Philadelphia USA - DISAGREE
In my opinion abandoning the OT for the NT is absolutely wrong. I don't think abandoning the OT is what Jesus wanted us to do and is this not what Jesus did. Nor do I think is this what putting new wine in new wine-skins means. In my opinion it has to do with abandoning doctrines and dogma of men when you are called out of "Egypt" and into Christ. For example when Israel left Egypt they were suppose to put new wine in new wine skins and leave the old wine behind, which were the practices and teachings they learned about in Egypt. Many did not get rid of the old wine but brought that old wine with them and this is why you had calf worship in the wilderness. This is why Jesus said when you flee the city do not take anything with you. Meaning do not take the old ideas and practices, doctrines and dogma we learned while in "Egypt", leave them behind so Jesus can teach us new and wonderful things or give us new wine. Abandoning the OT you are missing out on the new wine Jesus is teaching about it. What you were taught about the OT is wrong, Jesus is going to teach you the truth about the meaning of the OT. Abandon the old wine, the teachings of men and what they taught you the OT means and get the new wine Jesus is giving us about the OT. Jesus is making straight what has been made crooked, not throwing anything out. Please do not post my email address, thank you.

FROM THE AUTHORS: Thank you for sharing your views. We have never heard this explanation before, but it is due fair consideration and so we post it to our site. We note that Jesus referred to new wine and old wine, but never to bad wine. In fact, he mentioned that the old wine should be preserved. (Matthew 9:17) If you believe Jesus was referring to Egyptian practices as old wine, that would indicate that Jesus was telling the Jews that the old Egyptian ideas were once the acceptable way to please God and should continue to hold that honorable place. That does not sound like something Jesus would tell the Jews. We note in particular these verses that you might want to review on this topic. Hebrews 8:7-13, Hebrews 7:11-25, Colossians 2:13-14, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18. And we want to thank you again for sharing.

Bognor Regis, West Sussex, England (UK)
1. Do you agree with our observations? If not, where did we get it wrong? Yes, I agree with your observations
2. Do you think the setting aside the Old Testament and focusing on Jesus’ teachings is the right thing to do? Yes, setting aside the old T while focusing on the new T is correct because that's what Jesus made quite clear.
3. Do you think every Christian should engage in an honest critical examination of their own beliefs and own religion’s teachings? Yes one must examine critically one's own religion to see if it stands up to Jesus's teachings.
4. What teachings in particular do you think Christians need to critically examine? What parts of their faith relate to the old & respectively the new. Be prepared to remove old T thinking.
5. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without the intervention of priests, bishops and so-called ‘reverent’ men? Yes, for Jesus's plain and simple instructions can be adopted without any priest or 'elder' telling us what we must do.
6. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without knowing the interpretations of Bible prophecies? Knowing bible prophecies is perhaps a bonus but not necessary for salvation.
7. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation by focusing on Jesus’ teachings alone? Of course we can as there is not another name under the sun by which we can get saved.
8. If you agree with our hypothesis, what do you think must be done to get the ball rolling? Make a list of what doesn't line up to Jesus's teachings in one's religion and make a decision on leaving if it doesn't line up. But tis worth discreetly seeking similar like minded ones to share this info, and I say discreetly otherwise one will be labeled as u say an "apostate" with all the consequences that they will impose on you.

Taos, New Mexico, USA - AGREE
1. Do you agree with our observations? If not, where did we get it wrong? agree
2. Do you think the setting aside the Old Testament and focusing on Jesus’ teachings is the right thing to do? Yes
3. Do you think every Christian should engage in an honest critical examination of their own beliefs and own religion’s teachings? Yes, it is the only way to grow spiritually.
4. What teachings in particular do you think Christians need to critically examine? "The end of the world", that only Christians can be on the road to life, the belief that we are separated from God or from each other.
5. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without the intervention of priests, bishops and so-called ‘reverent’ men? Yes
6. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without knowing the interpretations of Bible prophecies? Yes
7. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation by focusing on Jesus’ teachings alone? Yes
8. If you agree with our hypothesis, what do you think must be done to get the ball rolling? The most important thing is to live your life in accordance with your beliefs. When you let your light shine you give other people the opportunity to see that there is an alternative way to live and view the world than their own thus giving them a choice. While letting our light shine we remain unattached to how people react or don't react to us.

