Christocentric

Christocentric is an adjective used in Christian theology and practice to describe an approach that places Jesus Christ at the center of faith, revelation, and life. It asserts that Jesus is the primary reference point for understanding God, salvation, Scripture, and ethical conduct.

In theology, Christocentric perspectives typically present Christ as the decisive revelation of God, the mediator of salvation, and the pattern for ethical action. In Christology, such frameworks often argue that all doctrinal claims and biblical narratives find their coherence in the person and work of Jesus.

In biblical interpretation, Christocentrism refers to reading Scripture in light of Christ, highlighting how Old Testament types and prophecies point to Jesus and how New Testament events are fulfilled in him. In preaching and teaching, Christocentric methods organize content around Christ, his life, death, resurrection, and ongoing presence.

In worship and spirituality, Christocentric practice centers prayers, hymns, and sacraments on Christ, emphasizing salvation by faith in him and discipleship modeled after him. In education and mission, it informs curricula and outreach with a focus on Christ as savior and lord.

The concept is commonly contrasted with other centering paradigms, such as theocentric or pneumatocentric approaches. While widely used across Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox contexts, some critics caution against overemphasizing Christ at the expense of other persons of the Trinity or ecclesial dimensions, advocating for a balanced, Trinitarian framework.