Agape Love is different from all other forms of so called love.
Agape Love is a decision to love others even if they do not return that love or even if they are your enemy and want you destroyed.
That entire concept makes absolutely no sense unless their is something higher than self.
Jesus died for the sins of the world. He died while the world was busy trying to destroy Him.
Once you see and understand that higher form of Love you are giving a new vision of reality.
You can choose to reject that vision because it violates everything you used to hold dear. Or you can embrace that vision and be set free. It's not easy and the world will mock you every step of the way if you take that path. The world just does not understand
When Jesus spoke to people he went out of his way to make it hard for people to follow Him. Churches today go out of their way to make it easy to follow Him.
Jesus would say things like this
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
When Jesus saw many people coming to Him he went up the mountain and sat down. Forcing the people to follow Him up the mountain. His followers came to HIm. Notice not all the people went up the mountain only those that choose to follow Him. (matt 5)
Jesus would speak in parables that confused many. Those parables were disigned to separate believers and unbelievers. Matt: 13 11-14
Those same parables pointed to various peoples and their reaction to the gosple.
the parable of the sower of the seeds (Matt 13:3)
the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14) basically saying religion is not the way.
The point is this. religion offers a set of easy to understand rules to find God.
To truly follow Jesus we must take up our cross not knowing where we will be walking tomorrow. It is hard because we do not want to give up control opf our lives.
Many disciples deserted Jesus because it seemed impossible to accept what He was saying. (John 6:60-66)
Jesus than turned to the 12 and said Are you also going to leave.
Simpn Peter replied, Lord to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
That is me now. I fight my faith all the time but I also know they are the words in eternal live. Everything else is just smoke and mirrors.
To sum it up. Christianity has nothing to do with paganism. Granted many christian churches have pagan elements.
You asked about the old testament.
I am trying to keep my answer simple. You can choose to seek the truth in this answer or not. That is your choice.
The new covenant (new testament) cast a shadow back in time. That shadow was the old testament. That shadow was preparing the way for the truth to a people that were not ready for that truth.
What are your thoughts when some say that Christianity is just repackaged paganism? Does the Old Testament Offer truth in your opinion?
Agape Love is different from all other forms of so called love.
Agape Love is a decision to love others even if they do not return that love or even if they are your enemy and want you destroyed.
That entire concept makes absolutely no sense unless their is something higher than self.
Jesus died for the sins of the world. He died while the world was busy trying to destroy Him.
Once you see and understand that higher form of Love you are giving a new vision of reality.
You can choose to reject that vision because it violates everything you used to hold dear. Or you can embrace that vision and be set free. It's not easy and the world will mock you every step of the way if you take that path. The world just does not understand
When Jesus spoke to people he went out of his way to make it hard for people to follow Him. Churches today go out of their way to make it easy to follow Him.
Jesus would say things like this Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
When Jesus saw many people coming to Him he went up the mountain and sat down. Forcing the people to follow Him up the mountain. His followers came to HIm. Notice not all the people went up the mountain only those that choose to follow Him. (matt 5) Jesus would speak in parables that confused many. Those parables were disigned to separate believers and unbelievers. Matt: 13 11-14 Those same parables pointed to various peoples and their reaction to the gosple. the parable of the sower of the seeds (Matt 13:3) the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14) basically saying religion is not the way.
The point is this. religion offers a set of easy to understand rules to find God. To truly follow Jesus we must take up our cross not knowing where we will be walking tomorrow. It is hard because we do not want to give up control opf our lives. Many disciples deserted Jesus because it seemed impossible to accept what He was saying. (John 6:60-66) Jesus than turned to the 12 and said Are you also going to leave. Simpn Peter replied, Lord to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. That is me now. I fight my faith all the time but I also know they are the words in eternal live. Everything else is just smoke and mirrors.
To sum it up. Christianity has nothing to do with paganism. Granted many christian churches have pagan elements.
You asked about the old testament. I am trying to keep my answer simple. You can choose to seek the truth in this answer or not. That is your choice.
The new covenant (new testament) cast a shadow back in time. That shadow was the old testament. That shadow was preparing the way for the truth to a people that were not ready for that truth.
thank you for your time and insight.