This has bothered me for a long time.  So many people say they are followers of Jesus, but how do we know?  How does that show?  Could it be that the greatest obstacles to following any of this teacher’s lessons are bibles, churches, theologies?  Is Christianity itself, with its emphasis on beliefs over actions, ritual over living, something wholly divergent from the essence of Jesus’ instructions?

Perhaps most disturbing of all, could it be that Jesus himself (worshiped as The Christ) gets in the way of the life he called people to?

In my view, you don’t have to be a Christian, a believer, or even a “follower of Jesus,” to practice his basic lessons.

Here’s an excerpt from this weeks’ column:

“If the Teachings of Jesus Were Truly Followed”

This may be a troubling thought, but as I see it, if the teachings of Jesus were authentically followed, there would be no Church as we know it, no Bible as we know it, no Christianity or Theology as we know it. These may sound like radical statements, but I see no serious way around it: we have Churchianity and a spiritualized Jesus which have little or nothing to do with the ethical teachings of the one known as Jesus of Nazareth. He is spiritually worshipped, but not seriously followed.

Here’s what I mean. Doesn’t it make more sense to live a life guided, not by scripture verses, sermons or creeds set in stone, but guided by a living practice of love, compassion and justice? Is it too difficult to bear in mind and take to heart a transformation of faith and belief into flesh and blood practice, as Jesus himself did?

Read the whole “Highland Views” column this weekend.