What is the Cosmic Christ / Universal Christ?

The concept of the Cosmic Christ, also known as the Universal Christ, refers to the role and significance of Christ beyond the events of the incarnation and the crucifixion. While the Cosmic Christ is rooted in the historical Jesus, it goes beyond the historical person to encompass the universal presence and reality of Christ.

The basis for the Cosmic Christ is found in several biblical themes and passages:

• Christ as the eternal Word of God that was with God in the beginning and through whom all things were made (John 1:1-3). This establishes the pre-existence of Christ before creation.
• Christ as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn over all creation, through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17). This affirms Christ’s cosmic significance in creation and sustenance of the universe.
• God’s intent to unite all things in heaven and on earth under Christ (Ephesians 1:10). This speaks to the cosmic reconciliation of the universe under Christ’s lordship.
• Christ filling all in all (Ephesians 4:10) and all the fullness of God dwelling in Christ to reconcile all things (Colossians 1:19-20). These point to the cosmic comprehensiveness of Christ’s presence and redemptive purposes.

Based on these biblical themes, the Cosmic Christ essentially sees Christ as the eternal Logos or Wisdom of God through whom the universe was created and is sustained, the revelation of God in cosmic history, the ultimate unity and meaning of creation, and the reconciler of all things in the universe. Christ is the cosmic presence of God reaching into the furthest corners of the universe.

Key Aspects of the Cosmic Christ

Some key aspects of the Cosmic Christ include:

1. Pre-existence – As the eternal Logos or Wisdom of God, the Cosmic Christ pre-existed with God before the creation of the universe and time. Christ is uncreated and eternal.
2. Creator – All things were created through Christ and for Christ. He is the agent of creation and the purpose for which the universe was created.
3. Sustainer – Christ continually upholds the universe by his power. He is the principle of unity and coherence in creation.
4. Revelation – Christ is the definitive revelation of God throughout cosmic history in different ways. He reveals God through creation, Scripture, prophets, reason, conscience, etc.
5. Incarnation – The incarnation is a supreme moment in which God uniquely and personally enters into cosmic history for salvation. But it flows from Christ’s eternal divine nature.
6. Reconciliation – Christ’s redemptive work brings reconciliation between all things in heaven and earth. He unites and brings peace to all things in the universe.
7. Eschatological fulfillment – All of cosmic history finds its fulfillment, meaning, and purpose in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the climax and full realization of God’s self-revelation in creation.

Origins and Development of the Cosmic Christ

The origins of the Cosmic Christ idea can be traced to several sources:

• The high Christology of the New Testament and early Christian writings such as the Gospel of John, Colossians, Hebrews, etc.
• The Logos doctrine of the Apologists like Justin Martyr, who saw the divine Logos as active in creation and human history before the incarnation.
• Speculation about Christ and wisdom traditions in texts like the Gospel of John and Proverbs.
• The incarnation of Christ as the turning point and fulfillment of cosmic history in the writings of Irenaeus and Athanasius.
• The cosmic scope of Christ’s atoning work in writings of the early church fathers.

In the 20th century, the Cosmic Christ reemerged through the works of theological figures like Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Matthew Fox. Teilhard de Chardin spoke of both a “cosmic” and “biological” Christ active in evolution and human history. Fox developed a theology of the Cosmic Christ in his book Coming of the Cosmic Christ. Other theologians like Sallie McFague have also written on ecological and cosmic perspectives on Christology. The Cosmic Christ has been an important concept in ecological theology, creation spirituality, and Franciscan spirituality.

Relation to Incarnation and Resurrection

The Cosmic Christ is not just a philosophical concept of Christ but is intrinsically linked to the historical events of the incarnation and resurrection:

• The incarnation is the revelation of the eternal Logos within space and time. Christ’s eternal nature is made known in a unique historical form.
• The entire trajectory of Christ’s earthly life – birth, ministry, death, resurrection – recapitulates and sums up the history of creation itself.
• The resurrection of Christ is a cosmic event with ramifications for all creation. It initiates the process of new creation and reconciliation of the universe.
• The incarnation provides the pattern for Christ’s universal presence. As Christ is both fully divine and fully human, he unites divinity and creation.
• The incarnation and resurrection provide the model for cosmic transfiguration and deification. Through Christ, the material universe will be transformed by divine glory.

