I just found myself enjoying the argument for argument's sake
That can be a tendency here at IO.
I am not trying to argue, simply to clarify, for my own understanding.
What I ultimately wish for is to connect with others through the beautiful things Jesus taught us. To become more Christ like by embodying those things he told us to do.
I quite agree, but I also believe 'to become more Christ like' involves understanding who He is.
That what I take to be the central teachings of Jesus is considered "generic" to you – well, that creates an insurmountable distance between us.
My point is that the virtues you speak of are not unique to Christianity – they are common to the great Traditions of the world – what I would say renders Christ unique is not what He said, nor what He did, but what He said and did and why, and what that says about Him.
You speak of the Beatitudes. I would direct you to consider the implication of Our Lord's words when, repeating the Decalgue, the Commandments from God that Moses brought down the mountain, Our Lord says "But I tell you... " seven times, and offers His own commentary on the Law, rewriting the contemporary understanding, in some instances reversing it! In effect He is rewriting the Ten Commandments, which means He is either a blasphemer, or He speaks with Divine authority.
The central teaching of Jesus is the message of universal love. One simply cannot claim that Christianity is the only religious expression of that message. It is, I believe, the most far-reaching expression, Our Lord being that Divine Love personified, for our sakes.
What the message of universal love says, in Christ, is that God so loves His creature He comes to them
as one of them, that they might come to Him. For me that is a love beyond compare.
This is my focus — it is His prayer, that we come to know Christ in the fellowship of the Father and the Holy Spirit: "whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me" (John 15:26) and "But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth" (John 16:13), "that they may be one, as we also are one" (John 17:11 and 22).
That invites sadness in me to think that all those instructions Jesus gave to us could ever be considered generic.
I'm talking of the practice of virtue, specifically. There are other instructions which transcend them utterly, and are unique. His establishment of the Eucharist, for example.
Jesus' fame? I would argue that the Sermon on the Mount is his central teachings? What say you?
I would say the three commandments He gave us are His central teaching. The first two are known to Isreal, it is their prayer: Love God and love thy neighbour (Mattew 22:37-40, Mark 12:29-31). In fact in Luke's account, it is not Our Lord who says these words, but 'a certain lawyer' when Our Lord asks him "What is written in the Law?" (Luke 10:26).
The third is telling: "A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34). Jesus gives His disciples a 'new commandment' which puts it equal to the Decalogue. Now the term 'commandment' is somewhat fluid, for a decree from the Sanhedrin would also be called a commandment, but a commandment is always delivered from the standpoint of authority. In the text, the authority for this commandment is Christ Himself – "as i have loved you" – not because God loves you, not because the Law of Israel demands it, but because He does: "This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12).
I know Christianity is built on the belief that he is the only Son of GOD, that he died for our sins, and that, if we believe in that, and give ourselves completely over to him we will be saved – but if you were to take how many references there are to those teaching (in the gospels) versus how many there are to giving to the poor, turning the other cheek, patient, perseverance, compassion, meekness, etc: which, just by sure numbers, would you consider to be more emphasized. These generic teachings you talk about – are the teachings of Jesus.
Again, 'giving to the poor, turning the other cheek, patient, perseverance, compassion, meekness' are not unique features of Christianity. They are not even common to religion. Philosophy arives at the same principles, enshrines the same ethical and moral values, without reference to God or a particular teacher. All I'm trying to see is why you have chosen Christ from among many who impart such wisdoms.
Christ details not just what we should do, but why we should do it.
How can I rely on them and nothing else? That is simple: Jesus lays out a perfect system.
It's perfect, but in His own words, it's impossible (cf Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, 18:27). Only in faith, hope and love can that possibility be realised. Only in Christ.
... I believe most Christians would see compassion and all the other godly qualities as something uncontestable when it comes to Jesus.
That's because most Christians see Christ as God. He does not just embody Godly qualities, He is God incarnate.
I'm not sure who you see, that's my point.
