us, forgive those who didn’t even ask for forgiveness, to love our enemies, we are called to a very impractical, from an earthly view, but practical from the view of Heaven, way of living.
I could go on. But why not stop here. The end is clear, decide who you will serve, dive in… or meander in the gray shadow of indecision and hypocrisy. The land of maybe. The one place God dislikes more than any other.
The musings of Peter 