No matter how prepared we think we are, we are never quite prepared for the shock of resurrection. We must not domesticate the event. It is wild and untamed, unforeseen and unexpected. It casts its shadow (or better, light) on all that precedes it. Easter should always come as a surprise. Yet it is the only event that makes sense of all that Jesus taught. »more
1
No matter how prepared we think we are, we are never quite prepared for the shock of resurrection. We must not domesticate the event. It is wild and untamed, unforeseen and unexpected. It casts its shadow (or better, light) on all that precedes it. Easter should always come as a surprise. Yet it is the only event that makes sense of all that Jesus taught. »more
Humankind bears the "image of God." We are "mirrors of God" created to reflect God's glory. If this is true a follow-up question naturally arises: What's our problem? If we bear God's image, why is there so much darkness, both around and within us? Why don't we live up to our potential? What's gone wrong with God's image-bearer? »more
Though Mark's abrupt, awkward ending offers no closure and no happily-ever-afters, it still offers good news. Jesus is alive. All is forgiven. A new start is possible. Jesus goes before us. If we want to see him, we, like the disciples, must also renew our commitment to follow him. »more
What savior are we celebrating this Palm Sunday? Are we just as ethnicly focused, nationalistic, or violent in our desires? Do we, with our branches, herald the god of our nationalistic self-interests or the God who blesses all nations? the god of our military war machine or the God of peace? The god who blesses America or the God who blesses the world? »more
The first word of the gospel is joy: "Behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all people!" But, how can we rejoice during tough times? When the economy is in such desperate straits? When people continue to suffer war, injustice, hunger, violence, and cruelty? Somber times call for sobriety, not celebration - right? Doesn't God want us to be serious? »more
We dwell in a secular world, but we believe in a sacramental world - a world alive in God, created by God for God. The gospel will always clash with secularity. Reason is not the ultimate authority. Matter is not all that matters. And yet in spite of its extremes, secularity has much to commend it. We would do well to affirm its positives while critiquing its negatives. »more
The Bible's accurate portrayal of a good-but-flawed humanity clearly demonstrates that redemption comes not through human initiative but through divine faithfulness. The story of the Bible is the story of a God who is active in human history, bringing blessing in the midst of a fallen world. The good news begins in Genesis and climaxes in Christ! »more
One cannot imagine a greater nightmare than to be doomed to eternal existence as a reanimated corpse - a zombie. For many modern people, this is exactly what comes to mind when they initially consider the idea of bodily resurrection. They are, quite understandly, revolted at the prospect. But this is not resurrection from a biblical perspective... »more
It is from the cross – after six hours of public humiliation, mental anguish, emotional turmoil, and excruciating physical pain – that Jesus declares his victory: "It is finished!" This is certainly a strange victory revealed in a strange place and at a strange time. How could it possibly be that the Crucified One is triumphant – even victorious? »more
McLaren believes that the “real” Jesus has been domesticated, watered-down, and ignored by Western Christians. He invites us to embrace a new ideology rooted in Jesus’ kingdom vision. He believes that Jesus’ framing story will guide us to respect environmental limits, work for the common good, and seek peaceful reconciliation among competing factions. »more
The Eastern tradition has much to commend it. Because it begins with different questions, it has much to offer those willing to wrestle with its answers. In my opinion, we need both lungs of the church – the Western and the Eastern – in order to possess the fullness of the Christian tradition. The treasures of Orthodoxy are for all Christians. »more
The God of The Shack is not a generic God, but soundly Trinitarian. This allows the theology presented to be deeply relational, rooted in intratrinitarian love. As such, it provides some of the most profound reflections on God that I’ve come across in Christian fiction. Because the essence of God is love, God cannot act apart from love! »more
The problem with agnosticism is that it is empty of any real significance to human life. It is incapable of realization and can neither be embodied nor practiced. It offers an intangible solution to a very substantive problem. It attempts to avoid the unavoidable by abstention. But only a firm “yes” or “no” to the question of God has any real practical significance. »more
The church is "a people whose life together witnesses to God’s redemption of creation.” This is accomplished through the witness of worship and the work of God's kingdom in the world. No matter how much people deny it, no matter how difficult the task to create and sustain it, the church truly matters – to God and to the world. »more
We "live" in Holy Saturday - between Cross and final Resurrection. We experience times when we feel forsaken, when we cry out “Why?” We know the heartbreak of hopelessness, the empty void that seems to stretch forever. And yet, we look forward with hope to the “impossible possibility” – the absolute surprise of grace that is resurrection. »more
In conservative circles, the story of Jesus turning the water into wine never fails to raise eyebrows. They cannot quite grasp why Jesus would actually keep the party going – especially by bringing more wine… lots of it! You can almost hear their conscience pleading, “Jesus, please turn it back to water before someone gets hurt. Or, even worse… drunk!” »more
