“Little Christs” Syndrome

…grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ. ~ John 1:17b NASB

One Christ, One Throne  

Continuing in the Spirit of Truth & Grace, I have observed, read, and heard heralded some of the distorted ideas I can only describe as “little Christs” syndrome. It flows directly from the stronghold of a divided heart and double mind and comes supplied with one’s own throne taking up floor space in the Kingdom of God.

I’ve pulled on my hip waders for this one since I’ve already had three unsubscribes with my last two posts. In years past, I wrestled with the Lord over lack of readers and ones dropping their subscription like it was a hot potato. Out of His victory and my hard-won peace with His way for me came The Passing Praises of Men. I remain in ‘full harvest’ mode because nothing of eternal value over earthly recognition comes without a price.

Jesus didn’t have it easy on the way to His Throne. He was lugging the dead weight of all of us to the Cross. That’s another piece of what it means to be “in Christ.” Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world,¹ He carried within a really long view of His Father’s will for all who would believe in Him as He embraced the Cross.

Near the Master or Irreverent Ambition?

Jesus, himself the very Light of the world,² had to deal with the darkened understanding of His own disciples.

Mark 10:35-45 relates the well-known request James and John (the Sons of Thunder) made to Jesus. He entertained their question: “Will You do something for us if we ask You?” with another question: “What do you want me to do for you?” They asked that He grant them to sit on the right and the left of His throne when He came into His glory (majesty and splendor). The two had a bit of knowledge in their mustard seed of faith about who Jesus was. Well, shoot. He went and told them that honor was not His to give but belonged to His Father. He will give those places to those for whom it has been prepared. That’s a settled (Mark) 10:40, good buddies.

Perhaps like James and John, we’re governed by a desire to be near the Master – or sheer irreverent ambition. God sees and knows the heart of each one. Therefore, He has not anointed us to be “little Christs” to others. Rooted and embedded in foolish pride, it goes beyond the “Jesus with skin on” message that has cycled around.

A line in the sand that helps defeat the “little Christs” syndrome, is staking in the ground of our life that Christ’s Life within us does not make us a “little Christ”. That borders on belittling Him to exalt ourselves. We are called to become Christlike*, an atmosphere of heart wherein He desires to establish His throne for His reign of grace.

James and John, in all their human condition, continued with Jesus; and after Pentecost, in Holy Spirit’s power (strength) and might (ability to fulfill their calling). How deeply they lived His grace, by which we’ve been saved.

The Wisdom of God that flows from His Throne

I am aware that which I am about to relate is a touchy theological / doctrinal point for some of God’s people. It’s a hip wader moment I am willing to take because it has the power of God to reach into the heart of this issue.

Whatever your personal feelings about the book, made into a movie, there is a powerful scene depicted in The Shack by William P. Young ³. Mack, the main character, is led into a cave where a woman portraying Wisdom sits on a rock-hewn throne. Asked if he knows why he is there, he replies he does not. Wisdom tells him it is a very serious day; he is there for judgment. Mack immediately assumes he is the one being judged. The tables are turned when Wisdom arises from her place, steps aside, and motions to the throne, telling him to take a seat.

Wisdom proceeds to question him, like an attorney standing before the bench. He is asked how he would rule on this one who committed the grievous crime that is unbearable. He renders murderous judgment. What about the one who helped fashion him into what he became, and the one before that, all the way back to Adam.  Finally, what verdict would he render toward God, who set “all this” and its outcome in motion? Isn’t He at fault? Without hesitation, Mack replies, “Absolutely. God is to blame.”

Without missing a beat, Wisdom tells Mack that if it’s so easy for him to judge God, he must choose between his two children which one will spend Eternity in heaven; the other will go to hell. At that, he sits back undone. “I can’t.” Wisdom assures him that she is only asking him to do something he believes God does. The clip follows. If you watch it, watch it all the way to the end (8 minutes). We do know there is a “better way”.

Wisdom Judgment scene in The Shack

This World is Not Our Forever Home

There is much in our contemporary life and culture the enemy uses to try to consume us with a “right to judge.”

Even our “righteous judgment” falls so far short of Father God’s heart until we are willing to lean in and listen to His heartbeat. It beats in Kingly tempo as we sit quietly in His presence, letting His Spirit flow in and around us.

It beats in the pages of His Word as we take it to heart and ask Holy Spirit to calibrate and align us to His Truth. His heartbeat is felt in others’ caring; it emerges in our understanding as His Word of life and light works within.

There is sacred hope in Scripture that tells us though we are in the world, this world is not our home. If we have made our peace with the Father through Jesus His Son, all the Wisdom of God we need flows from His Throne.

Prayer from the heart

“Father of all, thank you for the gift of your bountiful grace and mercy that releases us from sin and sorrow. That you gave your beloved Son as the greatest act of Love ever shown, that caused you the deepest pain You’d ever known…how then can we sit in judgment as though we have such right? Forgive us, Father. Release us from the guilt of our sin and that which we have rendered toward others. The more we come to know and feel Your heart, the miracle is that You create within us a greater capacity to see, to sense, and to step justly, in mercy. Teach us to love as You love; to herald Your Kingdom, not our own; to demolish our ‘thrones’ and stand only before Yours in Your Name.”

~ Gracefully Free

¹ Ephesians 1:4 and 1:22 (in context of 1:3-23)            ² John 1:7-9         

*Christlike: the heart of Who God is and who we are

³ The Shack – whose theme is the transformative power of redemption through forgiveness; tragedy confronting Eternity

Related: An Audience of One             Warfare and the Mercy Seat            Warfare and the Mercy Seat, Part Two

Photo Credit: Pexels-Pixabay-33783 │ ©2024 Nancy C. Bentz