Christ, the Lord

 

We get milk delivered to our doorstep, but sometimes, as happened yesterday, I have to pop out for extra. As I approached the till, the cashier said, ‘Christ, it’s cold.’ and then, in panic at what is or isn’t appropriate language in front of a vicar, ‘But the forecast is that it is about to get warmer. Thank the Lord.’

Am I a bad vicar for finding their response hilarious? Perhaps. But Jesus, whom Christians call the Christ or Anointed One, lived on the eastern end of the Mediterranean. I think he would respond to ‘Christ, it’s cold.’ with, ‘It certainly is!’ And while I am not especially keen on his name being used as an exclamatory, I am far more offended by those who co-opt his name to their political attempts to exercise control over the lives, bodies and relationships of other people. The only control that is the fruit of the Spirit – the only control God exercises – is self-control.