The Rev Dr Wilfred W.T. Ho is a lecturer in Theology at Trinity Theological College and teaches in Chinese. He is a member of the Chinese Annual Conference.
Christian spirituality and being a Christ-like human
By Wilfred Ho
CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY begs a fundamental question: “What does it mean being a Christian?” My reply: It means being a more genuine human person. It follows that the more spiritual a Christian is, the more genuinely human he would become. Christian spirituality and genuine humanity are inextricably linked.
I am convinced of the truth of this truth because all Christians are called to “having the mind of Christ and walking as He walked”, to use John Wesley’s favourite expression. As Jesus is the new Adam (and Adam in Biblical Hebrew generically refers to mankind), whoever is called is indeed called to be a genuine human. Hence, the aim of any Christian in practising all sorts of spiritual exercises developed in our rich Christian traditions is not to become a super human but a genuine human, a Christ-like human.
What does a Christ-like human look like? One important realisation that I came to from my research days in London is that the earthly Jesus had only two kinds of disposition which generated all his words and deeds. Facing God, Jesus was obedient to His demanding will to embrace the extreme humiliating death on the cross. Facing men, Jesus was so compassionate to their desperate cries to the extent of even willing to lay down his life for them. His whole life was completely shaped by both his uncompromising obedience to God and his unconditional compassion for others. A Christ-like human is thus an obedient and compassionate person. Jesus’ life was shaped by nothing else but his uncompromising obedience to God and unconditional compassion for others.
Since my realisation of this truth, two questions have become my yardstick to examine my spirituality: Do I love God by willing to seek and obey His will uncompromisingly? Do I love others by willing to identify with their crying needs and serve them unconditionally? Obviously, I still have a long way to go but my gracious God is my strength.
The Rev Dr Wilfred W.T. Ho is a lecturer in Theology at Trinity Theological College and teaches in Chinese. He is a member of the Chinese Annual Conference.