A persistent allegory of the Christ story compares it to aliens coming to this planet. Artists as disparate as C.S. Lewis and Steven Spielberg have explored the Incarnation through science fiction. It is not a stretch to regard Jesus the Christ as an alien life form, masquerading as a human being. In a way, he even invited it. Replying to Pilate’s question, “What have you done?,"
Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’
Of course, orthodox Christian doctrine teaches that Jesus was not an alien; he was fully human even as he was fully God, not pretending to be either. But time and again he spoke of the realm of God as a place distinct from the realm of this world – contiguous with it, even infusing it, but a different address entirely. And the values of that realm, as he taught and demonstrated them in what looked like miracles – but in fact just revealed how the energy of that realm works, even within this one – are quite distinct from purely human patterns of thinking and being. Jesus said as much to Pilate: were he operating by the principles of this world, he’d have whipped up his followers to do battle. But he wasn’t from here, and thus his response reflected the principles of God-Life.
As followers of Christ, we’re not from here either, not once we’ve accepted citizenship in the realm of God. Oh, we may carry a dual passport, but Home is not this earth or this life. Home is a full, unmediated, unadulterated experience of the presence of God. It’s a place we may visit in our earthly lives, but mostly it’s a reality we are ever moving towards.
The writer to the Hebrews said this of the great heroes of faith, “All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland." (Hebrews 11:13-14)
It is a tricky spiritual balancing act, to truly love and accept the gifts of this life, yet not get so cozy we forget where we ultimately belong. When we are able to maintain this balance, we are able to love more wholly, less dependently.
What, or who, do you find yourself clinging to in this world? How might you move into deeper relationship with your heavenly father/mother in that other realm to which you claim allegiance?
We can start with the practice of prayer. E.T., phone home!
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