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What is Resurrection (and why does it matter)?

harrowing
The Harrowing of Hell – an Easter icon

One of the books I read a bit of during Lent and in preparation for Easter was NT Wright’s book, “Simply Good News.” I’ve really appreciated Bishop Wright’s teachings and theology for some time as I find him a gifted teacher as well as an insightful theologian.

One of the things that Wright has stressed for some time (see “Surprised by Hope”) is what exactly is meant by “Resurrection” in the Gospels. This is an important issue for us today, as we have slipped, I believe, unknowingly into a type of pseudo-Gnosticism that thinks of ‘Resurrection’ solely in terms of the spiritual realm. Bishop Wright says,

“Nor is it the case that the resurrection of Jesus somehow proves something called life after death. Most first-century Jews believed, in any case, that God would look after them following their death.” (p.53)

Continue reading “What is Resurrection (and why does it matter)?”

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The Cross, suffering, and Shane Claiborne part 2

Jesus dies on the cross
Jesus dies on the cross

This is the second part of a two part response to a Shane Claiborne article titled, “Holy Week in an Unholy World,” that I saw a few times on my facebook timeline during Holy Week. The first part of my response highlighted where I strongly agreed with Shane and was thankful for his post. In this part of the response, I will share a critique I have and why I think it matters.

The pivotal line in Shane’s moving story of the grieving mother’s connection to the Good Friday Worship, was also the main theological point of his article (although to be fair, I would say the main thrust of his article was more about connecting our Christian story to where people are at in our world). Shane writes,

“Afterwards, one woman said to me: ‘I get it! I get it!’ I asked her what she meant. And then she said something more profound than anything I ever learned in seminary: ‘God understands pain. God knows how I feel. God watched his Son die too.’ Then I realized she was the mother of a nineteen-year-old who had just been murdered on our block. God understands our pain. That is good theology for Good Friday.”

Continue reading “The Cross, suffering, and Shane Claiborne part 2”

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The Cross, suffering, and Shane Claiborne part 1

crucifixionDuring Holy Week there was an article that was floating around my Facebook feed that was written by Shane Claiborne and after reading through it, I thought it might be helpful if I wrote out a couple of thoughts I had in reaction to it. The reason for my post is that there is a part of this piece I can strongly affirm and celebrate, but also another part I find very troublesome. So, I am going to break this piece into two sections, one dealing with an affirmation of what Shane was writing, and another where I want to offer a critique in order to help the four or five people who will actually read this.

You can find his article here.

For those who are not aware of Shane Claiborne’s work, he is a founding member of something called, “The Simple Way,” (a new Monastic community) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shane teaches and practices non-violence in following Christ, and from all I can tell, strives very hard to live consistently not only with what he teaches, but as to how he understands Christ has called us to live. One of the things I appreciate most about his work is the incarnational work he does in connecting with those on the margins of society. He strives to share Christ’s love especially with the outcast. But I would also say he shares the love of Christ with those on the ‘inside’ as well in his prophetic voice in which he challenges people to follow the call of Christ on their lives in living out a radical discipleship. I want to make sure to include these observations on Shane because I don’t particularly have an ax to grind with him, even if I would find myself on different sides of some issues with him. I do respect his integrity and faith. Continue reading “The Cross, suffering, and Shane Claiborne part 1”

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What is a Church Father and are you still talking about new creation?

Saint Athanasius
Saint Athanasius

Those of the Christian faith today stand on the shoulders of giants. God has gifted the church with brilliant theologians and defenders of the faith, whose work has not only stood the test of time, but has enlightened generations of the faithful. Some of these folks are known as “Church Fathers.” One of those church fathers is Athanasius of Alexandria.

Athanasius lived in the 4th Century (c.296-373) and was Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. During his time as the Bishop he was sent into exile on five different occasions due to various decisions from whichever emperor was in power at the time. He is best known, however, for his work during the Council of Nicaea which happened before he was even a bishop. He was a brilliant defender of the faith, and specifically the Trinity. Continue reading “What is a Church Father and are you still talking about new creation?”

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Easter and New Creation? What on Earth do you mean?

newlifeThis year for Easter season the sermons have the theme of new creation, which I emphasized on Easter Sunday. This may be a new thing for you and you may be wondering, “What on earth does he mean by this?” Or, “Why is he even making that connection?”

Well I’m glad you asked, hypothetical reader! This connection between the bodily resurrection of Jesus and the Judeo-Christian affirmation of creation is actually a bit of a passion of mine, and it tends to come out on Easter. I fear that in North American Christianity we too often slip unknowingly into a pseudo-Gnosticism. Please stay with me hypothetical reader, as I realize I may have drifted from muddled to cloudy, but this point is important. Gnosticism is an old false view of things that tends to see only the “spiritual” as good, while the physical is bad or evil (or disposable). It also tends to emphasize some secret or hidden knowledge as that which saves us – and gets us into the good “spiritual” realm. When we believe that the end result of the resurrection of Jesus is that we get to go off to heaven, we are engaging in what amounts to as Gnosticism. I am trying my best to make heresy punishable by stoning here at our church, but we have police officers in our congregation who are *really* sticklers about American law, so if this is your current view, consider yourself lucky.  Continue reading “Easter and New Creation? What on Earth do you mean?”

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Breathing and Forgiving part 2

forgiveIf you haven’t already read part 1 of this article from yesterday, check it out here.

Hopefully Jesus’ breathing on the disciples now makes a little more sense. This is an act of recreation. But I also wrote that it was an act of equipping the disciples as Jesus was sending them out. For what are they being equipped? First, I want to quickly flash back to the creation narratives again. Remember that humans were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and also we were given the responsibility to be stewards over creation. God put Adam in the garden to till and keep it (Genesis 2:15). It would make sense then, that this new creation that God has brought forth through Jesus Christ, that Christ has breathed life into, would also have some vocation in living out the image of God. I bring that up, because I believe that is what is going on in the forgiveness of sins that Jesus is passing on. Continue reading “Breathing and Forgiving part 2”