This week's assignment is to explore Myrtle’s Christology.
While reading assigned chapters 4-9 in How to Let God Help You, I jotted down a
few questions as they popped into mind. The most intriguing questions were, according to
Myrtle, Who was Jesus and was his role on earth, does it have any significance for us today,
and does Jesus still matter?
It’s very probable that Myrtle believed a person named Jesus
actually walked the earth when she writes, “two thousand years ago, there came
a manifestation of human life. It’s clear, in her writings, this manifestation
was Jesus.
In her writing, Myrtle also stresses the powerful, communal relationship
between Jesus and the “Father.” This relationship is the key to Myrtle’s
Christology. Of Jesus she write, “He
spent much time communing with God and knew more of God than any other who ever
lived.” She also reports he “was so conversant with the great Causing Power of
life that He called that power “Father…” In fact, she says, his connection was
confident enough to proclaim, “I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding
in me doeth his works”. According to Mrs. Fillmore, not only did he speak his
Truth, he demonstrated that truth, as well. According to the Bible, all power was given to
Him “in heaven and on earth.” Jesus didn’t
just talk about the power; he actively and openly demonstrated his Source given
“power to turn water into wine, power to increase loaves and fishes, power to
make Himself visible or invisible at will, power to command the fish of the sea
to yield Him money, power to lay down His life and power to take it up.
Demonstrations of this power are essential in Myrtle’s
Christology. Myrtle points to John 14:11, alluding to Jesus’s works, “Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the
very workings’ sake.” She then goes on to stress the importance of
demonstration in Christianity in modernity by saying, “What has been called His
teaching is not His teaching if it will not heal the sick and feed the poor, as
He said it would. It has been this fact that has caused so much unbelief in the
teachings of this age.”
Myrtle believe everything Christ did, was can do also, “He (Jesus)
declared of those who believed on Him as He believed on the Father, “The works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I
go unto the Father.” Furthermore, Mrs. Fillmore goes on to chastise teachers who
believe in Christ only intellectually, and deal with only intellectual Truths.
She adds, by believing only intellectually, “They have no conception of the
esoteric meaning of Jesus Christ’s words and consequently have no power to
demonstrate them. In Myrtles Christianity,
Intellectual Truths must not only be talked about, but demonstrated as well.
Myrtle says the earthly Jesus was our pattern, teaching that
the Christ Mind in Him is also in us. She
states that even today, “Jesus Christ is merging His consciousness with the
universal race consciousness, that we may have His presence and the light,
power, life, and love which are expressing as our pattern and constant,
quickening help. With this constant, quickening
help, we are able to live the truth, not only in intellect, but with power as
well.” Because of this merging, we have the ability to perform the greater
works.
Beth, I agree with your points about Myrtle saying that there was a man named Jesus who lived roughly 2,000 years ago and that he was a great teacher and way-shower. Also, I think Myrtle does point to the Christ in us all which can lead us to do "greater things."
ReplyDeleteI was also looking to see if Myrtle also saw a difference between "Jesus," the "Christ", "Jesus Christ", and "Christ Jesus." Yes, I think she sees a difference-- and yet a unity-- between Jesus the man,and the Christ, the individual who is aware of the Christ in himself or herself (i.e., the Jesus Christ).
But I am still not certain if Myrtle also saw another difference-- and unity-- with "Christ Jesus"? In some Unity thinkers-- and folks like Marcus Borg-- the concept of "Christ Jesus" is explained as the Christ power after the resurrection. It is not clear to me yet that Myrtle saw this difference in Christ Jesus. But more will be revealed as we continue to read on. Thanks.
Beth- Thank you for your thoughtful post. It clarified for me more of Myrtle’s understanding of the Christ power at work in us. Perhaps I’m still stuck in Jesus being more of a metaphor for showing us how God expresses in our combo divine/human state of existence. I might even agree with her that our physical state is illusory, that we are in truth spiritual beings having occasional physical experiences. What we know about Jesus, whether real human who walked the planet or pure spirit in earthly form is irrelevant if we trust our interpretations of the Jesus experience to lead and guide us. Myrtle’s Jesus is a historical and religious construct from a by-gone age that sounds less than congruent with Unity’s understanding today.
ReplyDeleteBeth writes: "Myrtle says the earthly Jesus was our pattern, teaching that the Christ Mind in Him is also in us." The difficulty of equating the inner mind of each individual with the Christ Mind in Jesus is the equation becomes imbalanced. If Jesus is the Christ Mind and we are the Christ Mind, what makes Jesus special? Do we need him at all, other than as a Wayshower, a temporary arrangement until we find traction on inner discovery? Taking the problem further, Myrtle boldly asserts on the first page of the reading assignment (Ch 4): "..there is but one Mind and in reality there are no separate men and women." Apart from this hyperbolic observation flying in the face of everyday experience--I am certainly not you--what good is Jesus Christ as a metaphysical change agent if all is One already?
ReplyDeleteWas Myrtle struggling to hammer the metal of practical Christianity into the shape of biblical compatibility, desperate for an authority source that would authenticate the work of Unity and speak to a Christian nation in its spiritual tongue at the turn of the 20th century?
How much of the biblical metaphysics found in her work in fact a plea for Eastern thought to be taken seriously in a Western world? She knew what worked, but how would she get anyone to try it unless it smelled fresh-dipped in the Jordan River?
