Body of Christ: Methaphor, Theosis…?
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In a recent (and enjoyable) discussion at Subversive Influence, I found myself articulating and defending my resonance with the theological concept of theosis. For those who are not familiar with the term/idea, check out Wikipedia’s entry here. It will introduce the concept, though not as helpfully as I think it could.
Now admitting this is loaded with complications, as there are many variations in theosis- Orthodox, Catholic and even Protestant, to name a few. So when I say I believe in or find resonance with the idea, it could inspire all kinds of assumptions as to what that actually means. All this to say, unless I say something explicitly, don’t assume that I hold to any of the possible variations. For example, I do not believe that we become divine beings by nature, as God is One.
However, I truly believe that when Scripture refers to the Church as the Body of Christ, this is more than just metaphor. Culminating in the Eucharist, I believe that the Church reflects the paradoxical reality of being and becoming that Body. The Resurrected nature of Christ’s Body- though more than a mere bodily rescusitation- through Pentecost, is still incarnate. As die to self to be Resurrected into that Body. Obviously this medium does not allow a thorough exploration of the ideas.
What do you think? When we read “Body of Christ” in Scripture, do you believe it to be a metaphor or something actual or something else? Anyone ready to burn me at the stake?
to be very overly simplistic about it, I believe the Body of Christ to be a divine mystery but not an actual physical body. The EOC would say that Christ’s body is found in the EOC in physical form and that Christ is represented through the EO priest. This I do not agree with. But I also believe the “Body” is more than just a metaphor but a divine presence that is a mystery beyond our understanding which means that to bring God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, we are doing it through the Body and to understand this in fullness we need to think of the Body and treat the Body as more than just a metaphor.
Makeesha,
I agree with you in respect to EOC, as I have a far more embracing, non-hierarchical ecclesiology. I also agree that it is, ultimately, a mystery that we won’t ever fully “figure out”.
My question for you then is this: if the Body of Christ is more than metaphor, are we (the Church) actually the Body of Christ? If so, being that we are physical beings (inseparable from our spiritual nature), would not the Body of Christ on some level be a physical manifestation in us AND in the still physical (though glorified) person of Jesus? Just a thought.
Peace,
Jamie
oh I agree.
I think the physicality and still “non corporeal” quality is what makes it a divine mystery.
what I was saying had more to do with that I think we need to use caution when suggesting that THE CHURCH is actually *A* church. yk?
Makeesha,
Ah, I gotcha now. Good point.
Peace,
Jamie
I see it as somewhat related to ‘sanctification’ in Protestant teaching. It would be interesting to explore them deeper in parallel.
Matt,
This would be a common thread Protestant theologians would have followed (namely Calvin). But what do you say in respect to whether “Body of Christ” is metaphor or more or other?
Peace,
Jamie
I realized I didn’t really respond to the theosis concept.
I guess I would say I currently hold the idea that through baptism (water and Spirit), our “spirits” are made righteous and that is our new nature. the process of sanctification is our “flesh” learning how to work out that salvation with fear and trembling.
NOW – - – bear in mind that this is what I was taught growing up and haven’t really explored the concept further as it has not been of terrible interest to me. I have no doubt that I could very easily change my feelings about that were I to look into it further. hehe
Makeesha,
I have had the same experience. However, the implications of this idea go quite deep, informing everything from ecclesiology to ecology. If the Church IS the Body of Christ in a way more than just a metaphor, then ecclesiology becomes far more crucial than we some time allow. Thanks for your openness to explore this.
Peace,
Jamie
From my catholic standpoint on what the body of christ is. It is in the Eurcharist. I believe in the transubstantiation of the bread into the body and wine into the blood. When you take the Eurcharist Christ is present and you are therefore taking in the body of christ.
Does this make sense…need clarification? I don’t know where I am going with this. But want to supply another point of view.
Liz,
Transubstantiation is probably as tricky an idea as theosis. I do not believe that the Eucharist becomes the biological flesh and blood of Christ, but I also don’t believe it to merely symbolic. I believe it does (as we do) become the Body in that great mystery of the Resurrection. It is also this, consequently, that ties us to Creation. It is through the fruits of the earth- the bread and wine- that this sacrament is taken.
Peace,
Jamie
I think i err on the side of metaphor, but a powerful one that has some extremely apt application – or to put it another way i think my human centric world view prefers being described as a body as opposed to a temple/living stone
As a metaphor it has so many applications -from teaching on submission to Christ, to equality in Christ, to being Christ representatives on the earth, to our needing dependency on the Spirit in the same way as the human Jesus did…
Personally i feel that in and through Christ we have our humanity restored to us and the cracked image of God we have been made in is restored – in that sense we become like the resurected christ, we get our lives back – fully human, fully free, fully alive…
I agree with you on both accounts jamie
Some might light a match but the water of the Spirit keeps putting it out.
I think metaphor. And I agree with Paul. A powerful one. And grossly overlooked by those who fight to win rather than attempt to edify and encourage and build relationships within and without the Kingdom.
Makeesha,
Gla that helped. Thanks!
Peace,
Jamie
Paul & Bryan,
It is powerful as a metaphor, but equally- nay, more powerful are more than metaphor. It still teaches us the same lessons, but speaks to the very means of Resurrection and transformation.
I guess I am surprised that so few people I’ve discussed this with share my conclusions- except my Eastern Orthodox and (some) Anglican friends. The strange thing is that I didn’t just read it somewhere and adopt it, but believed it only to discover the language later. Interesting…
So what is the resistance to it being more than a metaphor?