Mount Shasta, California USA - AGREE
1. Do you agree with our observations? If not, where did we get it wrong? Yes I agree.
2. Do you think the setting aside the Old Testament and focusing on Jesus’ teachings is the right thing to do? Yes they are two time frames two different teachings the old and the new. Like Jesus said the ‘lease one of the kingdom is greater than John (the old way)’
3. Do you think every Christian should engage in an honest critical examination of their own beliefs and own religion’s teachings? Yes this critical examination will lead them to see that owns religion’s is putting old wine in a new wine skin. They will find themselves getting out of a box and start seeing the fullness of Gods Love as the loving parent that he is.
4. What teachings in particular do you think Christians need to critically examine? Judgment of others, which causes one to have a self righteous attitude, feeling better than our erring brothers. Do we not find it offensive in hearing our children telling each other that mommy or daddy loves me most, we love them all and do not want them to thinking that we are giving favor to one over the other. We need to see our Father above as first and foremost as a Parent which will cause us to know the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Mankind this will cause us to seek to understand our fellow man which leads to tolerance and then friendship and to Love.
5. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without the intervention of priests, bishops and so-called ‘reverent’ men? Yes, it is having personal relationship as Paul said ‘God is not far off from us but is in us’. ‘There is one mediator between God and Man a man Jesus’ the priesthood is for control and this is what Paul asked ‘why is it that you are subjecting yourself again seeing how Christ has made you free’
6. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without knowing the interpretations of Bible prophecies? Yes! Prophecies has not bearing on one living in Jesus ‘The way, the truth, and the life’
7. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation by focusing on Jesus’ teachings alone? Yes for then one will know ‘The way, the truth, and the life.’
8. If you agree with our hypothesis, what do you think must be done to get the ball rolling? In our church help others to get free of teachings of men by seeing this simple truth as John says ‘God so loves the world that he gave his only begotten Son that all those who exercise faith in him may have everlasting life’ The simple teaching of faith in believing that we are Sons of God as Hebrews says we need to ‘believe and have faith in our approaching God’ We find that the teaching of men have added so much more to have salvation.

Fayetteville, Georgia, USA - AGREE
I agree with your thoughts. I do think as I am sure you do too, that the Hebrew scriptures can be used as a great teaching tool that helps us to understand the real value of the teachings of Christ Jesus.
Yes it is true that any and all religious organizations seem to become a rule of men after a short time of trying to tell the truth as they understood it in the beginning. Doesn't it appear that we humans are always waiting on someone else to invent a technology or come up with an idea that will make our lives better? Aren't we always being taught that God will make our future better and therefore we are waiting on him to clean it up first and then start making it better for us? Yes we are taught that we are waiting on him. Don't we have it backwards? Isn't he waiting (mercifully) on us? So yes when we finally figure out that by acting and living just as Jesus did, WE WILL change the world with help from him. The spirit (that Jesus will supply) to many of us, when combined together for good, will make very important changes.
I don't mean to minimize the difficulty in this life. We do have things to take care of every day. But if we can LIVE and ACT the way Jesus taught us, not only will our lives become so much better, but we will influence others to do the same. Just reflect on the two commands Jesus described to his followers. 1 - Love Jehovah God our Father with all of your heart and soul 2 - Treat other people as YOU would have THEM treat you. Truthfully, aren't these two commands world changing? Think about it. If we would have other people tell us the about the plain and open teachings of Jesus then we must begin now to tell them the things that we have come to know, doing so with LOVE and KINDNESS.

Athens, Greece - AGREE
I agree both to the two points. We have to leave behind the old things, the old practices...the old wine, and look forward. Also must stop the ''authority'' of some people that claim the special channel with the God. It seems like the big parties of Christianity do.
1. Do you agree with our observations? If not, where did we get it wrong? Yes I agree
2. Do you think the setting aside the Old Testament and focusing on Jesus’ teachings is the right thing to do? Absolutely. The OT is done. I cannot any connections any more. Jesus point that clearly.
3. Do you think every Christian should engage in an honest critical examination of their own beliefs and own religion’s teachings? Its necessary work if someone want to have a good level of spiritual health.
4. What teachings in particular do you think Christians need to critically examine? The eschatology, the judgment and the destruction of the world. The claim that only few people have the channel with God.
5. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without the intervention of priests, bishops and so-called ‘reverent’ men? Yes. Jesus needs only the heart.
6. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without knowing the interpretations of Bible prophecies? Salvation has to do with the person itself and with Jesus. The prophesies, with the way that some leaders use, only terror and fear bring.
7. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation by focusing on Jesus’ teachings alone? Yes
8. If you agree with our hypothesis, what do you think must be done to get the ball rolling? We have to examine from the start the main words and teaching of Jesus. With clear mind and heart and logic. Without influences from old ideas and norms like the OT, and not from ''special'' authorities. Actually we have to investigate where the words of Jesus are missing or misunderstood or where they are forgeries. We need clear view.

