inspired followers to adhere to truth and high moral standards. At the heart of the matter is Christianity's maintaining two levels of truth, one for Paul's infants and Jesus's children, the public level, but another level which Jesus promises is hidden away from public view within the parables and which Paul describes as the meat which only grown-ups can assimilate. These two levels of truth are by no means the same or even compatible, despite the Church's age old attempt to explain the hidden messages as fancy-dancy public knowledge.
Even if one isn't an ace literary interpreter, there are examples aplenty that your faith in Jesus will not excuse the mistakes you make. The most obvious is a public comment, Mt. 7: 21-27. It doesn't get any clearer than that: Go away! You disregarded my teachings; I don't know you!
Mt. 5: 26 is at the end of the sermon on the mount... it would be nice if Christians were alert to the significance of a mount as a metaphor. Anyway, the poor schmuck commits a minor transgression, gets passed down the legal system (metaphor, but oh well) ends up in prison (metaphor!) and can't get out until he's paid the full debt. No forgiveness that I see! James uses almost identical phrasing in part and calls it the Law. Christians see Law and call it Leviticus' Hebrew law, although neither Jesus nor James are describing anything like Hebrew law. Go figure. This law is vital to Christian theology. This is the law of karma and karma brooks no forgiveness by heaven. Each soul must work off its own spiritual debt... sorry, Christian sexual abusers!
A whole book could be devoted to the inappropriately named Prodigal Son. This is a thumbnail sketch of the entire God System. For this discussion, we only need note that while the son is on his journey, running out of funds, having to work for less understanding authorities, living with swine (metaphor), starving, at no time ever does rich daddy ask about his son's welfare or offer to help in any way whatsoever... and there is much joy upon the son's ability to return home, but there is no forgiveness. Sonny had to get back to his father's world on his own.
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