Jesus: History, Mystery and Doubt
It simply MUST be the way I was taught as a child!
Why?
Often we encounter the suggestion that if Jesus were to somehow appear in this day and age his own reaction to who and what Christianity believes him to be might be surprising. There is a vast variety of images that come to mind among practicing Christians.
On one hand, Jesus is expected to return in a supernatural and dramatic context, coming to judge and backed by a righteous army of angels - justifying a relatively new belief (perhaps 150 years) and investment in a concept of rapture, end times and judgment day. For these, the supernatural is an absolute must: the end times when God will intervene and overturn the negatives in life and set things right once and for all.
For others, the return of an all-powerful deity who will set things right once and for all, execute judgment with vengeful, righteous and indignant wrath has little or no bearing on how attitudes and actions are justified. For these, the supernatural external God is not necessary to make real the life and teaching of the historical Jesus.
What then is there of value in the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth if the ultimate intervening God is left out of the picture?
From a fundamental perspective the litmus test seems to be "Do you believe Jesus is God?" Or, "Do you believe Jesus was/is the Son of God?"
I've been asked this question many times. From some, the question is asked with an intent to understand more about who I am and what I think. From others, the question has seemed more a test of orthodoxy, a means by which I may or may not be then perceived as "Christian."
Someone recently wrote to me that the whole foundation of Christianity and believing in Jesus is in fact pointless if one cannot believe in the Synoptic miracles. Without the miracles, Christianity is nothing.
From my perspective, the implication is that without the supernatural, Christianity as a spiritual practice - a way of approaching life - is useless. If, once upon a time, long ago and far away, a supernatural deity did not beam down and live as an anonymous "superman", defying the limits of natural law and processes, then Christianity is a lie, a hoax and a waste of time.
A supernatural Jesus Christ is by no means the sole basis for seeking a life of goodness in thought and action. To many, the prospect of an indignant returning judgmental God has little to do with why a choice is made to join or remain within a Christian context. For these there is little of the either/or thinking that is spawned by exclusivity taught in a literalist obsession with orthodoxy.
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