Why Christianity Needs To Return To CHRIST | Aaron Abke

The Power of Forgiveness

The conversation opens with a powerful recounting of Erica Kirk's public forgiveness of her husband's murderer in front of 100,000 people. Both speakers describe this moment as an unprecedented spiritual catalyst in American history, a collective moment where the spirit of God seemingly descended and softened hearts in profound ways. This act of forgiveness, especially considering the raw trauma surrounding it, is presented as a genuine embodiment of Yeshua's core teachings—specifically love and mercy triumphing over retribution.

Aaron highlights this event as a tangible example of how true Christian spirituality can galvanize people beyond ideological boundaries and social divides. The forgiveness extended by Erica resonates deeply with listeners precisely because it reflects the radical love Jesus advocated—a love that seeks restoration, not revenge. It challenges modern Christians to reconsider how often the gospel is reduced to dogma rather than lived experience.

The Dichotomy Between Jesus and Paul

A central theme is the contrast between Jesus' original teachings and the Apostle Paul's theological contributions, focusing on how Christianity became more Pauline than Christ-centered. Aaron clarifies that while Paul was undoubtedly a pivotal figure in early Christianity, his writings came decades after Jesus and were filtered through his personal perspectives and struggles, which included significant flaws and a complicated psychological profile.

Jesus' message, as presented by Aaron, was simple, direct, and rooted in love, forgiveness, and keeping the commandments—particularly loving one's neighbor as oneself. In contrast, Paul introduced complex doctrines such as justification by faith alone, the centrality of Jesus' death and resurrection for salvation, and supernatural claims like the virgin birth and trinitarianism, which the earliest Christian writings do not include. Aaron contends that mainstream Christianity often conflates Paul's theology with Jesus' teachings, obscuring the original spirit of the Nazarene movement and leading to theological confusion.

The Historical Jesus vs. Orthodox Christianity

Aaron explores the historical man, Yeshua of Nazareth, contrasting the popular dogmatic Christianity with a more historically grounded understanding of his life and ministry. He discusses scholarly consensus that the miraculous birth narratives—virgin birth stories in Matthew and Luke—were later additions and that earliest gospel accounts like Mark do not mention the resurrection explicitly.

Furthermore, Aaron emphasizes that Jesus came from a Jewish sect closely related to or derived from the Essenes and Nazarene groups, who were antitemple, anti-sacrifice reformers committed to living the Torah through righteousness and love rather than ritualistic sacrifice. This reality clashes with the orthodox Christian narrative shaped largely by Greco-Roman influences centuries later, which idolizes doctrines foreign to the original Jewish context of Jesus.

Critique of Blood Atonement

A striking portion of the discussion centers on Jesus' opposition to animal sacrifice and the temple system, which was deeply corrupt and commercialized. Aaron references ancient texts and church fathers to assert that Jesus intended to abolish the temple sacrifices, condemning the priests who profited from the slaughtering of thousands of animals as an affront to true spirituality.

He draws parallels between this ancient corruption and contemporary systems, likening the temple's exploitation to modern "big pharma" and other institutional profiteering structures. Jesus' public cleansing of the temple is framed as a revolutionary act, an ultimate stand against a religious system that monetized sin and promoted fear-based salvation rather than true repentance and love. This anti-sacrificial stance, Aaron argues, lies at the very heart of who Jesus was, and ignoring it has led Christianity astray.

Love as the Fulcrum of Jesus' Teachings

Throughout the conversation, the primacy of love emerges as the foundational element of Christ's message. Aaron repeatedly points to Jesus' emphasis on the greatest commandments: loving God with all one's heart and loving one's neighbor as oneself. He underscores that Jesus consistently taught that love—not ritualistic obedience or creeds—constitutes genuine faith and the path to eternal life.

This teaching contrasts sharply with much of traditional Christian doctrine that focuses on faith in Jesus' death and resurrection as the only way to salvation. Aaron calls for a return to this heart-centered ethic, encouraging believers to focus on embodying love in every action, especially forgiveness of enemies—a radical departure from the eye-for-an-eye mentality still prevalent in some interpretations.

Fear in Christianity

Aaron and the host critique the pervasive use of fear in contemporary Christian practice, where fearing God is often equated with dread of punishment or hellfire. They contrast this with the biblical teaching that "perfect love casts out fear," suggesting that fear-based theology deviates from the true spirit of Christ's message.

