WRONG IDEAS OF JESUS AND HIS RELIGION

“Jesus did not attack the teachings of the Hebrew prophets or the Greek moralists. The Master
recognized the many good things which these great teachers stood for, but he had come down to
earth to teach something additional 'the voluntary conformity of man's will to God's will.' Jesus
did not want simply to produce a religious man, a mortal wholly occupied with religious feelings
and actuated only by spiritual impulses. Could you have had but one look at him, you would
have known that Jesus was a real man of great experience in the things of this world. The
teachings of Jesus in this respect have been grossly perverted and much misrepresented all down
through the centuries of the Christian era; you have also held perverted ideas about the Master's
meekness and humility. What he aimed at in his life appears to have been a superb self-respect.
He only advised man to humble himself that he might become truly exalted; what he really
aimed at was true humility toward God. He placed great value upon sincerity—a pure heart.
Fidelity was a cardinal virtue in his estimate of character, while courage was the very heart of his
teachings. ‘Fear not' was his watchword, and patient endurance his ideal of strength of character.
The teachings of Jesus constitute a religion of valor, courage, and heroism. And this is just why
he chose as his personal representatives twelve commonplace men, the majority of whom were
rugged, virile, and manly fishermen.” 140:8.20