A New Jesus?

By: Carl Teichrib; ©2004

Does Jesus have to change to keep up with modern times and modern ideas? Carl Teichrib gives us an example of a “new, improved” Jesus for today!

A New Jesus?

Allow me to introduce to you the new Jesus. This isn’t the Jesus Christ known to us from the pages of the Holy Bible, rather, this Jesus is a new version cast into the arena of international politics and global social change.

Wondering what I’m talking about?

In the fall of 1999, I received a little book titled The Night Jesus Christ Returned To Earth, authored by Captain Tom A. Hudgens. In the late 1990’s, while attending various conferences on international affairs, I had the opportunity of listening to Mr. Hudgens present his views on “world order” and global citizenship. At that time, Mr. Hudgens was President and CEO of the Association to Unite the Democracies—an organization dedicated to the advancement of global government—so his views carried a decidedly internationalist flavor. Not surprisingly, so too does the Jesus character of Hudgens’ book.

In his Foreword, Hudgens writes, “In this book I have intentionally put words into Jesus’ mouth. Whether the words came directly to me from Him or that the words are my own invention is debatable.” Furthermore, Hudgens draws out a challenge, “If what I have Jesus say in this book does not agree with what you think He would say, I challenge you to write down what you think He would endorse today.”

As a work of fiction, the author portrays Jesus Christ as returning to Earth during the Millen­nium Celebrations at Times Square in New York City. The year, 1999, is only seconds away from closing.

At the very moment that the white ball should start its descent, a loud explosion scatters the ball into a million pieces of confetti. In its place is Jesus Christ, descending and arriving at the bottom for his triumphal return to Earth, not as described in the Book of Revelation, but as He Himself had decided to make His entrance. (p. 35)

At this point in the book, Jesus explains why he appeared in the United States, and New York City more specifically. 1) America has the most Christians, 2) the United Nations is head­quartered in New York, and 3) the US is the “freest of all nations and the guarantor of freedom and human rights.”

Jesus then asks “all citizens of the world to elect ten disciples for me….” All of this is rather novel, especially given the fact that the Jesus of the Bible always invited His disciples to follow Him—it was not a matter of democracy, but of invitation and personal calling.

Hudgens then goes on to describe what his version of Jesus “would endorse today.”

1. A stabilization of the United Nations and a call to global democracy.
2. A uniting of all democratic countries into a limited federal republic; i.e., a world government. In fact, this “Millennium Jesus” [my phrase] makes numerous direct references to the Association to Unite the Democracies—Hudgens’ world government lobbying organization— its agendas and ideas, and its importance in striving for a political, economic, and military unification of like-minded nations.
3. That the European Union should become the core group used to unite the democracies, and that other existing international arrangements (such as NATO) be brought into the fold.
4. That “total gun control” is necessary. (In this regard, the National Rifle Association is mentioned as a negative factor in America’s political system).
5. A calling to “sap the strength of the multinational corporations which are ruling the world.”
6. A calling for population control and the necessity of abortion in order to ensure the safety of the Earth’s environment. Hudgens’ Jesus even tells us when life begins; “when the umbili­cal cord is severed.” Moreover, Jesus even goes so far as to tell his New York audience that, “I plan to speak with the Pope about this matter.”
7. And, among other things, Jesus brings religion into the picture by declaring, “Over time I believe we can show that Christianity is compatible with all other religions. My coming will help to solidify the religions.”

I understand that Mr. Hudgens’ name and organization are not recognized “household word.” Few people outside of World Federalist circles and global citizenship lobby groups will have ever heard of either the individual or his association. And it’s not that his book, The Night Jesus Christ Returned To Earth, has been an influential best-seller. Odds are, those who have the book are few and far-between.

So why bring all of this up? Simply because these concepts represent a line of thinking found within certain elements of the international community.

Former United Nations high-official, Robert Muller [not the FBI Robert Muller], readily preached and still advocates an international order which combines a New Age Jesus with global politics. In his 1982 book, New Genesis: Shaping a Global Spirituality, Muller writes, “If Christ came back to earth, his first visit would be to the United Nations to see if his dream of human oneness and brotherhood had come true.” (p. 19)

In a section of New Genesis titled “The Reappearance of Christ” [this chapter is a transcript of a speech he gave at the Arcane School Conference, a New Age body directly connected to Lucis Trust], Muller spells out a lengthy yet revealing vision of “Christ” within a new world para­digm.

So everywhere I look—and I am not a theologian or a philosopher, I am just a United Nations official trying to make a little sense out of all this—everywhere I see the Christ’s luminous messages. They are all still among us, they are coming again to the fore ever more potently. In the present global world they have to express themselves in the ecumenism of religions. The world’s major religions in the end all want the same thing, even though they were born in different places and circumstances on this planet. What the world needs today is a convergence of the different religions in the search for and definition of the cosmic or divine laws which out to regulate our behavior on this planet. World-wide spiritual ecumenism, expressed in new forms of religious cooperation and institutions, would probably be closest to the heart of the resurrected Christ. I would wholeheartedly support the creation of an institutional arrangement in the UN or in UNESCO for a dialogue and cooperation between religions. There is a famous painting and poster which shows Christ knocking at the tall United Nations building, wanting to enter it. I often visualize in my mind another even more accurate painting: that of a United Nations which would be the body of Christ. (pp. 126-127)

Muller’s vision didn’t emerge from his own sense of spiritual understanding, it is an admitted result of other’s work—including a heavy dose of Alice Bailey.

Bailey was a significant leader in the Theosophical movement—a mystically oriented blend of eastern religions and western-styled occultism. In turn, she founded the Lucifer Publishing Company which later morphed into Lucis Trust, an umbrella organization with a multitude of New Age subgroups.

Alice Bailey’s book, The Rays and the Initiations, connects the dots between the coming of the New Age Christ and the unfolding of a new world society. According to The Rays, the new world Christ—not necessarily Jesus Christ, but rather a Christ—will manifest himself physically, directing his will into the arena of world politics, economics, and religion. Moreover, this manifes­tation will come hand-in-glove with an entirely new planetary system, including a one-world religion and global government.

We’re now brought full circle, coming face-to-face with Hudgens’ Jesus, and Hudgens’ chal­lenge: what would Jesus endorse today?

Actually, this isn’t too hard to figure out. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Knowing this, it’s fairly easy to discern what Jesus Christ would endorse today; it’s the same thing He endorsed 2000 years ago—an exclusive way to the Fa­ther (John 14:6) and that man is in need of a Savior because man is a sinful creature (John 3:16-21).

But none of this bodes well in today’s climate of global tolerance and planetary correctness. Instead, a New Age Jesus is desired and anticipated, one that is willing to embrace all religions and unite all nations.