2/ what place is there for critiquing the theology of the Bible?
FOR, we get our theology FROM the Bible, so when it says something we don't like, at what point are we able to say, "no, that's not how God is," without
for example, Jonah:
now, i've always read Jonah 2 as a great poem, expressing noble truths about God's character.
UNTIL, that is, i heard it critiqued, saying that Jonah was an arrogant man, presuming upon God, he had NO right to pray as he did, to just ASSUME that God was gonnaget him out of the lurch.
3/ so then, what do we say when reading, for example Lamentations (c/f many Psalms), which wishes atrocities upon atrocities, upon their enemies and neighbours for their nonintervention?
i would like to say, "that's wrong, you should be wishing them mercy, just as you desire mercy from God," because this attitude isn't so much redeemed in Jesus as refuted.
indeed, neither does Paul agree with this view, in Romans 14:10-12;
Why do you pass judgment on your brother?
Or you, why do you despise your brother?
For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
for it is written,
As I live, says the Lord,
every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
it all seems very log-in-the-eye to me.
3 comments:
Mmm, not an easy question.
But I think it's an important point to have justice as well as mercy? I think it's more asking God to be just to those who have persecuted you? Yes, we shouldn't judge our brother, but seek God's justice and judgment for only he can see everything and into people's hearts. But at what place is legitimate legal recourse and appropriate punishment?
yeah that's right.
without a full understanding of justice, we wouldn't understand what it is to receive mercy.
but my point is, we know that justice is something we actually don't want for ourselves - we don't want to be judged according to our deeds, rather according to what Jesus has achieved on the cross (c/f Rev20:11-15)
thus, is it not a little hypocritical to wish justice on others, when that is far from what we wish for ourselves?
Yes I think so? Not sure. But I know that it is comforting to know that justice will come to those who fail to repent, especially for those who wrong us? But then again, it's the "I don't want them to be judged either, I want all to receive mercy" thing. hmmm
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