On Atonement
A lesser known treasure of the Louvre.
In this months Herald, Tim Geddert writes an article on atonement, specifically addressing some of the discussions/arguments that have been popping up in the MB world as of late. In the article he gives a bit of clarity as to some of the different atonement theories floating about as well as some much needed perspective - like that it is unhelpful to call people who don’t agree with your perspective heretics (imagine that!). I also appreciated this perspective inducing quote: The Bible majors on images, symbols, and narratives while we split hairs over philosophical concepts and formulas. Well said indeed.
But with this dose of perspective he does not simply dismiss the issue. Rather, Tim Geddert explains where the obstacles to consensus are coming from and challenges some major assumptions. I found it a very helpful article in providing some context to other discussions I’ve been reading over the past few months.
If I were to throw my two cents in, there are a few pitfalls I could see in some of the discussions on atonement, or perhaps these may be more a throwback to how I was taught about salvation in my younger years. I suppose that one of the worst ways to talk about atonement is to somehow attribute suffering and death as being key agents in the salvation of humanity, that somehow God is complicit or even an instigator in the suffering of Christ. The whole point of the death and resurrection of Christ is the defeat of death, and I don’t think many are actually promoting that God is a bloodthirsty diety, though sometimes the language employed may unintentionally point in this direction.
Another point, though not right away obviously connected to atonement (but has been important in my own understanding), is the concept of God’s justice as forgiveness. The way some speak of atonement it would seem that God’s justice and his mercy are opposed – that there is some kind of internal dilemma. Seeing God’s justice and mercy as part of the same story has been helpful for me. The entire narrative of Christ’s life, death and resurrection must be read as one cohesive picture of God’s justice, which is forgiveness. This is the ultimate defeat the powers of darkness and death – to forgive.
The way I’ve best read atonement described is through the lens of the Trinity – that it is the way God moves in dynamism within the three persons… the Son gives up all to the Father and Father in turn gives back infinitely spilling over to us, inviting us into the love relationship of gift and response… just as in Article 5 of the MB Confession of Faith, it states: “God’s love is fully demonstrated in the life death and resurrection of Christ.”
Labels: atonement, forgiveness, justice, MB Herald, trinity
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