"There has been only one Christian and he died on the Cross." -Nietzsche

"The word 'Christianity' is already a misunderstanding - in reality, there has been only one Christian and he died on the Cross." - Friedrich Nietzsche

As the Lenten season begins today, with the imposition of ashes on our foreheads as a mark of our returning to God this solemn Wednesday, these words by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche are but timely and relevant for all of us to reflect and ponder on. As usual, these words of Nietzsche are as controversial and provocative as his infamous and oft-quoted statement "God is Dead." Here, in this statement, the German thinker proclaims that despite all the evangelization and baptisms that happened through the centuries, there can be only one person, one figure who can be rightfully called Christian and that person is no less than Jesus Christ himself.

And in this sense, the philosopher who has been known for his criticism of Christianity and organized religion is somehow right.

If we are really going to reflect on the very life of Christ, we would then come to realize that indeed, he is the only one who can do such act, such ultimate sacrifice. However, this is not to say that all the good Christians, saints and repentant sinners who suffered in Christ's name died in vain. Rather, I would like to believe that they who are now also in heaven in union with Christ will also agree to Nietzsche's statement that the Lord Jesus himself is the one and only Christian who ever walked in this world because they know that their God died for them and without Him leading this way, they might not have been able also to understand the meaning of sacrifice, suffering and unconditional love as shown by Christ himself.

As such, Nietzsche's statement that "there has been only one Christian" is not just merely an attack on Christ's followers but rather, it is a challenge that we must be able to respond to by showing that we are truly deserving  to carry and bear this label and identity of being Christians. Yes, Nietzsche maybe right in saying that "there has been only one Christian" but as we know it, the Lord Jesus, who is full of goodness and who is goodness himself, does not want himself to be the only one Christian in history, rather, He wants us all to follow Him in His footsteps. After all, the reason why He created us is that He wanted to share his love and being with us and that He came down here and died for us so that too may become like Christ, like God. 

And this is something that we should bear in mind as we observe the Lenten season again this year: Though we are truly undeserving to be Christians, we are still called to become Christians, not just in name but in deed and in works.

(The image of the Crucified Christ is taken from http://peacebk.blogspot.com/2011/08/was-jesus-christ-really-crucified.html)