The phrase, "Christ-centered" is thrown around a lot.
I have been thinking about what it might mean.
I could not tell you what it means to others, but here's my crack at it. Because it sounds like a catch phrase for people who like Derek Webb's old stuff (me) rather than a concrete, Biblical, practicable notion.
The more I've studied the New Testament and first century history, the more I've grown to see a specific connection between the four gospels and the rest of the New Testament. The authors knew, revered, and applied the teachings of Jesus Christ to the recipients of their letters. This colors everything that follows.
Being Christ-centered means seeing Jesus as a knowledgeable guy.
It means seeing Jesus as God's good-will toward humanity, bringing peace with God, in his life, death, resurrection, and present reign.
It means walking in step with God's Spirit, who according to John 14:16, was sent "to teach you all things and to remind you of everything I [Jesus] said to you." Basically being Christ centered means obeying the teachings of Jesus Christ, this leads to a nine flavored fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And Christians develop these traits because all who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
It means worshiping God through Jesus, but since Jesus himself defined worship as what happens in spirit and in truth in contradistinction to the adultery of the woman at the well, at any point in time (John 4), then he must mean obedience to himself. So, God is worshiped through Jesus when his priestly kingdom (the people who follow him) do what he says and tell others of what he himself (Jesus) did (1 Peter 2:1-12).
It means calling God, "Father" because Jesus said to.
It means seeing other Christians as brothers and sisters and not sparing partners for hobby-horse disagreements.
It means following Jesus' example in self-denial.
It means reading the Bible the way Jesus said to, "The greatest command is love the Lord your God...and your neighbor as yourself."
It means believing Jesus when he includes enemies in his definition of neighbor.
It means all of this and more, but it cannot mean less.
I have been thinking about what it might mean.
I could not tell you what it means to others, but here's my crack at it. Because it sounds like a catch phrase for people who like Derek Webb's old stuff (me) rather than a concrete, Biblical, practicable notion.
The more I've studied the New Testament and first century history, the more I've grown to see a specific connection between the four gospels and the rest of the New Testament. The authors knew, revered, and applied the teachings of Jesus Christ to the recipients of their letters. This colors everything that follows.
Being Christ-centered means seeing Jesus as a knowledgeable guy.
It means seeing Jesus as God's good-will toward humanity, bringing peace with God, in his life, death, resurrection, and present reign.
It means walking in step with God's Spirit, who according to John 14:16, was sent "to teach you all things and to remind you of everything I [Jesus] said to you." Basically being Christ centered means obeying the teachings of Jesus Christ, this leads to a nine flavored fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And Christians develop these traits because all who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
It means worshiping God through Jesus, but since Jesus himself defined worship as what happens in spirit and in truth in contradistinction to the adultery of the woman at the well, at any point in time (John 4), then he must mean obedience to himself. So, God is worshiped through Jesus when his priestly kingdom (the people who follow him) do what he says and tell others of what he himself (Jesus) did (1 Peter 2:1-12).
It means calling God, "Father" because Jesus said to.
It means seeing other Christians as brothers and sisters and not sparing partners for hobby-horse disagreements.
It means following Jesus' example in self-denial.
It means reading the Bible the way Jesus said to, "The greatest command is love the Lord your God...and your neighbor as yourself."
It means believing Jesus when he includes enemies in his definition of neighbor.
It means all of this and more, but it cannot mean less.
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