Does my limited understanding of Jesus keep me at a distance and at a disadvantage?

Who is this Jesus?

I sometimes have that disconnect. It's often difficult to articulate the problem. We know though that God is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I love that phrase, "Limited understanding." You'd have to know my personality as a child, but the endless CCD classes and Sunday masses, repetitive - Oh, it hurts to this day.

I couldn't understand the ritual or why people would go and flip each other off trying to be the first to get out of the parking lot, some even sneaking out early.

I used to tell my mom, "If Jesus is supposed to be the poster-child for good deeds, that's not much of a pep-talk."

But the endless bickering the adults would have...I remember those too. To me I'd sit at the top of the stairs, when I was supposed to be asleep and listen."

Finally, I think I had those footy PJ's, they were pink. Loved those...but anyway (add moment) I stormed down and said something along the lines of:

"Were ANY OF YOU THERE!?! Were any of you actually there? If not, then NO ONE will EVER know what exactly went on. All we have is that little black and white book that's been written and re-written and fight about who's right or wrong. And us kids? Whether or not we've been good enough to get to heaven!"

It was something my parent's had these "get-togethers," but they were routine. It's engrained in my Soul, lol.

But, to me - our perception grows. Each day we're alive and live through the challenges we do, they enlighten us to a better understanding of something we can never come close to, at least on this plane. I think that's the whole idea... just an opinion

Elleise, how unfortunate an experience you had. It is necessary to continue studying because our understanding changes as our life experiences change.

I agree

And I didn't mean to make it sound unfortunate or an experience that brings me sadness. In fact, it kind of makes me laugh, because afterward, you could have heard a pin drop and everyone started socializing like normal people do.

But, see the "studying" I do, it involves all creation, all religions and the miracles I see all around me on a daily basis, but mostly the impact, I mean, comes w/compassion I see in others, that bond and connectedness - that tells me more each day where we come and by what and precisely the reason we're here

Unfortunately, many people make it all about the rules of worship - such as your experience in CCD classes. Getting to know who Jesus is, only encourages us to come closer. Everything we need to know about how to get to know Jesus is in the bible. The more we study it with a willing heart, the more we know and love him.

Lynn and Eleise, CCD classes should have included everything Jesus, Bible study, church history, etc. - rules of worship is an interesting term but in the Catholic Church the Mass is all Biblical.

I guess some parishes approached religious education differently. Many of the churches (Methodists, Lutheran, Presbyterian) have Sunday school or classes on another night. That is what CCD is. My parish now calls it LIFE.

Angie and Eleise, I didn't really mean to target CCD classes. Children and new believers need education. I think that sometimes rules are stressed over who Jesus is and end up thinking that Christianity is a set of rules.

Another thought that is probably a better answer - sometimes the person is not ready to receive Christ. God is the only one who knows who is and isn't.

Lynn, Faith is a gift.... not everyone receives it and some reject it.

Thank you for your great articles. They make us take a deeper look within ourselves.

Thank you Angie.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I read this this morning. By A.W. Tozer in Knowledge of the Holy

"What God declares the believing heart confesses without the need of futher proof."