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Readers rally around the cross
Allow me to commend you for publishing
‘Shack’s author stokes debate over the cross’ (April).
Professor Boersma’s comments were informative, interesting and
opportune.
The tone of his comments was also edifying. We do,
indeed, need to “bring humility to the table” when examining
diverse understandings of the scriptures.
I think about the warning Paul gave to the Corinthians:
that we should not expect, in this life, to attain perfect knowledge. We
may, however, live in love and communion with each other, if we so choose,
despite our differences of understanding.
Leslie Buck, Vancouver
The ‘Shack’ article by Jim Coggins turned
to the heart and core of the atonement.
Why did Christ become incarnate, and why the cross?
William Young’s missive, The Shack, pried open the debate; but Hans Boersma’s tome, Violence, Hospitality and the Cross: Reappropriating the
Atonement Tradition, walked the dialogue
to deeper and older historic depths. This is why Coggins lingered longer
with Boersma than anyone else.
Coggins also mentioned
Stricken by God?: Nonviolent Identification and the Victory of Christ. Many of the articles in Stricken
by God? are a response to what was seen as
some worrisome limitations in Boersma’s book.
The wisdom of Violence,
Hospitality and the Cross is that a
comprehensive and historic vision of the atonement is clearly articulated
and presented. The evangelical tradition has often slipped into a
reductionistic mode when notions of the atonement are discussed. This has
been a failing in such a heritage.
Coggins’ article never really does full credit
to either Boersma’s book or Stricken by
God? A variety of articles in the latter
book raise some serious questions. For example, is the atonement
about pacifism? I’m not so sure.
I contributed an article to Stricken by God?, and I have read
Boersma’s book a few times. It’s too bad Coggins did not enter
more deeply and critically into the dialogue.
The more the Christian community recovers the
comprehensive vision of the atonement, the grander will be the tale to yet
tell.
Ron Dart, Abbotsford
Posted on CanadianChristianity.com:
Thank you for this insightful explanation. I have
neighbours on both sides of me saying the opposite of each other as regards
The Shack.
You have done an excellent job of putting a human face
and language on a very deep religious quagmire.
Servant
This was an excellent and balanced explanation. I
always appreciate when multiple perspectives of an issue are presented. I
would also like to recommend Randal Rauser’s book, Finding God in The Shack. He is
professor of historical theology at Taylor Seminary.
Greg Bitgood
Thank you for bringing this issue to forefront. My
systematic theology professor brought this to my attention, because the
atonement theory was my final paper at seminary.
One question we need to answer is this: Is it
necessary for God to uphold his righteousness and holiness by insisting on
punishing all sinners with eternal separation from him? No question God punishes –
it is clear especially throughout the Hebrew scripture – but is the
motivation for God’s punishment different from the intent expressed
in Hebrew 12:1-9, and is it eternal?
Eddie Chu
If we spent half as much time learning how to love our
neighbour as ourself, do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God,
we’d be much better off.
Theology is man’s attempt to take control of
understanding the mystery of God. Get over it. We’re not all going to
be given exams when we get to heaven.
A. Martin
‘No God’ letters missed key point
I am somewhat troubled by the letters published under
the title ‘No God ads draw big response’ (April).
“There’s probably no God” is one of
the possible answers to the question “Is there a God?”
– a question straight from the heart of Greek philosophy, a
question which is not at all central to the writers of the Bible.
This question has shaped Western theology for
centuries. But has it really been a fruitful question? Has it not, often
enough, kept us preoccupied with theoretical arguments and
counterarguments, and kept us from doing what God asks us to do?
We sometimes glibly pronounce that “Jesus is the
answer” or “the Bible has all the answers.” Much more
important than having good and right answers is knowing what the important
questions are.
The emphasis in the Bible is on the God who calls
– not on the God who is, or isn’t. Even the pivotal story of
Moses’ encounter at the burning bush – where God identifies
Godself as “I am” or “I will be who I will be”
– is in the context of God’s call of Moses.
What is God calling us to be and do? That is the
question. The Bible does give us clear direction in the answer to that
question.
Rudiger Krause, Vancouver
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Canada’s purpose in Middle East
Afghanistan’s president has the difficult
choice of supporting Western standards for the equal treatment of women; or
the way of the Taliban, which includes rape within marriage, the burka, no
education, no employment without a husband’s consent.
If President Karzai is to be elected on democratic
principles, he must pass laws his electors favour, not laws of invading
armies.
What is the West doing in Afghanistan? Why are we
interfering in their internal politics? Aren’t the local people
intelligent enough to decide for themselves?
We have lost over 100 soldiers in the cause. The
Russians tried for 10 years and failed. Are we going to commit the same
foolishness for 10 years and then pull out in failure?
In almost every country where Islam has a majority,
laws are shaped by Islamic principles, like in Afghanistan. Is that a
surprise?
Canada would be better to invest its energy in
strengthening our way of life here in Canada, and seek peaceful means to
entice other countries to follow our noble lead – rather than force
them at the end of a barrel.
Ed Hoyer, Roxboro, PQ
In the light of the US government’s desire for
rapprochement with Iran, it is important that the Canadian government
stands up and protests Iran’s ongoing human rights abuses.
Last September, the Iranian parliament passed a
bill that would punish apostasy – Iranians converting from Islam to
other faiths – with death for men and life imprisonment for women.
The law is awaiting ratification by the Iran
government’s leaders. It is clear that the law mainly targets
Iranians who convert to Christianity, although it also prohibits conversion
to Bahaism.
Iranian Christians face often vicious persecution for
their faith in Iran, including death and imprisonment.
Canada has rightly protested a proposed law that would
make Afghan women legally subservient to their husbands.
It should tell the Iranian government that it must
respect its citizens’ religious and human rights.
Robert Anderson,
Osoyoos
Newsboys cover a dubious choice
I have a bit of friendly criticism.
I found the cover of the March BCCN, namely the large photo of the
Newsboys, to be rather off-putting – given the geographical and
denominational breadth of the paper, and the number of substantial articles
it typically includes concerning politics, culture, society, education,
etc.
The photo could have heralded a local event or issue of
greater importance.
People in our church [Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Catholic Church] would likely be disinterested in picking up the paper on
the basis of the prominence given to what would in our circles be
considered a matter of marginal significance. Surely Missions Fest, or the
inauguration of a new bishop for the Roman Catholic archdiocese of
Vancouver, or the provincial election were of greater import.
If one ofBCCN’s purposes is to stimulate thoughtful reflection on the
part of the local Christian community on the intersection of the life of
the church as a whole and our B.C. context, then communicating a greater
sense of gravitas would be desirable.
Brian Butcher, Langley
May 2009
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