Results tagged “Gospel”
No matter how prepared we think we are, we are never quite prepared for the shock of resurrection. We must not domesticate the event. It is wild and untamed, unforeseen and unexpected. It casts its shadow (or better, light) on all that precedes it. Easter should always come as a surprise. Yet it is the only event that makes sense of all that Jesus taught. »more
Humankind bears the "image of God." We are "mirrors of God" created to reflect God's glory. If this is true a follow-up question naturally arises: What's our problem? If we bear God's image, why is there so much darkness, both around and within us? Why don't we live up to our potential? What's gone wrong with God's image-bearer? »more
Though Mark's abrupt, awkward ending offers no closure and no happily-ever-afters, it still offers good news. Jesus is alive. All is forgiven. A new start is possible. Jesus goes before us. If we want to see him, we, like the disciples, must also renew our commitment to follow him. »more
What savior are we celebrating this Palm Sunday? Are we just as ethnicly focused, nationalistic, or violent in our desires? Do we, with our branches, herald the god of our nationalistic self-interests or the God who blesses all nations? the god of our military war machine or the God of peace? The god who blesses America or the God who blesses the world? »more
The first word of the gospel is joy: "Behold, I bring you good news of great joy for all people!" But, how can we rejoice during tough times? When the economy is in such desperate straits? When people continue to suffer war, injustice, hunger, violence, and cruelty? Somber times call for sobriety, not celebration - right? Doesn't God want us to be serious? »more
We dwell in a secular world, but we believe in a sacramental world - a world alive in God, created by God for God. The gospel will always clash with secularity. Reason is not the ultimate authority. Matter is not all that matters. And yet in spite of its extremes, secularity has much to commend it. We would do well to affirm its positives while critiquing its negatives. »more
The Bible's accurate portrayal of a good-but-flawed humanity clearly demonstrates that redemption comes not through human initiative but through divine faithfulness. The story of the Bible is the story of a God who is active in human history, bringing blessing in the midst of a fallen world. The good news begins in Genesis and climaxes in Christ! »more
One cannot imagine a greater nightmare than to be doomed to eternal existence as a reanimated corpse - a zombie. For many modern people, this is exactly what comes to mind when they initially consider the idea of bodily resurrection. They are, quite understandly, revolted at the prospect. But this is not resurrection from a biblical perspective... »more
It is from the cross – after six hours of public humiliation, mental anguish, emotional turmoil, and excruciating physical pain – that Jesus declares his victory: "It is finished!" This is certainly a strange victory revealed in a strange place and at a strange time. How could it possibly be that the Crucified One is triumphant – even victorious? »more
McLaren believes that the “real” Jesus has been domesticated, watered-down, and ignored by Western Christians. He invites us to embrace a new ideology rooted in Jesus’ kingdom vision. He believes that Jesus’ framing story will guide us to respect environmental limits, work for the common good, and seek peaceful reconciliation among competing factions. »more
The Eastern tradition has much to commend it. Because it begins with different questions, it has much to offer those willing to wrestle with its answers. In my opinion, we need both lungs of the church – the Western and the Eastern – in order to possess the fullness of the Christian tradition. The treasures of Orthodoxy are for all Christians. »more
The God of The Shack is not a generic God, but soundly Trinitarian. This allows the theology presented to be deeply relational, rooted in intratrinitarian love. As such, it provides some of the most profound reflections on God that I’ve come across in Christian fiction. Because the essence of God is love, God cannot act apart from love! »more
The problem with agnosticism is that it is empty of any real significance to human life. It is incapable of realization and can neither be embodied nor practiced. It offers an intangible solution to a very substantive problem. It attempts to avoid the unavoidable by abstention. But only a firm “yes” or “no” to the question of God has any real practical significance. »more
The church is "a people whose life together witnesses to God’s redemption of creation.” This is accomplished through the witness of worship and the work of God's kingdom in the world. No matter how much people deny it, no matter how difficult the task to create and sustain it, the church truly matters – to God and to the world. »more
We "live" in Holy Saturday - between Cross and final Resurrection. We experience times when we feel forsaken, when we cry out “Why?” We know the heartbreak of hopelessness, the empty void that seems to stretch forever. And yet, we look forward with hope to the “impossible possibility” – the absolute surprise of grace that is resurrection. »more
In conservative circles, the story of Jesus turning the water into wine never fails to raise eyebrows. They cannot quite grasp why Jesus would actually keep the party going – especially by bringing more wine… lots of it! You can almost hear their conscience pleading, “Jesus, please turn it back to water before someone gets hurt. Or, even worse… drunk!” »more
The truth is that we are objects of God’s chase. We are being furiously pursued by none other than the living God. We no longer have to feverishly fight to maintain perfect faith. Instead, we can
rest in God’s faithfulness. »more
