Debunking “Christ Consciousness”

One of the bible verses frequently utilised as proof of the concept of “Christ Consciousness” is found in John 10:34 (NKJV):

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?

When taken out of context and presented as a solitary statement it very much sounds like an affirmation from Jesus where we can behave like egotistical narcissists and insert ourselves into the narrative, telling our wildly deluded minds that we are gods! This is what “Christ consciousness” teachers are trying to tell everyone.

However, when we read the whole as part of a longer conversation, we begin to see that it is not an affirmation at all. It’s an intellectual argument against being murdered as well as a subtle way of throwing shade and condemnation.

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods”’?

“If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.

In this conversation between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, Jesus quotes Psalm 82, which is very much in-keeping with theological debate. The Jews would have known the reference and understood both the justification for Jesus’ innocence as well as the condemnation from a man who was claiming to be their authority in the form of the incarnated Lord God, Son of the Father, which is probably why they still tried to kill Him…

Psalm 82

God stands in the congregation of the mighty;

He judges among the gods.

How long will you judge unjustly,

And show partiality to the wicked?

Defend the poor and fatherless;

Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy;

Free them from the hand of the wicked.

They do not know, nor do they understand;

They walk about in darkness;

All the foundations of the earth are unstable.

I said; “You are gods,

And all of you are children of the Most High.

But you shall die like men,

And fall like one of the princes.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth;

For You shall inherit all nations.

The original Hebrew word for “gods” was Elohim which can be used interchangeably to mean either “god” or “judge” so it can reference a heavenly figure or an earthly one, but essentially it represents a divine authority who is able to pass judgement over another person’s life. To be a judge was a sacred duty bestowed by God, not just a job description, and it had to be performed in strict line with the Word of God or else there would be eternal consequences similar to how God dealt with the fallen angels, who are sometimes described as princes in the Old Testament.

Taking a passage of the bible out of context is like walking up to a group of people who are mid-conversation and loudly interjecting; “I know, right? You just can’t trust rabbits.”

They’re likely to stare at you as though you have three heads and all three of them are stupid.

This assessment would be correct, and yet this is exactly how New Age teachers like Deepak Chopra and Progressive Christian teachers like Richard Rohr use the bible. This is such a paper-thin use of the text that it’s laughable to anyone who really knows the doctrine, but that’s kind of the point: they need you to just take their word for it and remain ignorant, rather than investigate the source material for yourself.

If you’re in doubt about the matter of whether we have our own divinity after this analysis of the text, it is worth keeping in mind that the Bible addresses the subject in multiple areas…

1 Corinthians 1:25 (NKJV) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 15:50 (NKJV) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit in-corruption.

Galatians 2:6 (NKJV) But from those who seemed to be something – whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favouritism to no man – for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.

Galatians 4:8-9 (NKJV) But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Isaiah 31:3 (NKJV) Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; And their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; They all will perish together.

So in short, human beings are finite flesh-and-blood and we cannot hope to compare ourselves to the epic and perfect standards of the true God. We’re puny, foolish creatures who’s deeds are corrupted and lame.

If a person’s measuring stick for wisdom, fallibility, great deeds and longevity is only human-sized, of course it’ll be woefully inadequate. As God points out to Job in chapter 38:31-33

Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,

Or loose the belt of Orion?

Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season?

Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?

Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?

Can you set their dominion over the earth?

Puts things in perspective a bit.

On a final note; it’s not that spiritual advisers who write about consciousness aren’t talking about some real phenomena in the process, but their theology is fundamentally flawed and the most dangerous thing is to mix a lie into the truth.

Take Richard Rohr for example: he’s an ordained Franciscan spreading Gnosticism when he’s been taught better. The title of one of his books is called “Falling Upwards” and for anyone who knows about the occult, it’s easy to recognise OBE or astral travel being referenced.

I can only hope that people figure out the parlour tricks before it’s too late.