"Could the Christ be One of Us?" FC FUMC, May 18, 2014

I was in a conversation about a year ago following a class I was leading where one of the subjects was the nature of the Trinity.  And as such conversations go, we forgot that we were attempting to describe something of infinite mystery using very finite words spoken and heard by even more finite human beings.  But, it was an energizing discussion.  It got even more energizing when one of the class members remarked with all seriousness, "I don't think of Jesus as being uniquely the Christ.  I think of there being a 'Christ-consciousness' that he had but which is accessible to all of us."  A "Christ-consciousness"...

Well that was over a year ago, and I had planned to do a sermon exploring that topic last year.  But other things came up, and I never did get back to developing that sermon.  This year, though, in the course of a conversation with another friend over breakfast a couple of weeks ago, it came back up, and I'm taking the opportunity to explore the possibility with the congregation in worship.

I've had a few great conversations with folks during the past week on the subject, and they have contributed richly to the sermon content for Sunday.  It is a combination of story and exploration/possibility thinking, and I've been excited for awhile to share my thoughts with you all.

This notion of our being the Christ, far from being delusional, has the power to transform the church, our workplaces, our schools, our staff, our community, and on-and-on.  What might it take for you to look for the Christ in the persons you rub shoulders with everyday?  I'd encourage you to try it - I have attempted it this past week, and it has had real transforming power for me when I've been able to maintain that "Christ-consciousness" toward others I encounter.

The Buddhists have a saying, Namaste, which means something like "the sacred in me honors the sacred in you".  Or in Christian terms, "the Christ in me honors the Christ in you".

Could the Christ be one of us?  Let's explore that together on Sunday.

Hope to see you in worship!

Steve
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