I love his message, his imperative to "Turn the other check and Love thy neighbor". And to remove the timber in ones own eye before criticizing the sliver in our neighbors. And to let the one without sin cast the first stone. I see a bright and shining essence in those words. I love that bright shining essence.
I am not sure that makes me a Christian. If it does, clearly I am not a very sophisticated one. I have yet to find where in the Bible he disavows himself and says "Turn the other check and Love thy neighbor" is bunk, "I didn't really mean it. Hate and Wrath is where its at -- and the single door to Peace on Earth" (and to Heaven -- some may see these as the same.) Because a lot of sophisticated Christians appear to have found that passage. And practice it with all heart and soul. If I ever find that passage, I am not sure that I will love Jesus so much. No, wait. Yes I will -- because I love that bright shining essence -- and his first message -- the turn the other check and love thy neighbor part, If the secret passage nullifying this exists, I am guessing that he was just messing with us. Testing our understanding of him and his message. I am not falling for that. I am going with that light -- the brightness that he shone on the world and its things -- that bright shining essence that dissolves hate, wrath, vindictiveness, tribalism and narcisistic love of self, community, nation and things above others.