In this way, the Cosmic Christ is not separate from the Jesus of history but rather expresses the cosmic dimensions and effects of his unique incarnation in time and space.

The Cosmic Christ in Scripture

While the term “Cosmic Christ” does not appear verbatim in Scripture, several biblical passages convey this overarching vision of Christ’s universal significance:

• John 1:1-3 – Christ as the eternal Word through whom all things were created.
• 1 Corinthians 8:6 – Christ as the one Lord through whom are all things.
• Colossians 1:15-20 – Christ as the image of God, firstborn over creation, and reconciler of all things.
• Ephesians 1:9-10 – God’s plan to bring unity to all things under Christ.
• Ephesians 4:10 – Christ filling all things.
• Hebrews 1:2-3 – Christ as imprint of God’s being, sustaining all things by his word.
• Revelation 21-22 – Christ center of the new creation, light of the New Jerusalem.

These and other passages portray a cosmic vision of Christ as the one through and for whom the universe was made, in whom it coheres, and through whom it finds renewal.

Theological Contributions

Some of the key theological contributions of the Cosmic Christ perspective include:

• A high Christology that recognizes the divinity, pre-existence, and creative agency of Christ.
• A cosmic scope to God’s purpose in Christ that encompasses all creation.
• An evolutionary understanding of Christ’s work across cosmic and human history.
• A holistic vision of salvation that includes ecological and cosmic redemption.
• An appreciation for Christ’s universal presence and manifestation in all cultures.
• A Trinitarian framework rooted in the relationality of Father, Son and Spirit.
• A pneumatological understanding of Christ’s ongoing cosmic work through the Spirit.
• A hope-filled eschatology where creation finds meaning in Christ.

The concept of the Cosmic Christ expands perspectives on Christology, soteriology, and eschatology to be more creation-affirming, globally-conscious, and relevant to contemporary worldviews and cosmologies.

Criticisms and Concerns

There are theological critiques and concerns about aspects of the Cosmic Christ theology from some perspectives:

• It could diminish the historical particularity and definitiveness of the incarnation if taken too far.
• It tends towards a overly high Christology bordering on divinizing creation.
• It focuses more on an abstract cosmic Christ than the Jesus of the Gospels.
• It relies heavily on speculative metaphysical concepts not clearly defined in Scripture.
• It downplays the actual fallenness of creation and need for conversion.
• It lacks understanding of the “already, not yet” tension of Christ’s victory.
• It could encourage universalist views of salvation rather than calling for faith in Christ.

Proponents of the Cosmic Christ maintain that a properly nuanced understanding does not require denying the incarnation or compromising other doctrine. But the critiques serve as cautions against imbalanced approaches that may lose sight of biblical revelation.

Practical Implications

The concept of the Cosmic Christ has many practical implications for how Christians understand their place in the universe and live out their faith:

• It inspires care and concern for creation, since Christ encompasses all things.
• It encourages interfaith dialogue, seeing truth and wisdom in diverse cultures as part of Christ’s work.
• It promotes social justice, recognizing the dignity of all people created in God’s image.
• It fosters scientific discovery, trusting that all truth points to the one by whom all things cohere.
• It motivates evangelism and missions aimed at cosmic renewal through Christ.
• It emboldens creative expression to give fresh voice to the Cosmic Christ today.
• It spurs ecological action, since decay of nature is out of sync with Christ’s purposes.

A Cosmic Christology provides a broad, hope-filled vision that can shape Christian life and witness in the world across many spheres of thought and action.

Conclusion

In summary, the concept of the Cosmic Christ sees Christ as the eternal Logos of God through whom the universe was created, as the unifying meaning of all creation, as incarnate in Christ for the salvation of the world, and as the ultimate hope for the transfiguration and reconciliation of all things in heaven and earth. This cosmic vision of Christ provides a compelling theology for understanding Christ’s universal significance and close relation to all creation. While being rooted in Scripture, it expands perspectives on Christology and soteriology in creation-affirming ways relevant to science and other worldviews. Even with some critique and concerns, the Cosmic Christ offers a fruitful theology for reflecting on the person of Christ and living out the gospel today.