Christians May Not Be Christ, But The Mantle Is Still Worthy

 As many know, the term "Christian" means to be "Christ-like", but if you ask me, that only scratches the surface. In fact, the game "The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind" has an interesting philosophical point to make about being like a messiah figure that is worth consideration.

The premise of the game is that you are a random member of the Empire of Tamriel, released from prison on a nebulous charge by order of Emperor Uriel Septim VII, and sent to the isle Vvardenfell. There, you learn you are considered the reincarnation of a sainted figure named Indoril Nerevar, aka the Nerevarine.

The game, however, has fun with the concept and points out that while you do most of the same things the original did, act in the same ways, and for all intents and purposes are assumed to be just like the original, you may NOT actually be their spiritual successor. In fact, evidence in the game indicates you may in fact be someone roleplaying so well you could be such a successful fake you are indistinguishable from who would be expected to be the real deal.

If you ask me, that is a good way to describe Christians too.

Jesus was a specific person who had to fit a lot of prophecies made long before his birth. Those who followed him were not bound by any preconceptions, save that they had to assume his mantle. In the Elder Scrolls games, mantling is described as someone who fills a role so well they are assumed to have little practical difference from the real deal even if they aren't. Christians merely have to act, in terms of moral conduct, like how Jesus did, and Jesus was also God, this is an admonition to take up God's own mantle.

Now, humans are flawed and sinful, and even trying to act in a moral sense like God is an order of astronomical proportions. That said, it is expected, in return for salvation by God's grace, that we are to make all efforts to try in gratitude for our salvation. The mantle even in these reduced circumstances is a heavy one, but if we could assume it so well we could be mistaken for Christ himself, then we would reach the apogee of being "Christ-like" as far as mortals stained with sin could.

When you get down to it, I cannot fathom how anyone could do this. Due to the stain of sin, no Man could ever try to be that perfect. It's considered impossible in a moral sense. However, trying to "mantle" the role of Christ as best we can is still a worthy goal to attempt because we adhere to the ways of the one who gave us salvation from the grave, and if we had more like Christ in this world, it would be a much better place.

With all that said, no Man can ever be just like God, even if only in a moral sense. Regardless, doing our best to assume that mantle anyway is still a worthy goal in and of itself. Christ had heavy footsteps in the sands of time, and doing our best to match them means a lot of struggle and sacrifice on our parts. But the more who try to assume the same mantle as Christ means they are trying to still keep pace with how Christ conducted himself, and as flawed as we may be, the fact we seek to mantle something more noble than our own sins is still pleasing to God.