Tasmania, Australia - AGREE
1. Do you agree with our observations? If not, where did we get it wrong? Absolutely, Jesus said it all in Matthew 9:16-17, he told us that his NEW message could not be mixed with the old customs and beliefs.
2. Do you think the setting aside the Old Testament and focusing on Jesus’ teachings is the right thing to do? Yes, why not? He is the Son of God. Once Jesus came to this earth, he brought with him a new arrangement that would then do away with the Jewish religion. It had served its purpose for the time, which had inclined peoples beliefs to a one deity, but the leaders had filtered in their own opinions making it heavy, unable to bear, much the same as religions today. He came to uplift humanity out of the dark barbaric ways into to a new era of enlightenment.
3. Do you think every Christian should engage in an honest critical examination of their own beliefs and own religion’s teachings? Without critical examination, the world would be stuck in the dark ages. As far as religion goes, it STILL is in the dark ages. To stop the radicalness, downfall in morals, bigotry and inequality, religion has a huge role to play.
4. What teachings in particular do you think Christians need to critically examine? Christians would benefit from examining the fairness of Jesus, all his dealings with people were without a doubt fair and reasonable. This would include our family, workmates even people we do not know. If mankind put to work this one example of Jesus, even being the Son of Man, he did not laud it over others, so we would begin to have a goodness flow throughout the world.
5. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without the intervention of priests, bishops and so-called ‘reverent’ men? Yes, they think they are mediators for our existence, but Jesus tells us otherwise. As mentioned in the article, there have been many tragic events instigated by ‘leaders’, even to this day. We as a generation have witnessed and are witnessing horrific events in the name of God, hurrahed by so-called ‘reverent’ men.
6. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation without knowing the interpretations of Bible prophecies? The simple teachings of Christ is sufficient in this life for there are greater things to come in heaven and this is such a temporal state of being. In our time of being associated with a religion, we found that Bible Prophecy was what the leaders would use to keep their flock anticipating an end or revelations of some sort. They would feel the power of controlling the minds of loyal ones to their flock’s detriment.
7. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,’ do you think one can gain salvation by focusing on Jesus’ teachings alone? His teachings are all that we need, our outlook will change, our treatment of people will change and our relationship with our Heavenly Father will change, all for the good.
8. If you agree with our hypothesis, what do you think must be done to get the ball rolling? Why not discuss these points with leaders of churches, with our neighbors or anyone we can logically discuss topics with. Allow the sensibleness of Jesus simple teachings, yes it is so simple, just show love, fairness, true justice and equality to all people. How is this harmful to others, it is what we all want. We need to experience this to see how it works for us. This can lead to a new beginning for our planet, it is in dire straits, and needs uplifting. And we believe it has to start with each individual on the face of the earth for all generations to come.

Beverly, Ohio - AGREE
1. Do you agree with our observations? If not, where did we get it wrong? I absolutely agree! You have it exactly right.
2. Do you think the setting aside the Old Testament and focusing on Jesus' teachings is the right thing to do? I believe it is the right thing to do. Yes the OLD testament is just that OLD. It does not pertain to the loving God that Jesus taught us. In order for mankind to move forward religion needs to be with the era of the day and Jesus message of Love and mercy is much more accepting than the vengeful Hebrew god.
3. Do you think every Christian should engage in an honest critical examination of their own beliefs and own religion's teachings? ABSOLUTELY!
4. What teachings in particular do you think Christians need to critically examine? Mostly Paul's writings.
5. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,' do you think one can gain salvation without the intervention of priests, bishops and so-called ‘reverent' men? Most definitely
6. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,' do you think one can gain salvation without knowing the interpretations of Bible prophecies? Yes! Some things are not any of our business. and if you except your sonship what matters if you know the exact interpretation. A baby doesn't understand how a rocket engine works and his parents don't expect him to, but they love and care for him all the same. Jesus said -And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 18:3 So have faith of a child that your parent will care for you.
7. If Jesus is ‘the way, the truth, and the life,' do you think one can gain salvation by focusing on Jesus' teachings alone? I believe it is the only way,
8. If you agree with our hypothesis, what do you think must be done to get the ball rolling? This is a good first start, but I am not sure how to roll the ball so to speak, But Jesus does so eventually it will be taken care of. I guess we start individually. each one of us effects others.