Peace,
Jamie
Hey Jamie,
I guess we’ll have to chalk you ‘discovering’ theosis up to the Holy Spirit leading you
As I delve more and more into it, I am increasingly surprised that the idea seems to drop off in the West post-Reformation. It is all over the Fathers and early to mid-medieval Christian thought. Theosis WAS mainstream soteriology as was Christus totus(that the church and Christ together form the complete body of Christ). So, if you’re counting votes it’s not a metaphor, but an an ontological reality.
Keep searching the waters, you’re bound to find something (and read Milbank, dammit! He is trying to do what your trying to do)
Don,
LOL! Thanks for the input, the suggested reading and, above all, for making me realize I am not TOTALLY out there- or at least not alone.
Peace,
Jamie
Re: theosis, I’ve seen more of it in Eastern religions (based on where I grew up). The problem I have with it in any religion is that, to achieve that level of perfection, one must be sinless. I doubt that any human being can claim to be sinless.
Re:the body of Christ goes, sorry to disappoint you, Jamie, but I see it as a metaphor (a powerful one, though).
Kievas,
No worries for disagreeing, but I am still baffled by how we believe that theosis or even just that it is more than a metaphor requires that we all be sinless or perfect. I don’t see how that is a necessity of the concept.
Peace,
Jamie
Great topic Jamie. This is something that I’ve talked about quite a bit while not using that word. I’ve used the word “divinization” but not theosis. I usually end up talking about it in terms of our full transformation into the Image of God – into fully Human Beings as we were created to be.
I believe this is no mere metaphor. I really believe this is the heart of our Faith – that we have been, through Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, brought into a real and substantive (albeit metaphysical) union with the Being of God. That business in Ephesians 1 about us being “…his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” Oh my. That’s strong language and it’s not the only language in Scripture that talks like this. Of course we also have the ancient Tradition of the Church to draw from, in how this union has been spoken about. I’ve gleaned a great deal from the monastic and mystical traditions in this regard.
For me, back to the “heart of our Faith” thing, this is what makes Christianity unique. Of course it’s True, that’s what really makes it unique – but in comparison even with the Truth in Judaism, Christianity, the fullness of the revelation of God’s Way, tells us the story of having been something in the past, our having lost that, and gives us the way to re-enter into that way of being. Going from death to Life is no metaphor. And that’s what makes us alive – Life Himself living in us and joining our selves to His Self. If it’s not Real in that way, as I tend to look at it, it’s not tons different than another well-intentioned religion which may give man (down here) a way to do business with God (up there). No union, no real life infusion, just fond feelings and actions toward one another.
OK, I’ve gone on long enough in your comments here. I get a little excited about this kind of subject matter. I believe it gets right down into what this whole thing is really all about. Thanks for bringing it up. I’m sure it will make people think. Pax vobiscum.
+ Alan Creech
Jamie, i haven’t got resistance to it being more than metaphor, or i think the metaphor describes a reality/truth that is helpful up to a point. The church is not literally the body of Christ, he already has one of those and a very fine resurected body at that. I also believe that I will get my own resurected body that will be recongisably me – i’ll be who I am without the crap, pain, struggle, doubts, fears, addictions, brokeness… I will be the likeness of the resurected christ, but i won’t be the resurected christ. I will will be eternally joined to the trinity through Christ but I won’t be part of it etc…
That all said i believe the metaphor plays out powerfully in revealing the truth of our mission on earth, on a sacramental way of living where we are broken for the world etc… I think all of the metaphors in the NT, city, temple, body, people, priesthood, kingdom stress our nature as a people who are being gathered and therefore has amazing significance both for our own individual experience [being called, loved, restored in our own unique humanity/image] but also being reconnected with each other in the image of the triune God – as a community/people/polis of image bearers…
Alan,
Thank you for giving such a thorough and helpful glance at this issue. I resonate with so much of what you are sharing. Thanks!
Peace,
Jamie
Paul,
I hear you. Thanks for the clarity. I still believe that there is (essentially) a closer connection between Christ and the Church, His Body. Scripture seems to use all kinds of strong language about this that does not easily fit with metaphor.
Peace,
Jamie
Yes me to Jamie, it’s one of the reasons i’m passionate about church – but it would be boring if we all thought alike
. There is much that i agree with and indeed with Alan’s comment as well…
I’m glad of that too, Paul. Thanks!
Peace,
Jamie
I need to think more on this, but my initial thought after your question is how does it play out in eternity? We are in eternity already… what does it mean? If more than metaphor, what is the result?
Bryan,
Good question, and I think it hinges a great deal on what you think eternity looks like.
Peace,
Jamie
I know that you’re away now Jamie, but I’ll drop in my one additional thought to this great conversation. In the United Methodist tradition, a candidate in the process of ordination as elder (full minister) must state that he/she believes he will obtain perfection in this life. I’ve never fully grasped how so many folks agree to this, except to assume that they have a fuller understanding of this whole concept of perfection as it is manifested in theosis.
(Okay- to be honest, I think plenty of them agree because it’s the last hump and they’re so tired of the process they’d say just about anything to get finished.) But that’s not my point. I don’t have a solid point to make, actually.
It just seems to me that it’s all wrapped up together and maybe someday I’ll get it.
Hey Cindy,
I just got home and am exhausted, so I may not be coherent. That being said, asdklfaiwerfjhs… Kidding.
Seriously, thanks for what you shared here. I have been wondering about theosis and issue of our current sinfulness and wonder if it akin to the fact that Jesus was without sin and yet sinless. As His Body, our sin doesn’t defile His nature, but limits Him. Just a thought needing development when I have slept.
Peace,
Jamie