Keep Your Head Up

The Apotheosis of Washington, Constantino Brumidi

Colossians 3:1-11

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Hey history fans! Remember that time when President George Washington was raised up to the Heavens and exalted as a god? No? Come to think of it I don't remember it either... but next time you are in Washington D.C. take a tour of the Capitol Building and keep your head up. If you do you will see a ceiling mural in the rotunda about the deification of America's first president. Comedy! I doubt that the Italian artist who painted it, Constantino Brumidi, nor any of the members of Congress (past or present) actually believe General Washington to be a god. Brumidi were simply using the artistic theme of the apotheosis. There are scores of paintings where leaders, heroes and rich families are given the apotheosis treatment. It does have a religious background. Both the theological and artistic beginnings of the apotheosis start in Greece as was also practiced by the Romans. Both the Greek and Latin communities had histories of deifying their leaders (like the Egyptians before them). This is literally hero worship. I remember watching Michael Jordan playing Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz back in 1997 while fighting off the flu and thinking that he could probably have started a popular cult the next day. Human beings have always been awed by individuals who stand out in history. The American Founding Fathers were fans of the Greek (and somewhat Roman) notions of democracy and republic. So much so that they built a democratic government that operates as a republic. In recognition of this many artists and architects that honor the Founding Fathers utilize Greek and Roman aesthetic tools. But Greeks, Romans and Americans are not the only cultures that have pondered man's quest for grandeur and immortality. The ancient Hebrews also considered this notion and as a Pharisaic rabbi turned Christian apostle St. Paul allows us to eavesdrop on this dialogue.

Apotheosis of Homer, Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Is Christ a case of apotheosis? Was Jesus a hero, philosopher or holyman that was exalted by God into godhood? This notion pops up every now and again. It is called adoptionism (the idea that Christ was adopted by God, at some point, into divinity) and was written off as heresy in the 2nd century. While it is true that Jesus is honored by God by being seated at His right hand (the place of honor), Scripture reveals that He was always there, even in creation. The preexistence of Christ is discussed in the opening chapter of the Gospel of John. Whenever there was, there was also Jesus. So when St. Paul points out Christ being at God's right hand it is not to show Christ's new found exaltation but rather shows confirmation of his authority. His authority confirms the validity and completion of his mission. God's placement of Christ at His right hand signifies approval of Christ's sacrificial atonement for our sins. We as followers of Christ draw strength and encouragement from the fact that our Savior has solidified our safekeeping. Keep your head up and you will see Christ sitting in the seat of power and place of approval from God.

Apotheosis of Hercules, by François Le Moyne

Great News: you're dead! Or at least your old identity is. Your new identity is tied in with Christ's. That must sound like amazing news if you have a bad credit score. So St. Paul argues that because of God's acceptance of Christ's propitiation that our life is intertwined with his. He says in Colossians that our life is hidden with Christ and Christ's appearance. Paul is speaking of our own personal spiritual death. The idea is that our old selves, the identity of the sinner and life outside of Christ, has passed away. If we then have aligned our lives with Christ's life, then we await Christ's glorious return as our new birthday celebration. We will be born into eternal life. That Great Day that Scripture ominously refers to will not be a day to fear judgment but a day of celebration. We as the Church are Christ's bride. Like the traditional Western practice of weddings, we await that new day when we will unite our life with our groom (Christ) and receive a new name. But as we wait for that day we are also being changed. That is where different Christians have different opinions. The biggest division is between the Greek and Latin faction of Christianity. The first large scale division in Christianity (hundreds of years before the Protestant Reformation) was the Great Schism of 1054 between the Eastern and Western sections of the Church (one section preferred Tupac while the other supported Biggie). The division was over a few doctrinal and practical governance matters (that I will discuss in greater detail in a later blog entry) but the differences had been brewing for centuries. The rift left the Church split along cultural lines with the Latin speaking (and thinking) Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Greek speaking (and thinking) Orthodox Church in the East. later on the Western Church would have its own divisions with the Renaissance, but there are still some major theological notions that Protestants still inherited fro their Catholic parents. Specifically it is in the subject of sanctification (the part of salvation where we are made into a new and holy person). The Orthodox Churches rely on their Greek background and call it theosis. Wikipedia describes their thoughts on theosis/sanctification as follows:

Eastern Orthodoxy- Orthodox Christianity teaches the doctrine of theosis, whereby humans take on divine properties. A key scripture supporting this is 2 Peter 1:4. In the 4th century, Athanasius taught that God became Man that Man might become God.^[5] Essentially, Man does not become divine, but in Christ can partake of divine nature. This Church's version of salvation restores God's image in man.^[6] One such theme is release from mortality caused by desires of the world.^[7]

Now notice the thread of similarity shared by Roman Catholicism and its Protestant offshoots. Again this is from Wikipedia:

Roman Catholicism- According to the Catholic Encyclopedia "sanctity"^[11] differs for God, individual, and corporate body. For God, it is God's unique absolute moral perfection. For the individual, it is a close union with God and the resulting moral perfection. It is essentially of God, by a divine gift. For a society, it is the ability to produce and secure holiness in its members, who display a real, not merely nominal, holiness. The Church's holiness is beyond human power, beyond natural power. Sanctity is regulated by established conventional standards.

