(I originally published this 2+ years ago.  I am republishing it as part of my discussion of corporate sin and repentence.) Scapegoating and Othering  Othering is a process that we as individuals or groups use to separate someone from us, to draw barriers that mark them as different and exclude them. We usually other people for … Continue reading Corporate Sin, Corporate Repentance, pt 3: “Justice”

For the summary and evaluation of the ten theories, see my previous post. Now, having surveyed the ten theories and analyzed strengths and weaknesses, I conclude that we have six viable theories. They are: Christus victor General substitution Governmental Moral influence Participation The death of violence I don't think any of these views stands alone: … Continue reading Atonement, FINAL Pastoral Thoughts

In this series, I have examined ten different answers that theologians, including the Bible writers, including Jesus himself, have offered to the questions, "Why did Jesus die?  What was achieved by his death?" Here is a quick summary of the series, again in roughly chronological order of their proposal by theologians: Jesus' death as ransom (the … Continue reading Atonement, pt 9: Summary & General Evaluation

This is a thread posted on Twitter by Matt Emerson over the weekend.  I completely agree with his central point, even if I don't know the particulars of the arguments he mentions. Matt Emerson @M_Y_Emerson What if - just hear me out - it’s possible to affirm that we are each personally responsible for our … Continue reading Corporate Sin, Corporate Repentence, pt 2

I have finished the survey of atonement theories.  I will publish one final post tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday, summarizing the survey and making several pastoral recommendations. Until then, on to something new. Daniel 9 is an amazing text. The chapter centers on Daniel's prayer of repentance. What strikes me is how he repents for sin … Continue reading Corporate Sin, Corporate Repentance

Once again, I'm going to skip the boilerplate text and go directly to the theories of atonement. If you haven't been reading the series, you should go back to the sixth post to get oriented. This is the tenth theory of atonement.  I do not endorse this theory, as will be clear in my comments.  … Continue reading Atonement, pt 8

I'm going to skip the boilerplate text and go directly to the theories of atonement. If you haven't been reading the series, you should go back to the previous post to get oriented. These are theories eight and nine. EIGHTH is PARTICIPATION: Jesus’ death > burial > resurrection > ascension are together a single epoch-making event … Continue reading Atonement, pt 7

Why did Jesus die? What did his death achieve?  When we attempt to answer those questions, we are discussing “atonement”. These questions have spawned a great deal of discussion over the past 2,000 years. Different Bible writers, including Jesus himself (I call Jesus a “Bible writer” because he is the source of the material attributed … Continue reading Atonement, pt 6

The great Dan Reiland writes about the most overlooked quality of a good leader. "Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:24) You can see the balance: justice, righteousness and … Continue reading Reiland: “The Most Overlooked Quality”