You have a guy claiming to be a holy man assigning people names?
“Simon, you’re the most reliable person I know. You’re my rock. I’m going to refer to you as My Rock, because you are my most loyal and stalwart friend.”
Huge red flag. Avoid this person at all costs. You are in a profoundly deep, possibly romantic relationship Cult.
Is the guy naming him also claiming to be the messiah?
All while performing bonafide miracles, sure. The pet name for a loved one isn’t the problem.
If, two thousand years from now, the High Priestess of the Church of Getting Your Vaccines So You Don’t Spread Illness was referred to as “Saint Cuddlebug” I’d consider that kinda sweet, not cultish.
Generally he referred to himself as the son of man, but there were instances of other references: “before Abraham was, I am” might not make a lot of sense to us but the Jews understood this to be a direct claim to divinity, and calling God his Father riled them up too because in their understanding that made him equal with God.
One guy gets a nickname? No problem. You have a guy claiming to be a holy man assigning people names? Then you got a cult
“Simon, you’re the most reliable person I know. You’re my rock. I’m going to refer to you as My Rock, because you are my most loyal and stalwart friend.”
Huge red flag. Avoid this person at all costs. You are in a
profoundly deep, possibly romantic relationshipCult.Is the guy naming him also claiming to be the messiah? That seems to be the part of the quotation you’re missing out on
All while performing bonafide miracles, sure. The pet name for a loved one isn’t the problem.
If, two thousand years from now, the High Priestess of the Church of Getting Your Vaccines So You Don’t Spread Illness was referred to as “Saint Cuddlebug” I’d consider that kinda sweet, not cultish.
I’m not abjectly religious but I don’t believe Jesus ever called himself the Messiah.
No, but this is pretty culty… Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Generally he referred to himself as the son of man, but there were instances of other references: “before Abraham was, I am” might not make a lot of sense to us but the Jews understood this to be a direct claim to divinity, and calling God his Father riled them up too because in their understanding that made him equal with God.