One thing Christian theologians have done consistently well is molest the words of Jesus to conform to the traditions of the ‘church’ they inherited from their proximity.
What is a Proximity Christian?
This is why Jesus’ command in Matthew 23.8-10 that we are to have no other teachers other than him is vital to being a disciple of Jesus, and not some theologian.
Christians tend to make dogmatic doctrines from their interpretation of what Jesus said.
Disciples may discuss their interpretations, but they never make doctrine out of their interpretations.
Here is one example of many.
First I will post the whole section, then we will compare what Jesus said with what the theologian Chuck Smith says.
Matthew 19.16-22
[1] Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
[2] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, [3] “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
This is a very straight forward teaching of Jesus. But it is one that is constantly molested by Theologians because Jesus is saying:
1. God is good and no one else is
2. That keeping the commandments is part of what you have to do to inherit eternal life.
3. Rich People must sell their possessions and give to the poor of Israel [i.e. the Church]
But this is what Chuck Smith said Jesus meant. First I will take out of the context his direct quotes of what he thinks Jesus is saying, and then I’ll post the link so you can read his comments in full.
1. Here is how Chuck Smith explains the first part, He says Jesus is saying: “You called me good, but there is only one that is good, and that is God. You called me good, because I am God.”
2. Here is how Chuck explains the second part, he says Jesus is saying: “If you will be perfect, or complete, come follow me. The rest is only incidental.”
3. Here is how he sums up the command to sell all his possessions and follow Jesus, “It doesn’t mean that you’ve got to sell everything you have and distribute it to the poor.”
Chuck Smith is teaching another Jesus.
