Disabling Jesus-4

DISABLING JESUS-IV—Luke 4:22-30

Attention:

CASE IN POINT—UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM:

From: http://www.uua.org/beliefs/principles/index.shtml

Our Unitarian Universalist Principles:

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm & promote:

The inherent worth & dignity of every person;

Justice, equity & compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another & encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

A free & responsible search for truth & meaning;

The right of conscience & the use of the democratic process within our congregations & in society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, & justice for all;

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Unitarian Universalism (UU) draws from many sources:

Direct experience of that transcending mystery & wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit & an openness to the forces which create & uphold life;

Words & deeds of prophetic women & men which challenge us to confront powers & structures of evil with justice, compassion, & the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical & spiritual life;

Jewish & Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason & the results of science, & warn us against idolatries of the mind & spirit;

Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life & instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

These principles & sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.

The Unitarian tradition, which is an integral part of our Unitarian Universalist heritage, was borne out of a new interpretation of a Christian sacred text, the Bible.

*Many Unitarian Universalists trace their Unitarian roots back to 16th century Europeans Michael Servetus & Francis David. In separate instances, both men sought proof of the existence of the Holy Trinity in the Bible. When they found none, they adopted the view of a 'unity of God,' which led to founding Unitarianism.

These early heretics initiated a tradition of religious tolerance that is central to modern-day Unitarian Universalism. Many Unitarian Universalists capture this sense of tolerance in a quote attributed to Francis David:

"We need not think alike to love alike."

*In addition to holding different beliefs on spiritual topics, individual Unitarian Universalists may also identify with & draw inspiration from Atheism & Agnosticism, Buddhism, Christianity, Humanism, Judaism, Paganism, & other religious or philosophical traditions.

Religious Spiritualism(vague, eclectic, distant, human derived) disables Jesus—Religion which largely denies Scripture or holds to it loosely in an attempt to ignorantly honor a higher power—(Ritualized Humanism, Oprah-ism, Unitarian Universalists, Ritualized Intelligentsia).

All such religious expressions are an exercise in mere humanism(attaching prime importance to human reason—rationality, self-autonomy & total independence—rather than the external influence & direction of the revealed personal, biblical God).

The congregation at Nazareth(hometown synagogue) would not believe Jesus’ ability to fulfill Scripture’s mandate for the Messiah.

Religiosity thinks it implausible/absurd to believe that Jesus can save that He is Messiah.

What is produced upon holding/viewing Jesus as absurd?

8 fruits/assessments of disabling Jesus.

We have previously found that:

Disabling Jesus produces...

1. ADMIRATION(4:22a)

2. FAMILIARIZED BLINDNESS(:22b)

3. BLIND DISDAIN(:23a)

4. INCONCLUSIVE PROOF(:23b)

5. REJECTION Of REALITY(:24)

6. FORFEITURE OF FAVOR (:25-27).

7— Disabling Jesus produces...

MURDEROUS WRATH(:28-29)

Explanation: (:28-29)

:28—“So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,”

:29—“& rose up & thrust Him out of the city; & they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.””

Upon recognizing Jesus’ comparisons were intended for them, the Nazareth congregation became incensed. As Jesus spoke these things they became enraged.

The entire congregation rose up(as one man) & wholeheartedly cast Jesus out of the city.

The congregation forcibly led Jesus to the edge of the outcropping of Nazareth(on which it rested) with the intent of throwing Jesus down the cliff.

People just get flat-out mad when others get serious about the biblical Jesus!

How can you know...if Jesus is the Messiah...if He can save you...if He’s God in human flesh...if He’s the only-begotten Son of God? Trust him with your life & see what He does with your sin & experience the peace that passes all human ability & understanding!

*“And they're so angry with Him because He's insistent on the fact that unless they humble themselves like a Syrian leper, unless they see themselves as no better than a Syrian leper, no better than a pagan Gentile woman, unless they see themselves as no better than outcasts, they aren't going to get saved. And that is absolutely intolerable to them, to go to someone who is a life-long Jew, a life-long attender of the synagogue, a serious devout Jew & say, "You're no better off than a pagan, you're no better off than an outcast Gentile leper," is unthinkable because they're so committed to the self-righteousness that's a part of a work system”......“God offers nothing to people who are content with their own condition, except judgment.”—John MacArthur