WTF am I?

wtfai:

- John 14:6

This is one bible quote that I have struggled with for some time. While I’m no longer a practicing Catholic, I do own a Bible (King James version), and I do leaf through it from time to time. The only books I’ve read fully are Genesis (I had intended to read the whole thing cover to cover, but all the begats got to me) and Revelation, but I have read quite a bit here and there, in addition to some quotes (and the passages around them) that I have sought out.  Of all that I have read, this one quote really gets me thinking.

What does it mean?  That I just have to “accept” Jesus into my life, and I’m good to go?  And if so, what is this acceptance and how does one do it?  Through prayer?  And how often?  Just once?  Daily?  And what does it mean to “cometh unto the Father?”  I’ve assumed he was referring to entering in to heaven, but was he?  And then, what of the belief that Jesus was a “sun god” like others.. would that mean that the Sun is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ and if so, what would ‘no man cometh unto the Father but by me’ mean?  And to add to this confusion, what significance might the ‘body & blood’ hold then?  Might this simply an instruction to get regular sunlight, eat whole grains, and drink wine; something more; or something else entirely?

I could go on with my thoughts and questions on this one…

I am sad to hear that you are no longer a practicing Catholic. I would suggest seeing a good, knowledgeable priest to see if he can answer any questions which may have led you out.

It means that Jesus is God. That is the simplest way to put it.

Just accepting Jesus into your life is quite a misnomer since accepting Him involves much more than a profound, one-time statement. it is a complete way of living your life.

Accepting Jesus is an all-in-one experience. One must do so via prayer, thought, emotion, body, the whole bit. Accepting Him is not a once, a weekly, a daily, an hourly, or any other length of time thing. You must accept Him at all times. This really is just acknowledging that He is the omnipotent God, and deciding that you are going to do the only next logical thing: do whatever He says.

He was indeed referring to Heaven.

He is not a “sun god” like others since they don’t exist (logically there can only be one God (conversation for another time)). He is the God of everything.

The body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ is one of the most precious gifts there are. Only fully pure things are in Heaven. To be in Heaven, you must be fully pure. This is impossible without God’s help. The body, blood, soul, and divinity truly present in the Eucharist are the most powerful way in which He gives us this help.

It would be something more entirely.

Coming to Him via the Father is a statement which means that He  is there for everyone since the Father beckons all. We need to follow the beckon though. To not follow this is to choose to be apart from God (Hell).

I know that this is not extremely comprehensive, but I tried to make it short. Feel free to message me with more questions if you want.

God Bless!

PAX VOBISCVM

Thanks for your response, but for the most part, it’s just more of the same, and more than a bit vague.  One interesting thing you’ve said is that we must be ‘pure’ to enter heaven - what do you think that means?  Pure in mind, body, or spirit, or all three?  And if all three, then what do you think about what most of us eat regularly?

As for the bit about Jesus being a sun god - I don’t believe that, but I was alluding to the fact that some do, as well as the fact that “son” and “sun” might be interchangeable in the bible in some passages (ex. “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun” - Ecclesiastes 11:7).

Anyway, I’m not interested in organized religion at this point.  From what I can tell, Jesus taught against it, and then ‘they’ went and founded a religion on his teachings.

I’m looking for a more practical look at Jesus’ teachings, and this passage in particular.  He was a practical man from what I can tell, and I think much of his advice was equally practical.  Now, considering the time he was here, I do not believe that all who died before him were unable to make it to heaven (if indeed such a place exists), so it seems to me that accepting Him as God would not have been possible before He visited us, and indeed even once He had, there would have been many who hadn’t heard of Him for quite some time.  No, it seems to me He meant something more practical, and likely quite simple, though knowing some things it is also likely has meaning on more than one level, so what you say is likely correct, but I believe there is something more.