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.
penal substitution
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
A vacuous defense of penal substitution
Today I was listening to the “Unbelievable” broadcast from this past Easter weekend in which Steve Jeffrey (co-author of Pierced for our Transgressions) and Alan Molineaux debated the penal substitution view (theory? metaphor? it wasn’t clear) of atonement. Halfway into the discussion Molineaux, who objected to penal substitution, centered in on one of the central […]
When is doxology theology? A response to Jerry Shepherd
In December-January I had some rather spirited exchanges in the blog with my colleague, Old Testament professor Jerry Shepherd. Then Jerry fell silent as the business of the semester took over once again. But now he’s back with some spirited comments in response to my article “What is the atonement at least? Lessons from the ascension“. […]
The End of Christianity? A Skeptical Review (Part 8)
In chapter 7 of The End of Christianity Ken Pulliam argues for “The Absurdity of the Atonement”. In fact, his essay is focused not on the atonement per se but rather on a penal substitutionary theory of atonement (henceforth PST). This is a crucial distinction to which I shall return. However, before continuing let me […]
The Death of Jesus, the rape of a woman, and a concept called “Imputation”
On Good Friday two billion Christians around the world turn their eyes to that mysterious event two thousand years ago when Jesus Christ died “for our sins”. It is a time for somber, pietistic reflection. But it is also a time to ask the hard theological question: what does that mean? Perhaps the most common explanation, at […]
