Seeking and Serving Christ in All Persons

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

-- The Baptismal Covenant, BCP, page 305

There are many aspects to this Baptismal vow. As we gain in spiritual understanding we live into it in different ways.

Most basically, loving my neighbor as myself means helping people get the fundamental things that help them thrive: good food, clothing that instills dignity, a warm place to call home, physical safety, adequate medical care and meaningful work. But the less obvious aspect of helping with fundamental needs is continuously examining and being accountable for my way of life. We live in the richest nation in the world, and our consumption of the world’s resources is appalling. As our global awareness grows, we are learning that when we buy stuff, we often create poverty. Our shoes, our clothing, our food, our houses and cars – where was it all manufactured? What animals were hurt, what land was deforested, what water supplies were taxed or tainted, what people labored for a pittance in order that we might have these things? Loving my neighbor means not only directly helping but also living in a way that supports the planet and all peoples.

Everybody has Christ in them, and therefore everybody is extremely valuable. Understanding this goes beyond the somewhat snide realization that “God loves (name) even though I personally can’t stand (him/her).” Instead, since Christ is my teacher, each person is also my teacher, and I owe them great respect.

The Christ in us is the best of us but not an aspect of ourselves we can claim as our own. It belongs to God and is the manifestation of the kingdom of heaven inside us. Through us it brings the Holy Spirit, love and redemption to the world. Seeking it in another and serving it means helping to liberate the inner Christ to do its work. This is a teaching and a spiritual companioning function. As we grow spiritually, we are called to step into being teacher and spiritual friend to others. In the mutual exchange between the Christ in us and the Christ in our neighbor, the Body of Christ becomes healthy and fruitful.

To be the best teacher and/or spiritual companion for others, we need training. First is a dynamic and evolving training in scripture, the history of the church and theology. Second is training in listening skills, the dynamics of racism and cultural differences, ethical boundary keeping, the nature of spiritual gifts and the process of discernment.

It’s a tall order to live into the vow to seek and serve Christ in all persons. But remember we do everything with God’s help. We also have the love and support of our faith community. In prayer and learning and in doing church together, we renew and equip ourselves to do God’s work in the world. May the Christ within each of us be released to serve.