Anglicanism- Anglicans teach that sanctification is a process of changing to become holy. Richard Hooker, an influential Anglican theologian, argued that sanctification is based on works while justification is only by faith.^[2]

Calvinism- Calvinist and Evangelical theologians interpret sanctification as the process of being made holy only through the merits and justification of Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification cannot be attained by any works based process, but only through the works and power of the divine.^[3] When a man is unregenerate, it is their essence that sins and does evil. But when a man is justified through Christ, it is no longer the man (in his essence) that sins, but the man is acting outside of his character. In other words, the man is not being himself, he is not being true to who he is.^[4]

Lutheranism- Martin Luther, the founder of Lutheranism, taught in his Large Catechism that Sanctification is only caused by the Holy Spirit through the powerful Word of God. The Holy Spirit uses churches to gather Christians together for the teaching and preaching of the Word of God.^[8]

The only wild card in the bigger of the protestant groups are the offshoots from Wesleyanism. Wikipedia states:

Methodism- John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, taught what is known as entire sanctification in the holiness movement churches, such as the Church of the Nazarene, the Salvation Army, or Christian perfection in "mainstream" Methodist denominations, such as the United Methodist Church, the Methodist Church of Great Britain. This is the doctrine that by the power of God's sanctifying grace and attention upon the means of grace may cleanse a Christian of the corrupting influence of original sin in this life. It is explained in depth in the essay, "Entire Sanctification" by Adam Clarke as well as, later, in Articles of Religion in the Book of Discipline of the Methodist Church.^[9] "Initial salvation" is sometimes seen as an initial step of acknowledging God's holiness, with sanctification as, through the grace and power of God, entering into it. A key scripture is Hebrews 12:14: "Follow after...holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord."

The position that is probably the closest to my own thoughts (un-ironically) is the one found in my trusty little copy of The New National Baptist Hymnal (it's red with gold trim, like the color of the cheap red carpet in all authentic Baptist churches) in the Articles of Faith (they are like a Creed for denominations that have A.D.D., don't like reading out loud too much and choose have their headquarters in Nashville).

We believe the Scriptures teach that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of his holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun in regeneration; and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means especially the word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.

Even though there are divers takes on the particulars of how one becomes holy and sanctified, I believe that they all communicate the same encouraging message to the Christians that believe them: Keep your head up because you are above the sins of your past.

Apotheosis of Nelson, Pierre-Nicolas Legrand de Lérant

Theologically sanctification is like an algebra problem. We must solve for X but different theologians say that X is different things. Different Christians look into Scripture and see different formulas of how sanctification spiritually occurs, however, sanctification adds up to the same thing in most scenarios. In the end you are a holier person and have performed good actions. It is the good actions that combine with your faith to testify that the Holy Spirit of God dwells within you. It is this Holy Spirit that pushes you in living a life free of the sins that ensnared you in the past. Though I greatly admire John Wesley (and my grandfather was a Methodist preacher) I probably lean the furthest away from the Wesleyan formulation of sanctification. It is not because I don't believe that there may be those in history who grew to eliminate much of the sin in their life (sure that sounds like it could happen) but rather because I don't believe that it is the norm for most believers. Most believers (true and actual Children of God) struggle with sin on a daily basis. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't strive toward holiness and complete selfless love, but I fear that the repercussions of being a believer who feels like a total failure for having an angry thought or tapping your toe to a secular tune. Now does that mean that I think that Christians should quit denominations like the Methodists or Church of God and Christ because of their historic ties to the Wesleyan/ Holiness movement? No, never! I personally know of some of the greatest Christian believers and pastors in these groups. Their faith is genuine and more importantly balanced. No matter what our denominational or theological background we must always balance things off with the attitude of Jesus. Jesus was always patient with sinners who were humble and trusting. Humble in their assessment of themselves and trusting in their faith in Jesus. These two factors allow God to work on us daily. Throughout spiritual victories and failures we can keep an upward trajectory if we keep learning and praying. Eventually past sins, practices and proclivities grow more and more distant. St. Paul teaches us in Colossians that as we confess our sins to God, learn what Christian behavior looks like and share with the community of believers our past sinful practices, deceptions and ethnic, cultural, class and societal divisions/predjudices drift away as we all conform to the image of Christ. We elevate in our spiritual journey and leave the old things below us. Keep your head up and forget the things that are below.

The Apotheosis of Washington, amidst the Capitol rotunda

It is no coincidence that the Apotheosis of Washington mural is in the oculus of the rotunda of the Capitol Building. The oculus lets the light in the room and illuminates the building, just like the Founding Fathers illuminated the institution of government by reintroducing the democratic republic to the world. Likewise Christ is the Light that came from above to illuminate the Church... not the building but the people (the Greek and the Latin...and the World). Christ was not an American Founding Father, but he found his Heavenly Father's lost children. As we conclude this entry about Man and his ancient aspirations to be a god, we must consider that true godliness is not pursued trough grandiose actions of heroism but through grave actions of humility. In this type of act that Christ proved himself to be the reverse of an apotheosis: He is the God that came down and became man. In doing so Jesus displays why God is worthy to be praised and honored and why He honors the meek and lowly.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

- Philippians 2:5-8