FROM THE PASTOR
LUTHERAN THEOLOGY IS A THEOLOGY OF THE CROSS
(AS AGAINST A THEOLOGY OF GLORY)
Is this stuff really important? How would/does this affect my everyday life?
Well, ask yourself this, how important is Jesus to me? How important is Christmas and Easter? How important is life now and life after we die?! How are you justified? By your good behavior? Impossible! Who is your confidence in? Ok. So, it is an everyday issue.
Two things in this month’s devotion: (1). Some indications of a theology of the cross, and (2). Some indications of a theology of glory and what it all means. The following is by no means exhaustive:
Indications of a Theology of the Cross
Focuses on Jesus alone
Is compassionate about the weak and struggling
Relies on God’s promise, the assurance on the living and active word of God
Focus on community, rather than personalities
Emphasises faith, followed by good deeds
Focus on confession, forgiveness and personal growth
Recognises an invisible, humble and quiet expression of faith
Sees God at work in suffering
Tends to avoid worldly standards of success and techniques
Focus on the grace and power of God
Indications of a Theology of Glory
Seeks proof by answered prayer; proof by miracles
Seeks public and visible signs, e.g., glory in numbers, and size
Reliance on experience and feelings
Tends to devalue the inept, those who struggle; focus on power
As above – downgrades the weak
Excessive trust in popular leaders, desires perfection; focus on human response
Sets degrees of faith; tends to use worldly standards of success
Emphasis on a special, or emotional experience (an outward sign of an inward faith).
A theology of the cross sees God in suffering. On the cross, God suffers because of human sin and evil. In the cross, God overcomes sin, death, and the power evil. A theology of the cross demonstrates the world sick and helpless, and God in Christ identifies with human suffering. To paraphrase Dieterich Bonhoeffer, “God seen in suffering is a total reversal of how humans expect God to act”. Those who have experienced forgiveness and salvation through the cross of Christ, will take that forgiveness and good news into the world.
We Pray For:
† The ministry of word and sacrament.
† All involved in Bible translation.
† Literacy workers, enabling people to read the word.
† Christian publishing, multi-media, TV and radio.
† Those who are doubting, fearful, weak-willed or guilt-ridden.
† Those who care for the very old and the very young.
Well, ask yourself this, how important is Jesus to me? How important is Christmas and Easter? How important is life now and life after we die?! How are you justified? By your good behavior? Impossible! Who is your confidence in? Ok. So, it is an everyday issue.
Two things in this month’s devotion: (1). Some indications of a theology of the cross, and (2). Some indications of a theology of glory and what it all means. The following is by no means exhaustive:
Indications of a Theology of the Cross
Focuses on Jesus alone
Is compassionate about the weak and struggling
Relies on God’s promise, the assurance on the living and active word of God
Focus on community, rather than personalities
Emphasises faith, followed by good deeds
Focus on confession, forgiveness and personal growth
Recognises an invisible, humble and quiet expression of faith
Sees God at work in suffering
Tends to avoid worldly standards of success and techniques
Focus on the grace and power of God
Indications of a Theology of Glory
Seeks proof by answered prayer; proof by miracles
Seeks public and visible signs, e.g., glory in numbers, and size
Reliance on experience and feelings
Tends to devalue the inept, those who struggle; focus on power
As above – downgrades the weak
Excessive trust in popular leaders, desires perfection; focus on human response
Sets degrees of faith; tends to use worldly standards of success
Emphasis on a special, or emotional experience (an outward sign of an inward faith).
A theology of the cross sees God in suffering. On the cross, God suffers because of human sin and evil. In the cross, God overcomes sin, death, and the power evil. A theology of the cross demonstrates the world sick and helpless, and God in Christ identifies with human suffering. To paraphrase Dieterich Bonhoeffer, “God seen in suffering is a total reversal of how humans expect God to act”. Those who have experienced forgiveness and salvation through the cross of Christ, will take that forgiveness and good news into the world.
We Pray For:
† The ministry of word and sacrament.
† All involved in Bible translation.
† Literacy workers, enabling people to read the word.
† Christian publishing, multi-media, TV and radio.
† Those who are doubting, fearful, weak-willed or guilt-ridden.
† Those who care for the very old and the very young.