The speakers argue that fear immobilizes and divides, whereas love liberates and unites. The religious focus on fearing divine wrath or the devil is seen as a false duality that improperly elevates evil as a rival power to God. Such teachings, Aaron insists, distort spirituality and obscure the relationship between humanity and the divine, which should be rooted in trust and love rather than terror.

False Prophets

Aaron points out that Jesus warned about false prophets who would come after him to deceive many, implicitly including figures like Paul and others who claim exclusive access to truth through private revelations. He challenges the unquestioning acceptance of Paul's letters and later church doctrines by encouraging believers to examine the words Jesus himself actually spoke.

This discernment extends to a critique of biblical literalism, where scriptures have been used selectively and sometimes tyrannically, often ignoring historical context or contradicting verses. Aaron urges Christians to wrestle earnestly with scripture, focusing on the authentic voice of Jesus over dogmatic tradition, recognizing that the Bible is a living text intended to be interpreted through the Spirit, not idolized as an immutable law.

Jesus as a Mystic and Teacher

The podcast explores the nature of Jesus' miracles and parables, suggesting that many stories traditionally taken literally—as in walking on water or turning water into wine—may also be understood metaphorically or symbolically. Aaron emphasizes the mystical depth of Jesus' teachings, which employ vivid imagery to convey spiritual truths rather than scientific facts.

For example, walking on water is interpreted as mastery over emotions, and turning water into wine represents a transformation of the mundane into the sacred or an invitation to celebrate divine joy. This approach fosters a spiritual literacy that invites believers to find deeper meanings and personal applications, moving beyond rigid literalism to a more fluid and experiential faith.

Jesus' Humanity and Struggles

The speakers discuss the very human aspects of Jesus' life, such as his moments of doubt and suffering, highlighting his emotional and spiritual struggles—his agony in Gethsemane and the cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" These details underscore Jesus as a relatable figure who wrestled with human challenges yet attained spiritual perfection.

Aaron takes this to mean that Jesus' path is accessible to all humanity; the journey of "hitting the mark" is one of continual striving and transformation rather than immediate perfection. This humanized perception dismantles the myth of a flawless divine being aloof from worldly pains and inspires followers to embrace their own paths with humility and resilience.

Sexuality and the Myth of Virginity

A compelling critique of traditional Christian attitudes toward sexuality is advanced, particularly the doctrine of the virgin birth and its influence on gnostic sexual shame. Aaron suggests that the elevation of virginity and the suppression of sexual union distort the sacredness of human intimacy.

He notes that Jesus likely came from a tradition embracing marriage and procreation, given his emergence from a sect that valued family life. Arguments that Mary was a perpetually virginal figure or that Jesus had no brothers are disputed by historical scholarship. Aaron advocates for reclaiming a holistic spirituality that honors sexuality as a divine and joyful expression of life rather than something to be feared or denigrated.

The True Apostolic Legacy

Aaron challenges the orthodox narrative that Peter was the first pope, replacing it with evidence of James, Jesus' brother, as the original leader of the early Nazarene church in Jerusalem. He describes the historical influence of James, known as "James the Just," who was revered and ultimately martyred for his faith, laying the foundation for a Jewish-Christian movement distinct from Paul's missions.

This lineage, Aaron argues, has been suppressed or obscured by institutional Christianity, which preferred to elevate Peter and Paul to assert authority and control. Understanding James' role restores a more authentic apostolic tradition focused on adherence to Jesus' original teachings and Jewish roots rather than the later Greco-Roman theological developments.

The Kingdom of Heaven

Finally, the conversation returns to the motif of the kingdom of heaven, which Jesus proclaimed as both imminent and established within reach here and now. Aaron stresses that for Jesus, the kingdom was not a distant promise but a present spiritual reality to be lived through repentance, forgiveness, and love.

This emphasis contrasts with later Christian emphasis on eschatological waiting or escapism. Instead, embodying Christ's teachings brings the kingdom into tangible experience, transforming individuals and communities by manifesting divine justice and compassion in everyday life. The podcast closes with a hopeful call for awakening to this living spirituality that transcends divisive dogma and returns to the heart of Jesus' message.