I'm currently reading Humbler Faith, Bigger God: Finding a Story to Live By by Samuel Wells (Eerdmans 2022). Without mentioning Bonhoeffer, Wells makes almost the same argument. He compares the situation of the church today to that of First Temple Judaism after the calamity of 587 BCE. All of our theological certainties have been and trampled under foot. Once again we must discard the God who is FOR us, the one who puts the divine "seal of approval" on our foibles and fantasies for a God who is WITH us in our weakness and suffering.
In the same manner, we must be the face of God to the marginalized.
“…like the Eucharistic bread, we are consecrated in order to be broken and given to others. Like the Eucharistic wine, we are consecrated in order to be poured out for others. Consecration is always a community matter. It is an act of inclusiveness, expressing the all-inclusive love of God" (Margaret Silf, “Landmarks").
While I deeply resonate with Bonhoeffer, my concern is that this “radical availability” becomes a kind of liberal politicized Christianity. Somehow we need to find the way in which we walk along side the marginalized without thinking that we will overcome their marginalization with our crusading political action. I think of how the early church did this because it lived in an empire in which it was hopeless to hitch political power to its radical love.
I have thought something similar with the move away from Christianity in our country. I know very few people outside of my church who even think about God much in their daily lives. I believe God is breaking down the American church to reveal Himself more fully in its absence.
I'm currently reading Humbler Faith, Bigger God: Finding a Story to Live By by Samuel Wells (Eerdmans 2022). Without mentioning Bonhoeffer, Wells makes almost the same argument. He compares the situation of the church today to that of First Temple Judaism after the calamity of 587 BCE. All of our theological certainties have been and trampled under foot. Once again we must discard the God who is FOR us, the one who puts the divine "seal of approval" on our foibles and fantasies for a God who is WITH us in our weakness and suffering.
In the same manner, we must be the face of God to the marginalized.
“…like the Eucharistic bread, we are consecrated in order to be broken and given to others. Like the Eucharistic wine, we are consecrated in order to be poured out for others. Consecration is always a community matter. It is an act of inclusiveness, expressing the all-inclusive love of God" (Margaret Silf, “Landmarks").
While the gospel clearly points out that we are to care for the marginalized, "Blessed are the meek"... God too moves to the margins.
This reminds me of the Jesus that Peter had to deny in order to embrace the real One!
Thanks for this Dr. Beck
While I deeply resonate with Bonhoeffer, my concern is that this “radical availability” becomes a kind of liberal politicized Christianity. Somehow we need to find the way in which we walk along side the marginalized without thinking that we will overcome their marginalization with our crusading political action. I think of how the early church did this because it lived in an empire in which it was hopeless to hitch political power to its radical love.
I have thought something similar with the move away from Christianity in our country. I know very few people outside of my church who even think about God much in their daily lives. I believe God is breaking down the American church to reveal Himself more fully in its absence.