Teachings of Jesus

I am confused by how much the vision of Jesus and the treatment of the Poor as the pathway to redemption differs from the vision of modern-day Leviticus style Christians who insist that obedience to Religious Dogma is the Path to Paradise. At age 12, I wanted to be a pastor. At age 16 after some years of study, the church told me that my thinking was all wrong

Jesus taught in Matthew 25: 31 - 45 that service to those in need was service to him and the Reward was eternal Life.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

Modern day Christians call for adherence to the Dogma of their particular Religious views as the Pathway to eternal Reward. Most often those views are of a materialist nature.

WWJD

Along with science and philosophy, I have studied many religions, both old and new.  I have seen both the struggle to find personal wealth & power and I have seen the struggle to protect the poor & helpless from the seeds of greed growing from the same ground.
I never found a religion in which I could find purpose without paradox.  But in myself, I found a singular value in the love of life itself.  I have put my passion where I found my love. I have been the happier for it. I believe the World can be a better place if we know from where we have come.