Jesus and the Constructive “No” of Grace (Andrew Sung Park)

Last updated on: June 8, 2015 at 3:42 pm by Kyle Roberts

Jesus and the Constructive “No” of Grace (Andrew Sung Park) 2015-06-08T15:42:50-05:00 Kyle Roberts

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.

The following is an excerpt from Andrew Sung Park’s book, Triune Atonement. The section is titled, “Jesus’ Cross as the Symbol of Challenge”:

Jesus’ death is the complete expression of his challenge to religious oppression, social injustice, economic

Jesus Mafa

exploitation, violence, and killing. Matthew 23 shows how visceral Jesus was toward the Pharisees’ and scribes’ religious legalism and economic exploitation. Jesus emphatically denounced the fact that they tithed mint, dill, and cumin but neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith (23:23). He warned the scribes not to devour widows’ houses (Mark 12:40). Because of his ministry of social justice and confrontation, the religious leaders sought to get rid of him.

His life was a series of challenges to religious legalism, social custom, economic injustice, and political tyranny. His saying no to these reverberates from Galilee to every valley of the shadow of unequal treatment of human beings, domination, violence, and death. Such a voice of reistance continues in Martin Luther’s Nein to the Roman Catholic hierarchy, Martin Niemoller’s Nein to the Nazi regime, and Rosa Park’s no to the unjust rule of segregation.

Saying no may require risking one’s life. Jesus’ death showed the ultimate courage in throwing injustice out from the world. Jesus stuck out his neck to advance the reign of God by saying no to the injustices of the religious and political establishments. In this sense, Jesus crucifixion stands by our side when we say no to injustice.

There are two kinds of no. One is the cynical no that tears down one’s opponent, and is based on hatred. The other is the constructive no that tries to change the wrong of one’s opponent, and is based on care. Jesus’ confrontation is the symbol of the constructive no of grace. (46).

Previous Post

June 5, 2015

Does the Cross Sanction Violence? Reflecting on a Feminist Critique

Next Post

June 8, 2015 Tony Campolo: Another Evangelical Domino (for an Inclusive Church)?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2020 November 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 December 2018 July 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 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

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz