Not long ago I found myself conversing with a person who knew a fair amount about Christianity but had no interest in becoming part of any church or becoming a Christian.  Their rhetoric was very respectful towards Jesus’s teachings but disregarded His divinity. They affirmed their agreement to the concept of loving one’s neighbor and treating others as you would want to be treated, what we call the “Golden Rule” found in Luke 6:31.  They had confidence that as long as they tried to follow the teachings of Jesus they were, in their own view, righteous, but they did not view Jesus as God.  
This is a prevalent notion today, but I would suggest that it is dangerously deceptive. If Jesus is just a moral teacher, what makes Him or His teachings any different than any other moral teacher?  

The problem with viewing Jesus just as a moral teacher and not as He Himself claimed, God, is foundational to control.  As Dr. Michael Kruger points out in his book, The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity, Jesus is not just a moral example to follow but rather a God to be worshipped.  

Dr. Kruger points out that if Jesus is just a teacher, there is nothing that sets His teaching apart from other moral teachers. Sadly, today many try to look for commonality between the many religion’s teachings.  They assume that the things that they all agree with are the principles that we should base morality on.  

The concept of morality based upon the majority opinion has some truly dark chapters in world history.  The presiding views of specific moral issues ebb and flow like the waves in the sea.  

If we view Jesus as a moral teacher instead of God, we have the liberty to accept or reject what we agree with or not. In my conversation, it did not take long for me to ask a few questions about some of Jesus’s statements that this person did not agree with.  Since they viewed Jesus as a moral example, but not as God, they felt empowered to judge His words according to their own feelings about them, thus they viewed themselves as greater than Jesus.   

The divinity of Jesus is foundational to the pursuit of truth.  His divinity validates His claims that His words stand alone as authoritative and true.  This is why He was born of a virgin, performed miraculous signs and wonders, and even foretold His death, burial, and resurrection. These were all proof that He was who He claimed to be, God. 

If Jesus is God, then all of His words are far more than mere moral instruction.  John 6:63 The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ESV Jesus is far more than a teacher of morality, He is God. May we transcend mere obedience to authentic worship.
  
Loving you all, 
Michael