Universal Christ - Rohr
Mike Ervin
The Universal Christ:
How a Forgotten Reality Can Change
Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe (2019) by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan
priest and influential spiritual teacher, offers a deeply contemplative and
theologically rich vision of Christ as a universal presence, not limited to the
historical Jesus alone. Below is a comprehensive summary of the book’s core
themes and ideas, organized by major concepts and chapters.
Central Premise
Rohr distinguishes between:
- Jesus: the
historical figure from Nazareth who lived 2,000 years ago.
- Christ: the
universal presence of God in all things, which existed from the beginning
of time and was revealed in Jesus but is not limited to him.
In Rohr’s words: “Christ is not Jesus’s
last name.”
Key Concepts
1. Christ is Universal
Rohr sees Christ as the divine blueprint present in all
creation (cf. John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:15–17). Christ existed from the
beginning as the eternal Logos or Word through whom everything was made.
- The incarnation
is not a one-time event, but the revelation that God has always been
incarnating in the material world.
- This view
challenges the traditional dualism between sacred and secular, matter and
spirit.
2. Jesus as the Christ
- Jesus is the personal
manifestation of the eternal Christ.
- Rohr doesn’t
deny Jesus’s divinity but emphasizes that Jesus was the concrete
expression of the universal Christ, not the sole container of Christ.
- Jesus reveals
the pattern of divine love, especially through his suffering, death, and
resurrection.
3. God in All Things
(Panentheism)
- Rohr’s theology
is deeply panentheistic (God is in all things, and all things are in God).
- Christ is found
in every person, every tree, every bird, and even in suffering. To
recognize the Christ in all things is to recognize that everything belongs.
4. The Cosmic Christ and
Scripture
- Rohr draws on
passages from Paul’s letters (especially Colossians and Ephesians) to
argue that early Christians saw Christ as a cosmic figure, not only a
moral teacher or redeemer.
- This original
cosmic vision has been lost in much Western Christianity, which has
focused more narrowly on personal salvation and moralism.
5. Christ and the Poor and
Marginalized
- Rohr emphasizes
that Christ is especially present in the suffering, the outcast, and the
marginalized.
- Echoing Matthew
25 (“What you did to the least of these, you did to me”), Rohr sees caring
for others as a way of encountering Christ.
6. The Christ Mystery and the
Trinity
- Rohr invites
readers into a Trinitarian understanding of reality, where love is the
dynamic flow between the Father, Son (Christ), and Spirit.
- To live in
Christ is to participate in this divine communion of mutual self-giving
love.
7. Spiritual Transformation
- Salvation is
not about escaping the world to go to heaven; it’s about waking up to the
divine presence already within and around us.
- Rohr speaks of
the “second half of life” journey, where the ego dies and we are reborn
into a more expansive, compassionate consciousness.
8. The Christ in You
- The book is
also deeply pastoral and practical: Rohr encourages readers to recognize
the Christ within themselves and others, which leads to greater love,
justice, and healing.
- He connects
this idea to contemplative prayer, silence, and the mystical tradition of
Christianity.
Structure of the Book
The book is not rigidly chapter-by-chapter in linear
argument but flows in meditative, reflective movements. However, major sections
include:
- Another Name for Every Thing – Introducing Christ as a
universal presence.
- Accepting That You Are Fully Accepted – God’s love is
unconditional and ever-present.
- Revealing the Great (Christ) Mystery – Seeing Christ
as the template for reality.
- The Resurrection Journey – Understanding resurrection
as a spiritual process for all.
- All in All – How Christ holds all things together in
love and unity.
Critiques and Challenges
- Rohr’s expansive theology has been embraced by many
progressive Christians, mystics, and spiritual seekers, but critiqued by
some traditionalists who view his Christology as too inclusive or as
downplaying the uniqueness of Jesus.
- His work fits well within the Perennial Tradition and non-dual
spirituality, integrating Christian thought with broader mystical
insights.
Summary Statement
In The Universal Christ, Richard Rohr offers a vision of
Christ as a cosmic reality, a unifying presence in all things, accessible to
everyone, not just those within Christian boundaries. Rohr’s work is a call to
see differently - to perceive God in all, love in all, and to participate in the
unfolding of divine presence in the world. It’s a deeply hopeful and healing
book for those seeking a more inclusive, contemplative, and incarnational faith.
Universal Christ - Rohr
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