Religion & Spirituality 11 Sep 2007 08:52 am
Jesus as a spiritual teacher
Even when I decided, about 2 years ago now, to call myself a Christian, I couldn’t accept the “Jesus as Savior” perspective. It just never worked for me - this idea of substitutionary atonement - that Jesus died on the cross because we are such sinful beings, and there had to be some sacrifice to God on our behalf. And the “Jesus as example” (or, in the words of a good friend, “moral teacher” - the “what would Jesus do?” kind of way of looking at him) worked, but felt, well flat, and not really expressing how I felt, or the depth of what I thought. But, I felt kinda stuck in that place. A place of having to reject one perspective, and take on one that felt inadequate.
A few days ago I thought about another way of looking at Jesus, one that Christians basically don’t: as a spiritual teacher. A spiritual teacher in a more Eastern sense - an incredibly wise, fully enlightened being that points to the truth in many different ways, because it’s not really possible to state the truth - the truth is unknowable except in our own experience. Pointing to the truths we already deeply know, but need to be woken up to.
This perspective kind of woke me up, in a sense. When I started studying Bible in seminary a couple of years ago, I felt that the approach of progressive Christian theologians and bible scholars to the bible was, in a sense, unfortunate, because it was a series of subtractions from the text. I had liked the Jewish tradition better - which felt additive. The text could mean this, or this, or that, or maybe even this …
And, of course, the approach to think of Jesus as a spiritual teacher leads to a much more additive/interpretive approach to his words - because if he’s not speaking “the truth”, but, instead pointing to the truth that we already know inside us (which is what all true spiritual teachers do), then exactly what he meant is basically up to each of us to decide. And, in a sense, it doesn’t even matter so much whether we think or know he actually said something - whatever can bring us closer to our own understanding of truth is what matters.
Of course, to some people, this sounds problematic - because they want there to be something that is the truth - an unchangeable, unshakable thing they can depend on - and they search for that in the Bible. But that kind of truth can’t be found there. It can’t because it doesn’t exist. The truth really is in each of us, in our own experience - we deeply know it, but often aren’t willing or able to acknowledge it.
on 11 Sep 2007 at 10:35 am 1.Daniel said …
I agree with you that there is more than one way to look at Jesus. In fact, this explains the literally thousands of Christian denominations, each claiming to be “True.”
My own version is Jesus as a Teacher of Success Principles. Success being defined as living an authentic, fulfilling life. In fact I wrote a book titled “The 99 Success Secrets of Jesus.” The book reveals the personality and character traits of Jesus that you can model to bridge the gap between worldly success and your spiritual calling.
on 11 Sep 2007 at 11:42 am 2.admin said …
Hmmm, Success secrets of Jesus? I think he might ask, “why should you care about worldy success?”
Wasn’t it Jesus who said:
‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’
Of course, that just is a pointer to the truth.
on 15 Sep 2007 at 1:37 pm 3.Mysical Seeker said …
I think what many who don’t subscribe to the “Jesus died for our sins” perspective but who still follow Jesus might want to consider is that Jesus was not just a spiritual teacher, but he also lived what he taught. In that sense, he served as a model for the spiritual life by living an authentic life himself. His death doesn’t need to be seen as an atonement, but as a consequence of living an authentic life that challenged religious and political convention and the authorities who defined that convention. So living an authentic life has its potential price (in Jesus’s case, crucifixion), but also its rewards in a deeper and more meaningful spiritual life.
on 21 Sep 2007 at 6:43 pm 4.Mata H said …
One of the ways that I look at Jesus is as a profound manifestation of God’s love — that God put on a vulnerable human form to feel with us, to learn what could only be known by being one of us — pain, suffering, death, fear, ordinary joy, loyalty, sadness — that the humanity of Jesus is an act of divine love and a way that God comes to understand us in the most intimate way. (And yes I see Jesus as a teacher as well.)
on 01 Oct 2007 at 10:21 am 5.Sarah said …
Amen! Preach! Thank you for this! I struggle to claim my Christian identity, too. It’s a tradition that speaks to my heart, is embedded in my personality and history, but sometimes I actually feel like I’m not a true Christian because I haven’t been “saved,” nor do I feel the need to be saved. I accept Jesus into my heart as a prophet, indeed a spiritual leader. I am inspired by his life and teachings. God exists in each of us, just as God exists in the life of Jesus.