In this video, I consider how Alisa Childers adopts an idiosyncratic definition of “historic Christianity” that reduces the essentials to Paul’s creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7. Next, I point out how Childers attacks progressive Christians by claiming without evidence that “most” progressive Christians reject the core doctrine of substitutionary atonement.
atonement
Can violence ever serve a redemptive purpose?
Rene Girard was a literary critic and theologian who developed a very influential non-violent reading of the atonement. According to the penal substitution model of atonement, God the Father reconciles us to himself through the violent death of his innocent son who absorbs the divine wrath properly owing to us. In direct opposition to this […]
In Christ Alone and the Interesting Worship Wars
The term “Worship Wars” typically refers to a battle over musical styles: Hymns vs. choruses: drums and guitar vs. organ and choir, etc. I am not particularly interested in that debate. (You can see my attempt to contextualize it in this article.) To my mind, the far more interesting worship wars are those that are […]
God sacrificed himself to himself, blah blah blah
Here’s another retweet from Jeff Lowder at Secular Outpost. (And keep in mind that retweeting is not endorsing.) This one perfectly illustrates the problem I highlighted in my previous article “On Scientific (and Philosophical and Theological) Ignorance“: https://twitter.com/LindaBeatty/status/806997788768620548 This is one of the more persistent atheist memes that trade on bracing theological ignorance. Indeed, I […]
If Jesus had been sent to the gallows: On the felicitous outcome of attempted sacrilege
The other day a Twitter account called “Staunch Atheist” posted a cartoon which offered commentary on the Christian belief in crucifixion: Within the context of this particular twitter feed, the posting was presumably intended to offer an irreverent and subversive critique of Christianity, one which might offend the sensibilities of Christians. How ironic, then, that the effect […]
Jesus vs. the Volcano: How Christians disagree on atonement and why it matters
In “The depth of current atonement debates in a tweet” I noted one of the deepest divisions in current Christian debates on the atonement. Some Christians (advocates of penal substitution) believe that Jesus’ atoning death satisfies the wrath of the Father against sin, and thus that Jesus’ death provides the culmination and completion of the […]
The depth of current atonement debates in a tweet
Jesus died for our sins. On that much Christians agree. But ask what it means to say he died for our sins, and deep fissures of disagreement quickly emerge. If you ever want a capsule summary of how deeply entrenched the current debate is, you need look no further than this tweet from Brian Zahnd: According to Zahnd, the temple sacrificial system was […]
89. What did the cross achieve? Oliver Crisp on Atonement
In 1973 the great Reformed theologian J.I. Packer delivered a very influential Tyndale Lecture titled “What did the cross achieve? The logic of penal substitution.” In that address Packer eloquently summarized and defended a theory of atonement which has been so influential in the western church that many Christians have simply identified atonement with penal substitution. […]
Human value revisited: Could divine attachment contribute to human value?
In “Human value and the atonement: A Reply to Andy Bannister” I provided a critique of Bannister’s claim that human value is “determined by what God was willing to pay for you in the life of Jesus Christ, his Son.” I noted that my fifth and final objection was decisive: “Bannister’s theory seems to have […]
Another illustration of the deep problems with imputation theories of atonement
In the past I have pointed out the problems with the concept of guilt imputation upon which penal substitution depends. (See for example, “The Death of Jesus, the rape of a woman, and a concept called ‘Imputation’” and “A footnote on guilt imputation.”) The problem is that guilty is not transferable between parties. If Jones […]
A More Christlike God: A (very long and detailed) Review
Bradley Jersak. A More Christlike God, A More Beautiful Gospel. (Pasadena, CA: CWR Press, 2015). The back cover of Philip Yancey’s book What’s So Amazing About Grace? includes the following epigram: “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.” […]
70. Brad Jersak on a more Christlike God
In John 14:8 Philip the Apostle asked Jesus to reveal the Father. Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Think about that: God, the greatest mystery imaginable, is now available to us, and he looks […]
Easter and the Resurrection to Judgment
This morning at our Easter service the pastor quoted Frederick Buechner: “Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.” It’s a great quote which eloquently summarizes the Christian hope in resurrection. In other words, Christ as the firstfruits of resurrection provides the down-payment for that future resurrection that will embrace all God’s people. Thus, […]
The Wrath of God was Satisfied: A Passion Week Sermon
God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). But how, exactly? This is a great question to ask as we enter another Passion Week. In this sermon, originally delivered at Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church in Edmonton, AB, I discuss the penal substitution theory of atonement. According to this theory, the atonement consisted of […]
