A Response to Deconstruction – Lazar Puhalo
Many Christian theorists believe that humanity is a collection of Karl Capek's Robots, or mechanical robots, empty and waiting for the right programmer. The inner strength that man finds within himself is there because he is created in the image and likeness of God.
Part of a response to deconstruction is not to see weakness in the person but to recognise an inner strength in the one who has the courage to undertake the deconstruction, and surmise that they have the same strength to rebuild. They do not need reprogramming but someone to walk with them with integrity, respecting their integrity, not seeing them as yielding to inner weakness but giving them credit with having the inner strength to rebuild a more certain and firm structure on the foundation of Christ without having pressure to include the rejected building material (which would compromise the integrity of the rebuilding) and hinder an honest rediscovery of Christ.
A recognition that if Jesus is not Christ, he may be only an emotional affectation. "Jesus" by itself is an emotional slogan, Jesus has meaning because he is Christ. The Incarnation can be an emotional slogan without a meaningful non-juridical reason for it. The juridical understanding is one driver of deconstruction. Redemption from alienation rather than saving man from the Father's wrath is a necessary understanding. Man is the prodigal son to whom God lovingly sent a rescuer rather than passively (and angrily) waiting for our return and penance. Walking with one who is going through the often traumatic process of “deconstruction” with self-recognition rather than some maudlin and often condescending “compassion” is appropriate.
Coming to Oneself – Matthew and Joy Steem
I have a confession to make: the story of the prodigal son has long been one of those tales that has been a little lost in translation for me. A young son asks his dad for some money, squanders the money in disreputable company, then goes home. His dad embraces him...
Taking Hamlet to Prison – Matthew and Joy Steem
I lived in a penitentiary city for a time. When I am feeling particularly mischievous I will introduce this information to people with a feigned sense of discomfort, averting my eyes and speaking quietly and quickly. It’s my own little micro social experiment to see...
A Sacramental Approach to Ecology – Symposium
DRAFT PROGRAM for discussion purposes only in advance of the event DRAFT PROGRAM for the Saturday (Oct 7) in Northwest Auditorium: Note that we have left room on the afternoon panels for interested faculty from GENV and PHIL to participate on the roundtables “A...
Theological Existence Today: Identity Politics and the Gospel – by Michael Hardin
The thesis of this essay that Progressive/Liberal Protestant[1] ‘Christians’ must eschew all retaliatory violence if they claim Jesus as Lord, applies mutatis mutandis to the Evangelical tradition.
Response to Derek Rishmawy’s Review of Zahnd’s “Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God” by Matt Larimer
As a father of seven, a full-time minister, and a part-time farmer I have to work very hard at finding time to read. I hesitantly put down my copy of Ephraim Radner's Brutal Unity, in order to read Brian Zahnd’s Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God. I say...
Prophetic Witness and Revolutionary Submission (Rom 13 / Psalm 2) – Bob Ekblad
Prophetic Witness of Christians before the State The prophetic witness of Christians before the State has too often been muted by a surface reading of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 13:1-7, with its infamous “Every person is to be in subjection to the...
Brad Jersak review of David Bentley Hart’s New Testament
Review of Donald Mackinnon’s ‘Kenotic Ecclesiology’ – by Ron Dart
Kenotic Ecclesiology: Select Writings of Donald M. Mackinnon. John C. McDowell, Scott A. Kirkland, Ashley John Moyse (editors), Rowan Williams (foreword). Fortress Press, 2016. There has been a desperate and much delayed need to read and inwardly digest the poignant...
Unequivocal Christian Response to Evil: 2 Principles, 3 Examples – Brad Jersak
TWO PRINCIPLES Principle 1 - "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20) Call evil what it is. It is evil. It is darkness. It is...
The Prophetic Critique of Sacrifice – Matthew Lynch
Francesco Hayez - "Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem" - 1827 There’s a story I’ve often heard told about Old Testament prophets. I don’t think it’s true, but here’s how it goes. God apparently gave Israel a sacrificial system. He asked for obedience. He...
