An Idiot’s Guide Introduction

A very wonderful thing happened two-thousand years ago, a special man was born onto the earth. He was the most gifted and intelligent individual the world would ever know. But before we can discus Him, we need to look at the not-so bright-side of life.

Heresy, or Homily?

The title for this treatise should perhaps read, ‘Heresy or Homily’.  This forward has been written and rewritten a half dozen times, and I am still no closer to expressing ‘properly’ its true intent, although, getting closer. For to speak the true history of the church and the power struggles therein, would seem to be heresy – to speak of the Christ, and His intent on earth, would be a Homily.

There is a pop song that continually echoes in my head whenever I am faced with doubt or uncertainty, “I am no longer a slave to fear, but am a child of God,” (Bethel Music, 2015). If we are going to live fearless and prosperous lives in these troubled times, these words of encouragement must continually be re-enforced in our minds.

All of us face hardships, whether it be in the workplace, at home or abroad, that we must try and overcome. ‘Fear’ of not being accepted by friends and community, popularity within social spheres, unfulfilled expectations, all fuel the doubt to uncertainty which impedes our wellbeing and peace. There was a man however, a man of peace, that walked the earth two thousand years ago, who we unintentionally denied, and later enshrouded with Godhood – He tried to show us a way to live, through faith, truth and harmony, to successful living and cohabitation. He never said it would be easy, but we are to try – Jesus of Nazareth, the Christos (the living word).

There has always been a small group of individuals who have tried to hold true the precepts of the early Christian church. Keeping material goods to a minimum, perhaps not quite as severe as the Franciscan monks, but still taking the needs of others before self – keeping their sexual appetites within the guidelines and suggestions of the Mosaic Law, without the severity of the order of Jesuit Priests – a group that has believed in the second most important commandment, “to love your neighbour as yourself.

The politics of an apostate church, and the brutal onslaught of developing nations, has left little in history’s wake but bloodshed and confusion. The early and medieval churches under the banner of Christianity, were almost as culpable as any of the Gals and Huns who spread their carnage and seed across the vast plains and fertile soils of Europe. There is no easy way to discern the truth from the mosaic of malfeasance and distrust that spread itself throughout the world – the fruits thereof being ‘fear’ and suffering. But, there has always been a story, a guiding light that shone a long time ago, above the quaint, farming village of Bethlehem.