Colossians 1:15–16 He is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were
created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones
or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
When you
get down to it, is not the popular idea of Christianity simply this: that Jesus
Christ was a great moral teacher and that if only we took His advice we might
be able to establish a better social order and avoid another war? Now, mind
you, that is quite true. But it tells you much less than the whole truth about
Christianity and it has no practical importance at all.
It is
quite true that if we took Christ's advice we should soon be living in a
happier world. You need not even go as far as Christ. If we did all that Plato
or Aristotle or Confucius told us, we should get on a great deal better than we
do. And so what? We never have followed the advice of the great teachers. Why
are we likely to begin now? Why are we more likely to follow Christ than any of
the others? Because He is the best moral teacher? But that makes it even less
likely that we shall follow Him. If we cannot take the elementary lessons, is
it likely we are going to take the most advanced one? If Christianity only
means one more bit of good advice, then Christianity is of no importance. There
has been no lack of good advice for the last four thousand years. A bit more
makes no difference.
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