Fake Australian ‘Jesus’ in the news

An Australian who falsely claims to be Jesus was in the news:

June 3, 2103

A man in Australia claims to be Jesus. A.J. Miller is attracting hundreds of people to his seminars; dozens have moved to his land in Queensland where he calls his movement the Divine Truth. He says he remembered he was Jesus in 2004.

“There were lots of people in the first century who didn’t believe I was the Messiah and were offended by what I said — and in fact I died at the hands of some of them,” he recently told SkyNews. “Unfortunately they didn’t learn love either and my suggestion is, even if you don’t believe I am Jesus, at least learn how to love.”

Other so-called messiahs have come and gone.

“People have done this since Jesus’ time; it’s not anything new,” said Ron Burks, a clinical mental health counselor at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital who co-wrote the book “Damaged Disciples: Casualties of Authoritarian Churches and the Shepherding Movement,” after being involved with the Fort Lauderdale/Shepherding movement for 17 years. “The apostle Paul warned of false Christs.”

But why are scholars so sure that A.J. Miller isn’t Jesus, and that his partner, Australian Mary Luck, is not Mary Magdalene, as she claims?

Although Jesus is one of the most studied figures in history, scholars debate many of the details of his life. Still, many agree on consistencies in his character…

Often, Burks says, people who claim to be Jesus simulate his attitude at first, and that makes them attractive for the same reasons people appreciated the historical Jesus.

“But once they get a following and a sense of control over people, power usually corrupts,” said Burks. “What happens when groups like this progress is there is almost universally an extreme emphasis on money, sex and power.”

In some instances, fake religious leaders have started out with the intention of conning people, but others start out meaning well “and end up deceiving themselves and others,” Burks said. http://news.discovery.com/human/psychology/how-can-you-tell-a-fake-jesus-1306031.htm

Well, there is another very easy way to prove that this Australian (and many others before him, and some who will likely come later) are not Jesus.

The Book of Acts is clear:

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)

The Australian, and other fake Jesus’ have not done this.

Of course, there are also character and doctrinal issues. But there is little point going through those when the first item has not been met.

Jesus warned that there would be false Christs:

23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:23-24)

There will also be worse ones than this Australian. He is simply one of many.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.
Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Jesus: The Son of God and Saviour Who was Jesus? Why did He come to earth? What message did He bring? Is there evidence outside the Bible that He existed?