The Bible Alive!

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Comment by Rev. Ed Townley on February 6, 2009 at 11:35am

Clive,
I apologize for the delay in responding to your comment. I think the question is quite clear, actually, and it's one that all of us who were raised in traditional Christian beliefs have to wrestle with as our understanding expands. If you're listening to the show today, I'm going to address this at some length. In the meantime, let's just note that it is very important to keep the distinctions clear between Jesus, the Christ, and Jesus Christ. The Christ is, indeed, 'the way, truth and life' -- the Christ of our own being. Jesus the man so perfectly expressed his own Christ nature that he became one with it in terms of human expression -- he became Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ doesn't ask us to worship or revere him, but to follow his example and become increasingly expressive of our own Christ expression. So JC is very important in my own spiritual work, as the example and promise of what lies ahead, and as a loving assurance that the achieving of Christ expression is worth the journey required.

Comment by Clive deLaporte on December 10, 2008 at 10:53am

Rev Ed
Im new to the Unity idea, and to your Bible Alive Unityfm broadcast ... and I'm loving it and wanted to thank you!
I have a question ... my traditional Christian education has taught me that JC is my Saviour, in the full traditional sense. I get now that the kingdom of God is within me, that my Father and I are One, and that this is in a sense the consciousness of Christ ... let this mind be in you, that was in Christ. My question then ... what role does JC now play in my spiritual relationship and experience with God? How is Christ the 'Way, Truth and the Life', the High Priest and Mediator, in a consciousness sense? Okay so that question didn't come out as clearly defined as I'd liked, but does indicate the my need for some direction with this question.
I would appreciate any help your able to give.
Clive

Comment by Hopeful on July 20, 2008 at 7:38pm

Dear Rev. Ed Townley,

I've deeply enjoyed your broadcast today!

We each pay for each of our lives, with our life...and is it worth it?

The answer we give might well depend upon just when, in the timeline of our lives, we ask ourselves this question.

During the most "grueling of times" in our lives, we must truly know (via prior experience) and/ or we must have a very strong intuition..."there is a treasure hidden in the field," in order to feel the toughest of all times are truly "worth it."

Yes! This is it! This is (at least partly) why we persist through even the most prolonged periods of the most difficult of times!

Your broadcast has reminded me of this truth!
Your reminder put a song in my heart on this very evening!

With Deep Gratitude,
~j~

Comment by Michelle Wilson on May 24, 2008 at 3:35am

I would like to know the verses in John that you are referring to, I was listening last night and loved the show on Genesis by the way :)

Comment by Rev. Ellen Debenport on May 22, 2008 at 10:30am

So Ed, do you think the author of John really intended to describe Christ energy, or is that just the way we understand it in Unity? It certainly has given me a different and better view of John! But as I recall from Beyond Belief, Elaine Pagels says the author of John was really trying to claim "Jesus was divine and you're not!"

Comment by Rev. Ed Townley on May 15, 2008 at 2:33pm

I'm sorry people have been having trouble listening to Bible Alive!. Thanks for sticking with it!

Mary, the quote you reference from John has probably caused more grief and anger than any other in the Bible, wouldn't you say? The important awareness that puts it into proper perspective is that the author of the Gospel of John is concerned exclusively, not with Jesus of Nazareth, but with Jesus as the very embodiment of the Christ energy of God. From the opening passages -- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" -- the gospel is not an account of the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth (as the three synoptic gospels are), but a majestic recognition of the universal Christ energy that was expressing through Jesus. Thus his teachings in John are all taught -- not from his human perspective, but as the Christ. (I think that's why there are no parables in John -- parables are too earthbound for his higher perspective.
If we understand that John intends Jesus to be speaking as the Christ, then the statement you asked about makes sense. We cannot come to the Father (to divine Source) if we don't recognize the Presence of Source, as the Christ, within us. That's true no matter what spiritual path you may choose to follow -- we can only recognize God in totality when we open our hearts to God in us as the Christ.
I'm not sure this will persuade your friends, but I hope it helps you both respect their paths and understand ours. For Jesus of Nazareth to say that he is the only connection to Source is a statement of pride and power that are totally unlike him. For Jesus Christ to say that we can only reach Source by doing what he did -- finding the Christ within us and allowing that inner God Presence to guide us -- is clear and helpful.

Comment by Mary Williams on May 13, 2008 at 4:22pm

I was not able to hear Ellen live yesterday, but listened to it today. I listened to Ed's last week show today and am glad to be back hearing about the Bible again (I miss the services at Unity Dallas I used to attend).
My question is about traditionalist friends who always quote John having Jesus say, "No one comes to the Father except through me," as a way of justifying that no other way to God works except their way. How can I answer that in a way that respects their path to God through Jesus but maintaining that there are other paths as well?
Mary

Comment by David Sapp on May 9, 2008 at 2:05pm

for some reason the streaming audio is not working on my computer and I missed the first show... it was working fine earlier this morning and generally I don't have any problem... did anyone else encountered this?

Comment by Eric on May 9, 2008 at 1:56pm

I enjoyed the first show and look forward to listening to the rest of them!

Comment by Rev. Cathy Jean Norman on May 3, 2008 at 10:53am

I adore you, Ed!!!!!