Dr. Tom, I was intrigued by your comment, " She knew what worked, but how would she get anyone to try it unless it smelled fresh-dipped in the Jordan River? I started reading, Marcus Borg's paper, "Does the Historical Jesus Matter," and wondered, how dipped in the Jordon Myrtle was herself. When Myrtle was coming of age, even though there might have been some exceptions, most people believed in the fresh-dipped Jordan River philosophy of Jesus. According to Borg, in her era, the Jordon river Jesus philosophy was self-evident and, for the most part, people never considered questioning it as fact. Borg says the main reversal that began turning beliefs "on its" head was largely due to the work of two scholars, Martin Kahler (1835- 1912) and Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965). The book was published in Germany in 1892 and later translated into English. This was all coming about as the Fillmores were starting their ministry. If we have to presume we are all a product of our generation, I have to wonder how much of Myrtle's traditional beliefs, were still "self-evident," How much was she mixing eastern thoughts, with the self-evidence of the west?
DeleteBeth,
ReplyDeleteGreat synopsis. I think you bring up some excellent points throughout especially this quote "Mrs. Fillmore goes on to chastise teachers who believe in Christ only intellectually, and deal with only intellectual Truths. She adds, by believing only intellectually, “They have no conception of the esoteric meaning of Jesus Christ’s words and consequently have no power to demonstrate them." That's a pretty powerful statement being made by Myrtle and I believe Dr. Tom has a good point in the Eastern thought for a Western world polarity going on here. Seems Myrtle was on to something and we are still trying to figure it out.
I really appreciate your thoroughness here. Also, I appreciate your noting that Myrtle saw Jesus as a man who walked this earth. This is foundational to her Christology and yet we can certainly overlook this in our tendency to interpret the Bible metaphysically. It's important to be reminded that while we may differ in what parts of the Bible that we deem to be factual/historical vs. allegorical, etc., that basic to Unity is this idea that a real human being woke up to the Truth of his divine nature--and so can we!
ReplyDeleteYou have aptly summarized Myrtle's problem--indeed, the challenge every religious writer faces when attempting to refine abstract theological principles from a concrete, historic life. When God comes to us cradled in straw, it is hard to smell the incense of divinity amid the barnyard perfume of decaying animal wastes and distant odors of spiced cooking consistent with a living habitat. Based on her written words, one could argue Mrs. Fillmore seemed to think not only do we need Jesus, He is the centerpiece of the human race and the unique Lord and Savior of the world.
DeleteWhat makes Jesus special? To push metaphysical Christology to its outer limits: If Jesus is special and divine, are we ordinary and human? And if every human is divine, why do we need him at all?
You quoted my 2 favorite quotes, both of which appear to describe Myrtle's Christology as the nature and person of Jesus as human, with the innate ability to reveal the divine. Why did Jesus have the ability to demonstrate his divinity or to know God so intimately? We don't know. But we are told we have the same ability:
ReplyDelete"In her writing, Myrtle also stresses the powerful, communal relationship between Jesus and the “Father.” This relationship is the key to Myrtle’s Christology. Of Jesus she write, “He spent much time communing with God and knew more of God than any other who ever lived.” She also reports he “was so conversant with the great Causing Power of life that He called that power “Father…"
I would respond to Dr. Tom's questions as to why we even need the teachings of Jesus if we have the same abilities as this - But we aren't DOING it! So, apparently we aren't through learning...
Should, and does, Jesus Matter? Theologian, John Meier made an interesting observation. He say that the historical Jesus is not significant for faith, (we can believe in anything we want for any reason at all), however, Jesus is significant for theology (defined as faith seeking understanding).
ReplyDeleteWhether it is our intention or not, our perception of Jesus directly effects and alters our perception of Christianity. Marcus Borg says it’s not “that these perceptions ought to have an effect, but that they do.”
For example, if a person is persuaded that Jesus was a warm, loving, embracer of little children, it effects their concept of Christianity. If they view Jesus as a rebel who challenged authority, it holds a different impact. The belief in whether Jesus was fully human, fully divine, both or neither --effects their theology. Furthermore, if there is a significant change in a person’s perception of Jesus, it effects their entire image of Christianity. The question is not so much, should Jesus be given this much importance, the fact is--- he already has it!
Most historians agree, that a person, named Jesus, actually existed. Proving exactly what he said or did is arguable, at best. So should, and does, Jesus matter? I believe, Yes! Our world was altered when Jesus appeared on earth. Once again, I’m not arguing whether it should have happened, I’m stating- it did. An entire religion started with one man and a handful of followers. That religion now embraces billions all across the world. The fact that Jesus existed is significant. And I agree with Borg when he writes, “Our choice is to let that significance be largely unrecognized, unconscious, and unchallenged, or to be conscious and intentional about the relationship.”
Certainly a good summary of Mrs. Fillmore's beliefs. One gets the impression that she did indeed believe that Jesus actually walked the earth. In fact, as you indicate she writes “two thousand years ago, there came a manifestation of human life," Jesus. I can certainly see why there is so much unbelief in the "teachings of this age." It is difficult to perceive the teachings of Jesus when there is sickness and poverty..”
ReplyDelete