Today, 29 May, we are reading and studying Paper 141, Section 6. The title of today’s section is “Last Week at Amathus.” The section begins with recounting the story of the Master appointing Simon to teach a Persian named Teherma, whom Simon assumed was a “fire worshipper”. Apparently, Simon was not able to persuade Teherma to believe what he had to say. This is evidenced by Simon’s seemingly frustrated words to the Master, “Why is it that I could not persuade him? Why did he so resist me and so readily lend an ear to you?” Yeshua knew exactly what had taken place in the discussions between Simon and Teherma. Simon had attempted to force every single point of the Gospel teaching on this Persian man who was only recently introduced to the basics. Teherma asked to remain for a while so he could hear Yeshua’s teaching.
The Master reminded Simon that the important matter in the teaching process was not to force everything on seekers, but for them to learn gradually. He said, “How many times have I instructed you to refrain from all efforts to take something out of the hearts of those who seek salvation? How often have I told you to labour only to put something into these hungry souls? Lead men into the kingdom, and the great and living truths of the kingdom will presently drive out all serious error.” Early on, the Persian attempted to explain to Simon that he did not worship fire, that the fire was only a symbol of God. Simon probably assumed much more than he should have about the faith of this individual, but Yeshua saw Teherma as a genuine seeker. The Master taught that it is more important to help lead souls to the gate of the kingdom and that with the soul’s continued, gradual learning of truth, would falsehoods fall away.
Yeshua continued, “When you have presented to mortal man the good news that God is his Father, you can the easier persuade him that he is in reality a son of God. And having done that, you have brought the light of salvation to the one who sits in darkness.” Many people we reach with the good news have been sitting in the darkness for many years. Some have been taught religious errors from childhood, and they in turn have taught their children the same errors. In our responsibility to share the gospel with all souls, it would be presumptuous to think that everyone is wrong in every aspect of their current belief system. We must share the gems of the truth about God being the Universal Father and that all humankind consists of the sons and daughters of a loving, divine Father. This is the beginning of the process. All we can do is share the light of the kingdom as an invitation for the seeker to learn more. Yeshua taught his apostles to share the gospel in a gradual manner. Nothing should be forced. The Master referred to this as “the progressive advancement of the soul within the divine kingdom.” Simon followed Yeshua’s instructions, and as 141:6.3 says, the Persian “was numbered among those who entered the kingdom.”
Again Yeshua spoke about the gradual process of teaching others. He said, “first see that men are born of the spirit before you seek to instruct them in the advanced ways of the spirit.” (141:6.4) Like infants, new seekers can not consume solid foods. An infant must consume milk in the initial stages of life. It is only later that the child can begin consuming solids.
At times, in our enthusiasm to share the gospel with others, we may attempt to “overshare” the truths that we have come to know. However, the Master taught, “Introduce men to God and as the sons of God before you discourse on the doctrines of the fatherhood of God and the sonship of men. Do not strive with men—always be patient. It is not your kingdom; you are only ambassadors. Simply go forth proclaiming: This is the kingdom of heaven—God is your Father and you are his sons, and this good news, if you wholeheartedly believe it, is your eternal salvation.” In sharing too much, too soon, we may be the cause of the seeker’s rejection of the gospel teachings, because like the infant, spiritually speaking the new seeker is unable to consume solid foods.
— Brother Chaim
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“Those who have received and recognized the indwelling of God have been born of the Spirit. ‘You are the temple of God, and the spirit of God dwells in you.'” (34:6.7)