Finding meaning in the Cross and Resurrection

When an artist creates a painting, there is a deep, multi-layered expression.  When people look at art, we all find our own meaning in it.  The idea of looking for the "truth" or correct interpretation is an odd concept.

Of course, the artist might have been trying to express something, but will find joy in people connecting their own lives to his or her work.

In our scientific reductionist western world, we can often reduce things to a single meaning. Is love a beating heart, a well of emotion, a willing sacrifice, a feeling of desire, a flow of chemicals to certain parts of the brain... or might it be all the above?  Why must we always try to reduce things to only one meaning?

When I put bird food in my garden feeder, if people came to examine the action and debate what the meaning of my action was, what might they say?

He did it because he cares about vulnerable creatures, one will say.

No, he is bored and needed something to occupy his time, another will suggest.

Both wrong, says a third.  He is easing his guilt at the damage mankind has done to natural resources.

A fourth might suggest the answer is clear.  He finds a peace from watching nature from the comfort of his window.  He is luring nature towards himself.

And what of my children?  What will they learn about me as a father?  One might suggest this shows that a father with power and resources must care and provide for those who are weak, and motivate her to do likewise.  Another might say it reflects my gentle spirit and be reminded of my care for her.

These are very different ways of looking at the same event, while drawing different meanings from it.  The truth is multifaceted, and of course, someone might draw an incorrect conclusion.  However, it's also possible for multiple "truths" to be contained in the same event.

I was reading up on different models of atonement, and found all 7 fascinating.  However, as I was reading, I sensed an internal panic rising.  I had to find the "correct" view.  Which was closest to the truth?  How should I explain this to my children, other believers or an enquiring non-believer?

Was it the Moral Influence theory?  Ransom to satan or God?  Christus Victor?  Satisfaction theory?  Penal substitution?  Governmental?  Scapegoat?

Each can find supporting scripture.  Each has an army of theologians and authors able and seemingly willing to argue their case.

I found myself wondering, did God want me to have a clear opinion?  Did I need to understand the complex theology of the Cross and resurrection?  No doubt some theologians would tell me yes, as a "correct" understanding of the death and resurrection of Christ will guide me to know how to live my life in the best way.

And yet, at times there can be a theological paralysis that does more harm than good.  Spending too much time studying something can reduce our pleasure of enjoying it.  I know God loves all creation.  I know Jesus taught us how to love.  I know the Bible has stories, poems, pastoral letters and historical events that help me reflect upon God and his relationship with people and with me.  I know Jesus died on a cross, free from guilt.  I know Jesus overcame death.  I know Jesus promised his Holy Spirit as our guide and counsellor.  I know Jesus gave a commandment of love and summarised the Law and Prophets with the greatest commandments.

While reading the different models of atonement, I began to see how people across the ages would connect with different models and draw something beautiful from each.

In the Moral Influence theory, I find inspiration in how I live today.  Too often in my faith, I have focused extensively on heaven as a future place, while neglecting God's Kingdom in our midst today.  The moral influence aspect of the life of Jesus and the consequent explosion of Christianity across the globe following the resurrection and by the subsequent work of the Holy Spirit fills me with hope and energy to be part of that story and to partner with God in my prayer life and Christian walk.

Within the Ransom Theory, I see a God who is willing to pay any price to rescue me from a life of pain and suffering - a life without God.  At times I need reminded that there is someone who loves me so powerfully that he is willing to put himself on the line for me.

In Christus Victor, I am rescued from my fear of death.  Christ has conquered death!  In following him, I know that there is nothing that can separate me from the love of God.  No sin and no death can keep me from God's love!

I am aware that in my own focus, I am drawn to models that emphasise the love of God over the justice of God.  This is what drew me to faith in the first place.  When I saw the love and acceptance in the lives of Christians, I knew this was a community I wanted to be a part of.

However, I am also aware that there is a father whose son was murdered in a gangland crime.  I know there is a mother whose daughter was raped and killed by an unrepentant paedophile.  I know there are victims of war criminals who escaped justice and died in the comfort of their own homes surrounded by wealth.  How do these people respond when we tell them God loves and accepts the murderer and rapist of their loved ones?  These voices demand justice.  They demand repentance.  And for those people, I can understand that they need to believe in a system of justice.  A price to be paid, a genuine repentance of sin.  In my desire to move away from any model of penal substitution or satisfaction theory that addresses the issue of sin, as it can paint an angry God of wrath demanding sacrifice, might I be robbing the grieving victim of a sense of justice?  What God turns a blind eye to their pain?   Perhaps models like the scapegoating theory of a non-violent substitution for our natural violence is something important for people to hear?

As she approaches the cross, she sees a reminder that God has suffered with her.

As he approaches the cross, he knows God will not ignore his oppression and injustice.

As she approaches the cross, she knows no sin or failure on her behalf can ever stand between her and her God.  She knows her slate has been wiped clean.

As he approaches the cross, he is reminded that death is not the end.

As I approach the cross, I am reminded of the loathing humanity can show when the force of love encounters the greed of power and control, but the resurrection reminds me that love wins.

