A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life

A Weblog Dedicated to the Discussion of the Christian Faith and 21st Century Life
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I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe, –that unless I believed, I should not understand.-- St. Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)

Monday, February 01, 2016

Does the Atonement of Christ Still Make Sense Today?

Thanks to the Energion Discussion Network for publishing my thoughts on atonement:

Some have suggested that ancient theologies of atonement-- specifically theories that involve Jesus' death as a sacrifice or as a substitution, or as providing satisfaction to God-- no longer speak to the human situation in the twenty-first century and they, therefore should be disregarded in favor of understandings that speak to current sensibilities. And while I believe wholeheartedly that the significance of Jesus' work should speak to current concerns that by no means requires a rejection of the theological wisdom that we have inherited through the centuries. In other words, the meaning of Paul's words that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture" (1 Cor. 15:3) cannot be understood in the twenty-first century if we cannot understand its meaning in previous centuries. So do I believe that classical atonement theories speak to the human condition today? Yes, indeed they do. I offer several reasons in defense of my position.

I offer my reasons here.

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