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The Best Teacher I Ever Had by Darryl M. Gumm Written January 29, 2005 - Revised February 15, 2020 - Revised January 1, 2024
A couple days ago, I received an email message implying the terrorist attacks on the United
States in 2001 were the result of our country’s citizens turning away from God in a multitude of
ways. It implied if there was more public bible reading and public prayer allowed in the USA,
these bad things wouldn’t happen to us. My response was simply stating that prayer and bible
reading alone will not end the reign of terror. We need to live our lives consistent with what Jesus
and other spiritual teachers taught while they were living. This response was met by a rather direct,
bible-quoting response insisting that Jesus Christ was not sent here by God to teach us but to save
us. As a Christian, I wholeheartedly agree that he came to save us. However, my spiritual mentors
have helped me to understand how we have a role to play in saving ourselves by allowing God to
work in and through us. The graphic herein gives clarity to that concept.
In the book of Matthew,
Jesus Christ talks about
the pious people and
religious leaders of his
time who were hypocrites
for professing to keep the
law, publicly reading the
scriptures and publicly
praying, while hating,
cheating and hurting their
neighbors, prophets, wise
men and scribes. He
warns us of false prophets
who would have us
believe they are God’s
people, but in reality, are
the furthest from that.
Much of Jesus’
ministry was focused on teaching the people of his day, and all generations thereafter, how to live
lives of service “to the least of our brethren.” Living into this lifestyle praises our Loving Creator
who created everything which existed then and exists today. As was the case then, people of our
age reject the notion that anything like that can ever be possible. However, I challenge people of
the 21st Century to passionately apply the teachings of Jesus Christ, and other spiritual mentors.
Doing so, will result in changes necessary for humanity, and the natural world, to thrive for
generations to come.
If, by chance, you don’t believe in God or anything spiritual, living according the graphic herein
will still serve you and the rest of humanity well.
Peace. |