An interviewer once suggested to Barth that he followed a christo-centric principle in his theology. Barth was not impressed. He insisted that he had no interest in a christo-centric principle. He was interested in Christ Himself.
Whether Barth always achieved that is another matter (who does?). But at least he identified the danger with which all theologians (i.e. all Christians) must reckon. Is Jesus Himself our Lord, or have we tamed the Lion of Judah making Him serve our real theological agenda?
Let me play devil's advocate and describe four popular ways you can turn Jesus into a mechanism to serve some abstract theological concern. (Please do add others in the comments).
1) A general ethic of inclusion
2) A general doctrine of universalism
3) A general object of devotion
4) A general concept of grace
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1) A general ethic of inclusion
You know the kind of thing - "Jesus identified with the outsider, the persecuted, the marginalised. He opposed the religious and those who would condemn or exclude." Take the aforementioned generality, apply it to your cause celebre and, presto, one all-purpose inclusion ethic. NB: Best not to pry too closely into Jesus' particular ethical pronouncements nor the Scriptures He claimed could not be broken.
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2) A general doctrine of universalism
Here, as with the other examples, it is vitally important to think of Jesus in abstraction. Again, do not pry into the actual teaching of Christ, especially His words concerning judgement, but think only of Christ as Cosmic Reconciler. Now that you've turned Him into a principle, theologize away on the inevitability of universal salvation. After all the universal Creator has taken universal flesh and wrought a universal victory. Keep it in universal terms, in the abstract. Don't get too close to the Person of Jesus - it's the principle of reconciliation you want.
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3) A general object of devotion
Take a prolix puritan, set them to work on some devotional writing, give them Song of Songs as their text and wait for the treacle to flow. Delight in the mystical union. Let the particularity of the One to Whom we are united be swallowed up in the general enjoyment of that union.
Or take a modern worship leader strumming tenderly, synth strings in the background, congregation swaying. Wait for the effusions of ardour - mountains climbed, oceans swum to be near to... Who? Jesus of Nazareth? Or some ideal Love? Is this praise to Jesus? Or praise to praise? What's missing? Very often the actual Jesus is missing. This is key. Make sure that you abstract Jesus from His words and works. Do not think in concrete terms. In fact it's best not to think. Simply imagine Him as 'The Highest Object of Our Hearts' and just enjoy the gush.
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4) A general concept of grace
This one's very seductive, I'm always falling for it so I know whereof I speak. Define yourself as 'a believer in grace'. Define the gospel in terms of this abstract principle - grace. Speak of the love of God. Even speak of the sin of man. But only speak of the Jesus who reconciles the two as a handy instrument - an instrument of Grace. That's the main thing - Jesus fits into this grace paradigm. That's why we love Him.
When anyone asks what Christianity is - tell them: 'It's not works! People think it's works, but it's not!' And when they say 'Ok, alright, calm down. Tell me what it is,' don't tell them it's Jesus. And definitely don't introduce them to the walking, talking actual Jesus. That'll only distract them from your excellent grace-not-works diagrams. Major on the whole grace-not-works principle. And if they ever want to receive this principle into their own lives (after all your diagrams make a lot of sense) tell them to accept 'grace' as a free gift and they're in. They may well struggle to understand what receiving a concept actually looks like or whether they've done it properly (or at all). They may well question whether their intellectual assent to your diagram really has decisive eternal significance. But whatever you do, don't point them to the Person of Jesus. Grace is the thing.
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In all of these examples Jesus is called on to serve a pre-existing theological programme. He may be treated with the utmost respect. He may be considered the very chief Witness or the Exemplar par excellence. But He is at your service, not you at His.
Beware fitting Jesus into your pet theological programme. We do it all the time but He resists all efforts to turn Him into a principle. The Truth is a Person and will not be abstracted.
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