The Spirit of Christ dwells in you and you in Christ. This is a common idea that we hear regularly in church; a prayer after the Lord’s Supper asking that we abide in Christ and he in us, so that we might be given the power of his endless life. The idea is that the Spirit of Christ actually lives in us, rummaging around in our soul somehow, directing our ways and our deeds for the good. This is an idea that has been suppressed by many pastors for the last 30 - 40 years, and for a good reason. The last thing we want to happen is to go back to the good old days to when those who thought they were “filled by the Spirit” were allowed to order the rest of us around. These church dictators had had their say long enough. But, the fear of miniature church Hitlers…come on, for years you’ve wanted to call them that also…fear of becoming like them should not allow us to forget that the Sprit of Christ does set up housing within us.
The Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of love and forgiveness, “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” does set up housekeeping within us, nailing a cross to the wall, putting words of truth on the fireplace mantle, and setting a large table with room enough for anyone to be seated (NRSV, Isaiah 11:2).
I distinctly remember a very Sunday School Student being told that Christ lived inside her. The young student promptly lifted her dress, slapped her jiggly little tummy, and said “Hello, Jesus, are you in there?” Sometimes I wonder the same thing. “Jesus, are you in there?” Most of my actions are anything but Christ like. Many are made out of impulse; like I need more chocolate in the house; others I think I am doing out of love, but in the end they cause hurt instead. Christ might be trying to drive this RV of mine in right ways, I hear he’s a good driver, but there is a lot of flesh covering the windshield.
Years and years ago a young man desperately wanted to break through the flesh, eliminate it completely, and scrape his life clean thereby allowing the Spirit of Christ to show through. He wanted the Spirit of Christ and his own Spirit to dwell in each other so closely that those around him would not be able to tell the difference between the two. This Christian pilgrim set out on a quest to become one with God. On his journey, he encountered a faithful man who told him that he could get to his destination by praying without ceasing. The faithful man told him that “The continuous interior Prayer of Jesus is a constant uninterrupted calling upon the divine Name of Jesus with the lips, in the spirit, in the heart; while forming a mental picture of His constant presence, and imploring His grace, during every occupation, at all times, in all places, even during sleep. The appeal is couched in these terms, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me’” (The Way of the Pilgrim).
And so, with the words, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” constantly in his mind, like a mantra, he set out on his journey. The idea is that with those words on your mind constantly, you cannot help but be Christ in everything you do; whether it be talking with a homeless man or doing the dishes. The young man is said to have found peace once he mastered the technique.
I tried it once. I mastered a superb way to give myself an instant headache. A fellow religion student in college said that he had pushed beyond the headache and had mastered it to the point that he always felt at one with God and God’s grace. My interpretation, the guy was a pompous pig. He never had time for you, and he couldn’t possibly listen to you because he had all the answers. Maybe the technique works and this college student had actually failed. But, my sneaking suspicion is that somehow the wrappings of our flesh will always get in the way and try to lock Christ away deep inside.
I emphasize the word “try” here. The trappings of the flesh can try to lock Christ away, but don’t forget that hard tomb of death and stone was not able to keep Christ locked away. Flesh is nothing to Christ. The Spirit of Christ cannot be locked away, and it is alive and at work deep inside.
In "The Eternal Now," theologian Paul Tillich describes the hidden but very present work of the Spirit. The Spirit may point out that your life is empty and meaningless, but also tell you that a new life full of meaning is waiting to take over. The Spirit can awaken your soul from sleep, causing you to care for those around you. The Spirit can tell you that you have deeply hurt someone, and will point out that you are the only one who will effectively heal that person’s wound. The Spirit can awaken a love that is able to overcome long held hatred and resentment. The Spirit can open your eyes to new insight on the world that might change the world overnight. The Spirit can create warmth in your soul even while the rest of the world appears to be going cold. The Spirit can pray the words that you are unable utter yourself. The Spirit can reunite you to Christ who dwells within, even when you cannot see him through all the flesh.
Sometimes it is hard to see this work of the Spirit. It is wrapped up in the flesh of our desires and self-serving ways. Sometimes we need other followers of Christ to hear the call to take off our wrappings. As they did with Lazarus, they take off the wrappings of the flesh. As the layers are removed and we stare down at our formerly hidden body, we will see that Christ indeed is within and has restored our life.
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