Today’s Readings: Psalm 65; Ezekiel 34:11-16; Matthew 7:1-12; 1 John 2:1-6; Psalm 95
The topic of Christology is a difficult matter for many folks to discuss. That’s because Christology, in its broadest sense, is the study of Jesus’ nature. It takes us to the whole “Was Jesus human, was Jesus divine, or was Jesus both?” conversation. As we participate in this emotionally-charged conversation, it’s often easy to get so caught up in winning the debate that one can lose sight of the valuable insights you can gain from considering positions other than your own. Folks arguing exclusively in favor of Jesus’ humanity, for instance, can get so caught up defending their position that they can lose sight of the value of believing that God gained an enhanced sense of solidarity with human beings through the person of Jesus. Folks arguing exclusively in favor of Jesus’ divinity, on the other hand, can get so caught up defending their perspective that they too can also lose sight of something of great value. And what is that thing they stand to lose? Well, of one focuses exclusively on Jesus’ divinity, the life Jesus lived on earth would be seen as little more than a precursor to Easter. As a result, one might totally underestimate the value of Jesus’ life on earth. In today’s passage from 1 John, the author cautions against doing that. “Anyone who claims to be intimate with God,” the author concludes, “ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived” (1 John 2:6 from The Message). Regardless of where you come down in the Christology debate – high (emphasizing Jesus' divinity), low (emphasizing Jesus' humanity), or the middle (emphasizing the dual nature of Jesus) – there should be at least two things on which we could all agree. First, the life Jesus led here on earth was important; and second, we are called to follow the example Jesus set forth for us in our daily lives. Perhaps is we did that, the emotionally-charged conversations around Christology would take on a different – more Christ-like - tone. Til next time…
The topic of Christology is a difficult matter for many folks to discuss. That’s because Christology, in its broadest sense, is the study of Jesus’ nature. It takes us to the whole “Was Jesus human, was Jesus divine, or was Jesus both?” conversation. As we participate in this emotionally-charged conversation, it’s often easy to get so caught up in winning the debate that one can lose sight of the valuable insights you can gain from considering positions other than your own. Folks arguing exclusively in favor of Jesus’ humanity, for instance, can get so caught up defending their position that they can lose sight of the value of believing that God gained an enhanced sense of solidarity with human beings through the person of Jesus. Folks arguing exclusively in favor of Jesus’ divinity, on the other hand, can get so caught up defending their perspective that they too can also lose sight of something of great value. And what is that thing they stand to lose? Well, of one focuses exclusively on Jesus’ divinity, the life Jesus lived on earth would be seen as little more than a precursor to Easter. As a result, one might totally underestimate the value of Jesus’ life on earth. In today’s passage from 1 John, the author cautions against doing that. “Anyone who claims to be intimate with God,” the author concludes, “ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived” (1 John 2:6 from The Message). Regardless of where you come down in the Christology debate – high (emphasizing Jesus' divinity), low (emphasizing Jesus' humanity), or the middle (emphasizing the dual nature of Jesus) – there should be at least two things on which we could all agree. First, the life Jesus led here on earth was important; and second, we are called to follow the example Jesus set forth for us in our daily lives. Perhaps is we did that, the emotionally-charged conversations around Christology would take on a different – more Christ-like - tone. Til next time…
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