Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Finally Finishing “Why?” Chapters 22 & 23

Finally Finishing “Why?” Chapters 22 & 23

Last updated on: August 30, 2023 at 8:01 am by Roger E. Olson

0 Comments

Finally Finishing “Why?” Chapters 22 & 23 2023-08-30T08:01:45-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I apologize for letting this go so long. This is for you who have the book “Why? On Suffering, Guilt, and God” by A van de Beek (vdB).

Chapter 22 is “Participation with God.” There vdB embraces a somewhat relativist Christian ethic: “[n]o matter how far a given choice was beneath the standard of Jesus Christ, if there was no better choice, it was the correct choice.” (336) He ends with the claim that Christian ethics, with the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus Christ as the sole norm (critical principle) “In the proclamation of Jesus Christ the church and the world are continually placed under criticism. Wherever the Word opens up people are confronted with the judgment over their lives. By the absolute norm of the kingdom the judgment is always negative; people always fall short. By the relative norm of the kingdom-in-progress-of-realization, it is an exhortation to examine oneself and one another to see if our deeds are deeds of the Spirit of Christ.” (338)

I agree with everything in this chapter. Insofar as we do what vdB says, though, we pastors and theologians will always be unpopular—with many people who want only to have their ears “tickled.” Criticism is rarely really appreciated.

Chapter 22 is entitled “A New Heaven and a New Earth.” VdB argues that we Christ followers should expect that, on the way to the kingdom, “our way too [like Christ’s] will pass through suffering.” (341) Also, “Essentially we [Christians] do not belong to this aeon but to the aeon of him who died to this present aeon. Where amidst the suffering of the world people are conscious of this relationship to Christ, there the longing for glorification grows all the more. The saints say, ‘How long, O Lord’?” (341)

I judge that the best paragraph in this whole book is on page 346: “[t]he resurrection of Christ is the resurrection of the crucified, of him who identified with prostitutes and publicans, Samaritans, sinners and pagans. In Christ’s resurrection God placed himself on the side of sinners and pagans. Consequently, his kingdom bears the stamp of the forgiveness of sins and the acceptance of all. The new existence is ruled by forgiven guilt and broken-down walls of separation. Hence, the kingdom of God is the realm of freedom in which people may live without fear. For anxiety is not only the awareness of finitude; it is also the awareness of guilt. However, where guilt has been removed people may live together as brothers and sisters.”

Yes, vdB rejects any absolute teaching of “apokatastasis”—together with Barth, but also together with Barth he affirms that Christ guarantees forgiveness to all who want it.

Many people who have been reading “Why?” Have told me there are claims in the book with which they cannot agree but also that there are gems of theology in the book that have made them think and that have comforted them and challenged them. That’s what good theology does.

I think the last two chapters of “Why?” Form a perfect launching point into “The Upside Down Kingdom” which is our next book for discussion here.

*Note: If you choose to comment, make sure it is relatively brief (no more than 100 words), on topic, addressed to me, civil and respectful (not hostile or argumentative), and devoid of pictures or links.*

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 28, 2023

Announcing a New Book Discussion: The Upside Down Kingdom

Next Post

September 1, 2023 Is Orthodoxy a Necessary Feature of “Evangelical?”

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"I can only guess. Because Lewis did say that it is possible for a Christian ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Appendix: The ..."

"I forgot to mention the vulture. That adds an especially terrible dimension to the photo. ..."

Roger Olson

The Abolition of Man: Appendix: The ..."

"Recently You Tube fed me a video of RC apologist Jimmy Akin articulating the logic ..."

Lzo

The Abolition of Man: Appendix: The ..."

"The photojournalist later committed suicide. He did chase the vulture away after taking the photo ..."

Randall David Born

The Abolition of Man: Appendix: The ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I worked with a trowel in one hand and a weapon in the other, ready to build and fight. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The Priests The Tribe of Judah The builders The servants