A Few Verses

In the interest of full disclosure – I often will skip through scriptures when they’re quoted with an internal arrogance that subconsciously tells me ‘I already know this.’  I fear I may not be the only one.  If you suffer from the same self-deceptive pride sometimes found in me, I encourage you to take the time to read through these words from the scriptures – three selections from the sacred text which most deeply inform and influence our Christology.

Solidarity in Philippi:

“Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over.  Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others.  Get beyond yourselves and protecting your own interests; be sincere, and secure your neighbors interests first.  In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed.  Live with His attitude in your hearts.  Remember –

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 

  Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
  rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
  And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
    even death on a cross!"

    (Philippians 2:5-8)

Solidarity in the fourth Gospel:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”  (John 1:1-5,9,14,16-18)

Solidarity in Colossae:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”  (Colossi-ans 1:15-20)

There are, of course, nearly endless other examples from the life and teachings of Jesus of His solidarity with the “other”.  The Samaritan woman in John 4 (who worshiped Yahweh on the wrong mountain, in the wrong way), or Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7 (who didn’t worship Yahweh, and likely worshiped someone else), or the Centurion’s servant in Luke 7 (who worshiped Caesar), or the prostitute that Jesus allowed to wipe his feet with ointment and tears, or the lepers he touched, or the tax collectors and sinners he invited to the table to share a meal…and the list goes on.

A question:  Shouldn’t we allow the scriptures to inform us in our own identity as Christ followers?  Do these passages – in the depth and richness with which we speak of Christ – truly influence how we treat the “Other”?  Or are we more greatly influenced by other sources?  Should that change?  What do you think?

Be Blessed!