What do you see when you approach the cross?  What hope do you find in the resurrection?

Perhaps, rather than obsessing about a single correct truth (and fighting amongst ourselves about who is right), we need to find our own meaning in a much bigger truth than we will never truly be able to grasp in its fullness.   For myself, this might mean sacrificing my hunger for a perfect understanding of that cross, on that cross, that I might be free to love with all my heart, soul, mind and strength in the light of the resurrection.

Perhaps, rather than convincing others my view is correct, I need to help people find their own meaning within it, while being willing to share mine, as we journey that Road to Emmaus together, making sense of what happened that first Easter.  Then together we might encounter the living God, however limited and imperfect our theology.

(A helpful overview of models of atonement: http://www.sdmorrison.org/7-theories-of-the-atonement-summarized/)

Repentance

What comes to mind when you hear the word "repentance"?

The word originates from Latin and has a meaning of being sorry.  In a Christian context, this means being sorry for our sin and turning back to God.

But in a practical sense, what does this actually mean?  Paul says we all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).  As Christians, we continue to sin (usually unintentionally, but sometimes knowingly).  And yet, the Christian message is that if we have faith in Jesus, we will be saved.  There is no weighing of scales to compare our hearts to the weight of a feather.  There is no pass mark for our actions that allow a certain percentage of sins to get through.

When we give our lives to Jesus as his followers, we are told that God comes and makes his home in us (John 14).  The Holy Spirit comes into us and we become temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6).  A process of renewal begins and our lives start to transform.

Yet we continue to sin.  

The hypocrisy of many Christians is to present ourselves as sin-free.  Only when our sin is revealed publicly does our witness come crashing down about us as we are exposed as liars and hypocrites.  Nor does God want us to constantly look down in shame, unable to get out of bed in the morning because of our awareness of our fallen nature.

So what analogy would be useful to help understand what repentance truly means?  There is no perfect image, but the one I find helpful is as follows:

Our lives are like sailing a small boat on the sea.  When we go with the current, we find ourselves drifting away from God.  When we repent, we set our course back to God and we seek God's strength to help on that journey.  There is a lovely proverb that says "in his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

This proverb could be used to suggest that what we try to achieve is meaningless, as ultimately God decides what happens.  I prefer to read this as an affirmation of our relationship with God.  When we set our course to follow God (repenting of our previous course that is away from God) then God looks after the details and provides for our needs on the journey. 

As believers, we also travel in community, so other boats come alongside us and we share this journey together, helping one another.

The danger with some concepts of repentance is that they give an image of an angry God, waiting to punish us for every mistake we make along the way.  That is not the self sacrificing God who allowed his own son to die on a cross that we might be reunited with him for eternity. 

I hope this new metaphor helps some of you as you read this.  May the wind blow in your sails as we journey on a new course together. 

What was Jesus thinking?

As Christians, we are called.  Called to follow Jesus, the Son of God.

What does this mean, "to follow?"

I read it as a call to imitate his way of life - his love, his compassion, his mercy, his inclusiveness, his deep relationship with God the Father, his sacrificial love.

To me, this means we are called into an intimate relationship with God.  Many of us don't really appreciate what an intimate relationship is all about.  It means getting to know and allowing to be known.  As a human, this means the honesty of allowing God to see the real me, warts and all.

It means turning to God for advice on all kinds of issues, small and large.  It means reflecting on events, it means praying for loved ones (and we're called to love everyone).

It's wonderfully simple isn't it?

Or would be, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm a human being.  You see, as a human being, I do some daft things.  I burn korans.  I burn Bibles that are not the King James.  I picket funerals with anti-gay slogans.  I write hateful blog posts about other believers.  I preach from the pulpit about purity while returning home to my pornography addiction.  I proudly support some causes while using that as an excuse to walk away from those who need my love.  I always have my gun ready to shoot down any opposing views.  I abuse others over the centuries and claim it to be biblically justified.  I wrap up my anger and hate in the phrase "in Christian love".  I destroy my environment.  I try to denounce science.  I block safety measures that save thousands of lives.  I encourage suffering.  I... cannot believe what I am writing, and yet I see it everywhere in every form.

What was Jesus thinking in asking us to represent Him on this earth?

And yet as a human, I also show love.  I give of my time, talents and possessions to reach out to the needy in the world.  I open my home to the homeless.  I give a listening ear to the lonely.  I touch the leper.  I walk with the vulnerable through danger zones, knowing (praying) that they will not harm me, a white western woman.  I am the man who stands before the innocent to take their unjust pain.  I pause and listen and turn to see the child that no-one else sees.

And when I see this, I understand why Jesus calls us to follow Him.  We are called to fill our lives with Jesus, so that our lives will shine a light in dark places and show people there is hope.  And some of these dark places are within my own soul.

The temptation we as Christians face the most I believe is to retaliate against other Christians.  We do so in anger at what we believe to be a misrepresentation of our Lord.  Ironically, we are often attacked by others for the same.

And yet we wrestle with these words from Jesus:

"A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

There is no if, there is no but. It includes all our brothers and sisters. It isn't easy, but neither was going to the cross, and yet we follow Him.