In yesterday's post, I briefly explored the grand inquisitor's chastisement of Jesus for expecting too much from "weak and dishonorable" humanity and asked about the validity of the grand inquisitor's argument.
Dr. Charlton provided a nail-head answer to that question in a comment today (bold and underlining added):
The deepest truth is that Jesus made things extraordinarily *simple* - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" John 10: 27-8; and "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20: 31) - indeed, that simplicity is the problem.
So simple is Jesus's work and message, that people can't believe it, and insist upon something extremely complex.
They ask for some specific answer, argument and rule for every possible (and imaginary) question and eventuality. They ask for a cure to the world's ills, and demand a 'system' that will 'make' all Men into Christians.
Perhaps the special nature of *these* times is such that we may be able to shake free for centuries of obfuscation (as well as expedient or dishonest misrepresentation) and (re-) discover that simplicity - each for himself.
Of course, 'simple' does not mean 'easy' - but it does imply a straightforward, albeit tough, choice; which when made correctly will be followed by more such straightforward-tough choices.
To which I responded (some editing and additional words added):
That's the answer.
People can't bring themselves to believe in the simplicity and straightforwardness of Jesus's message. They demand the Grand Inquisitor's coercive miracle, mystery, and authority model instead.
The further development of Christian consciousness hinges upon the (re)discovery of Jesus's simple, straightforward message and the straightforward, "tough" choices that follow.
Dr. Charlton provided a nail-head answer to that question in a comment today (bold and underlining added):
The deepest truth is that Jesus made things extraordinarily *simple* - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" John 10: 27-8; and "believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20: 31) - indeed, that simplicity is the problem.
So simple is Jesus's work and message, that people can't believe it, and insist upon something extremely complex.
They ask for some specific answer, argument and rule for every possible (and imaginary) question and eventuality. They ask for a cure to the world's ills, and demand a 'system' that will 'make' all Men into Christians.
Perhaps the special nature of *these* times is such that we may be able to shake free for centuries of obfuscation (as well as expedient or dishonest misrepresentation) and (re-) discover that simplicity - each for himself.
Of course, 'simple' does not mean 'easy' - but it does imply a straightforward, albeit tough, choice; which when made correctly will be followed by more such straightforward-tough choices.
To which I responded (some editing and additional words added):
That's the answer.
People can't bring themselves to believe in the simplicity and straightforwardness of Jesus's message. They demand the Grand Inquisitor's coercive miracle, mystery, and authority model instead.
The further development of Christian consciousness hinges upon the (re)discovery of Jesus's simple, straightforward message and the straightforward, "tough" choices that follow.
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