Follow Jesus Christ

In opposition to the idea of total Christocentrism, some argue that what is written in the Old Testament is very important and is the same Word of God as the teachings of Jesus. As a rule, it is believed that “the Father spoke in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit speaks now, and Jesus spoke when he lived.” This belief leads to paradoxical and contradictory views. For example, Jesus claimed that no food defiles a person, except for his own negative thoughts and feelings. The Old Testament convinces us that pork or shrimp can defile a person. Or another example: “the revelation of the Holy Spirit is also important.” However, what is considered the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the apostolic era? Should women wear head coverings as a sign for angels? Or can we call ourselves spiritual fathers if Jesus asked us not to?

All these attempts to coherently connect the entire Bible are connected, firstly, with the ideas of the Trinity. In the minds of Christians, God in three persons seems to be three separate beings with their own goals and tasks. Secondly, Christians actually honor and worship the Bible itself, preserving its integrity and coherence. In reality, all this ends in great confusion.

Although Christian tradition speaks of God as a Trinity, this does not mean that the Hypostases of the Deity can say the opposite. Allegedly, the Father allows to kill opponents, and Jesus asks to love enemies. The unity of the Trinity lies in the unity of opinions. The three persons of God say one thing and act accordingly as one person.

The main question that arises in connection with the attempt to give a consistent explanation of the unitary personalities of God is related to the source of information. How are we to judge God? Based on the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus, or the teachings of the Apostles in the New Testament? Or is it necessary to synthesize all the information into a single whole? But as we have already shown, the attempt at synthesis, or unification, does not bring clarity. Many are inclined to trust the Old Testament as more ancient and reliable. The question arises, “Didn’t God speak in the Old Testament in the same way as in the New?”

In fact, no: the revelation of the Trinity in the person of Jesus is fundamentally different, hitherto unseen. The fact is that in the person of Jesus, God took human form and made it possible not only to hear God, but also to ask Him questions. The revelation of the Trinity in Jesus is obviously the most complete and comprehensive. Instead of lights and distant voices, witnesses could contemplate the very person of God, who was incarnated in a human body. So how else to judge the Trinity if not by Jesus? This is where it becomes clear who is a real Christian, for whom the testimony of Jesus is not enough or who does not fully trust His teaching and views. A faithful disciple of Jesus will sacrifice all his views to Jesus: if He said so, then so it is. Christians will doubtfully discuss which version of the “Word of God” to accept: that specific food defiles a person or that evil thoughts defile a person. The problem, paradoxically, is the mistrust of the words of Jesus. Or in partial trust.

The idea of God and the Trinity must be formed exclusively according to Jesus Christ. The revelation of the Father coincides with the teaching of Jesus. The revelation of the Holy Spirit also coincides with the message of Jesus. They are one and speak of one thing. If Jesus declared that the highest commandment is love, then the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit think so. We must maintain faith in this by remembering the words of Jesus that His teaching is in fact originally the teaching of the Father.

The next question that inevitably arises in the process of reasoning is what to do with the Old Testament? How is it that it has both similarities and fundamental differences with the teachings of Jesus? The unequivocal answer is that the anti-Christian principles of the Old Testament were most likely introduced there by man. This happened either in the process of editing the texts, or in the process of rewriting, or even intentionally. But what difference does it make? This is not a reason to fight the Old Testament: the main goal is to focus on the teachings of Jesus, not His person, who reveals to us the mystery of God. It is time to reconsider the idea of who is a Christian. Those who completely trust Jesus and put His personal words and beliefs above all else are Christians 100 percent. Those who still waver and lean towards different teachings in the Bible can be classified as Christians to any other number of percent: from ninety-nine to one.