DStilled

Engaging Theology

October 25, 2007 on 2:29 am | In Blog |

Christians have been using imagery of light and darkness since the time of Jesus. Light is powerful because it shows what is hidden. It takes what is mysterious and makes it known. Light takes the shameful and unwanted and gives it a place to reside. The absence of light is gloomy, fearful, and a place where evil lives. Karl Barth emphatically illustrates that we cannot even know our own sin except in the light of Jesus Christ because Christ is the only light that illuminates sin. Sin loves to hide in the deep recesses of our souls and minds and God as Jesus is the only One who can enlighten us to that knowledge.

Barth believes fundamentally in the purpose and power of Jesus Christ. He understands that the idea of the Trinity is based around not God the Father, but God the Son. In Barth’s theology Jesus is the fulfillment of a purpose of God in that humankind is brought to salvation. This act not only demonstrates (His) power over sin and its consequences but also amplifies (His) glory though grace. Barth calls Jesus the second article (second revelation of God). “Indeed, the second article does not just follow the first, nor does it just precede the third; but it is the fountain of light by which the other two are lit.”

This “fountain of light” shows us not only does Jesus clarify our own lives but also is the clearest image of Who God is. Barth demands that we move beyond the three Person idea of God and grow toward a more unified image of the Holy One most authentically pictured in Jesus Christ. “From the unity of the Godhead God Himself comes forth in the form of a Son. Now God is this Other in God and proceeding from God.” Only after we realize that Jesus is the center of creation and the story God had in mind from the beginning can we come to grips with the idea that Jesus was not an afterthought. Jesus was not God’s idea of saving us after we messed up everything with our pungent sin. Jesus’ plan was the original plan before the creation of the world, sin, or you and me.

Jesus loves us more than comprehension allows. “He who from eternity willed to become man for our good, has become man in time for our good, will be and remain man in eternity for our good.” Sin and all of its destruction could not hide in the darkness for long. In fact, Barth would say that God knew it was there all along; it is only we who thought our sin was undisclosed. Sin is a very personal thing that we humans cling to. We need the brilliant light of Jesus to shine down into our crevasses to show us the error of our ways. Conscience and morality alone will not do it. “Only from the depths of all God has done for us can it be made clear that we find ourselves in misery.”

I agree with Barth’s theology about Jesus and sin in our lives. “Jesus Christ is man’s salvation in all circumstances an in face of all that darkens his life, including the evil that proceeds from himself. There is nothing that is not already made good in this happening, that God became man for our good.” The power of this thought enlivens me to the point of celebration! I believe that I am a sinful wretch that wallows in my own self-absorption and pride. I believe that God in the form of Jesus both illuminates my dark places and heals them for (His) glory. I believe that it is only through the Christ that I can know myself and know God.

How I will live my life theologically depends on who God is to me. This is true for anyone. I believe as Barth says, “This work of the Son of God includes the work of the Father as its presupposition and the work of the Holy Spirit as its consequence. The first article is to a certain extent the source, the third article is the goal of our path. But the second article is the Way upon which we find ourselves in faith.” It is on this Path that I will live my life. Not that I have already obtained my goal; but I leave the illuminated sin behind me and strive on toward the light of Jesus.

By the way, the 23rd was Garrett’s bday!  He turned 17.  Also yay for rain and my Dad’s Dad is moving in with my folks for a time down in Lexington.  He had some surgeries and needs outpatient care regularly at Cardinal Hill.  Also, I’ve never written more in one day than did on just on Wed (16 pages).