The History or the Mystery...3

I have quoted from Richard Rohr several times in posts past. (Posts past...say that 10 times really fast :)

Anyway...the other day, annie posted the following devotional by Rohr and it seems to go along with the gist of "posts present"....our inability to comprehend the Christ...the mystery...and focus so much of our attention and base all of our faith on..Jesus, the history.

Rohr calls the writing The Cosmic Christ.

Uh-oh....using cosmic and Christ in the same sentence is sure to get some Christian panties in a wad.  It is one of those "new age" kind of words like...oh...metaphysical.  Following is the definition for the word "cosmic' from Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary

Function: adjective

Etymology: Greek kosmikos, from kosmos order, universe

Date: 1685

1 a: of or relating to the cosmos, the extraterrestrial vastness, or the universe in contrast to the earth alone b: of, relating to, or concerned with abstract spiritual or metaphysical ideas2: characterized by greatness especially in extent, intensity, or comprehensiveness

And from Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary:

Pertaining to the universe, and having special reference to universal law or order, or to the one grand harmonious system of things; hence; harmonious; orderly.

Nothing too heretical. 

Rohr begins the devotional by asking a loaded question.   

Is my faith focused more on Jesus or on Christ?

In other words...is my faith focused more on the HISTORY...or the MYSTERY? 

He goes on to say:

The three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are largely about the historical Jesus who worked miracles, who taught, who promised us a new way of seeing, a new form of life.

In great part, although it is seldom pointed out, Paul is not talking about Jesus; Paul is talking about Christ. Paul hardly ever quotes the historical Jesus and never knew him in the flesh. Really rather shocking when you realize that his letters are one third of the New Testament!

We take Paul as a touchstone of orthodoxy, the central, foundational teacher of Christianity—and yet he hardly quotes Jesus! Something else is going on here, which has largely been off of the Christian radar. Paul has largely fallen in love with "the Christ", and it was Jesus who pointed him there. Most Christians still need to make the same movement, and to believe in both Jesus AND Christ. They are two distinct faith affirmations.

 "The Resurrection was not just a historical event, but a present Presence"

 

Something to think about, huh? While you are pondering the path of life..the Christ...