Better late then never. Prior to Christmas Garret requested some thoughts on Mary’s Magnificat. Now, post Christmas, I finally find myself having some time to respond.
The text, Luke 1:46-55 (NIV):
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
Amid all the business of the Christmas season I find it easy to forget what it really means (cliché I know), but reflecting upon the opening section of Luke I find something tangible. Beyond all the sermons filled with theology about the incarnation, the miraculous, and the look forward to Jesus’ death, I find the story of one who shook things up from the very beginning.
Jesus was to be the ultimate subversion, completely reversing all the structures and norms of life. The humble are lifted up, the rich are sent away empty, such is the beginning we celebrate. It is a challenge to the empire, and therefore it is a challenge to you and me. Here is an excerpt from my work on empire in the Luke-Acts narrative:
“The thrust of Luke’s anti-imperial rhetoric continues as he uses the word “salvation”. God as saviour (1:47) in Mary’s song is a counter claim to that of Caesar, as Caesar was saviour to the barbarians the Empire conquered. The horn (power) of salvation coming through the line of David (1:69) continues this direct political challenge. This salvation is characterized as a tangible deliverance from enemies (1:71), nullifying any rebuttal that this use of “salvation” does not affect the Roman Empire, as Rome was understood as enemies of the Jews. This salvation through deliverance is told to be a path of peace (1:79), a direct rhetoric challenge to the Pax Romana the Empire enforced.”
This makes me excited. It pulls me into the story Jesus lived to tell. It is s story of alternative modes of living; a story of an alternative worldview. The birth of Jesus is the initiation of the freedom to think of a world not constrained by those in power.
Mary’s song is a foreshadowing of what Jesus would say about himself.
Luke 4:18-19
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus freely shook up the status quo. As followers, we have been given the fullness of life, the fullness of freedom to subvert, to think, to encounter one another in ways that the powers of the world oppress. In this beginning, there is the opportunity to once again challenge everything.
Now as we approach the end of one year, and look forward to another (possibly the end of the world! Ya 2012), I am challenged to realign myself with a paradoxical worldview. I hope you are challenged to do the same.
This isn't related but I thought it was worth a comment because Ive been reading through this blog and noticed a lot on suffering:
ReplyDelete“A just and merciful God chose a measured punishment for the first human sin: Suffering. Had God meted out the full and immediate punishment the first humans would have died on the spot.( Romans 6:23) In that case there would be no history – no human history at all… Randy Alcon
I don’t want to make light of people’s hurts but allowing suffering in this world is God’s mercy on you and me. If God took out his full right to punish those who have hurt you, they would be dead because thats whats God demands at payment. Just a thought – if there was no human suffering – would we sin more or less? Would you keep cheating if there was no cosequences?
Thank you for the hopeful challenge Silas.
ReplyDeleteI wonder Dan, how the idea of suffering as God's mercy helps you deal with the agonies of life because I find no help in that idea.
Though you say "I don’t want to make light of people’s hurts..." I feel diminished when my experience is compared to the death that I deserve or to the suffering of others.
Do you mean to imply that my hurts should not be as I describe them due to the fact that I have not received my punishment in full? Do you mean to imply that no matter what we live, no matter how traumatizing, and no matter how mentally unstable we become as a result, suffering is not worth our attention because it is less than the death that we deserve?
I am glad that the majority of our blog posts deal with suffering, because suffering is an undeniable part of every person's existence and we need to learn how to press on with one another.
As you have noticed, there is much lament in this blog. Perhaps we do not lament well. We do not always end our posts as the psalms end with a song of thanksgiving. Perhaps you have noticed that we do not always emphasize our cup of suffering and our cup of joy equally and perhaps this is what has inspired your joyful pushback.
Although the existence of suffering in the world may be a by-product of the mercy God has exercised, I do not believe that he delights in our suffering. I do not believe that a life of suffering is God's idea of life to the full. I believe that God laments when his people suffer. And I believe that suffering needs to be shared.
Beautifully stated Danielle, I completely agree. Life without a thorough grappling of suffering would be a life lived in veneer. Facade pushes us away from each other, ourselves, and God. I have lived a two-faced life, and I have absolutely no desire to return to it. I find solace in knowing my suffering is being heard and responded to, by friends, by family, and even by the intertubes. We celebrate when it is appropriate, but celebration is only true when its antithesis is equally acknowledged. So I will continue to assert and lament, and I look forward to the days when others and God yield. There is relationship, there is life, and on the good days I will unabashedly celebrate.
ReplyDeleteOn another note. Theology/religion/relationships need to be functional or they are false. I find that such totalizing statements as "be happy you are not dead because that is what you deserve" to be completely irrelevant. There have been times when I have wished death. Death is final, in some ways it is simple in its finality. Such theologies that exist in some abstract sphere are incomprehensible, impractical, and altogether unhelpful in their failure to be functional in my life. As my pastor used to always say, "it is where the rubber hits the road". That is where good theology is done, that is hopefully where this Blog pushes people.
:)
ReplyDeleteDanielle, Suffering is... a big deal a really big deal..... a really, really really, really, really big deal. and you never did answer my question. Would the world be a better place if people do what they want with no neqavtive impact? I mean
Im reading, "If God is Good" By Randy Alcron. Im reading it because suffering is a big deal, Im reading because as Randy Alcorn stated Suffering is not a question its THE question. Atheists aren't atheists because of science- the are athiests because they can't believe in a good all powerful God who would allow suffering and evil.
You imply too much. You imply that I am asuming suffering is trival. Your presumptions scream out in your post to the point where you have written an entire theology into my post where none of that existed. As Im sitting in my chair reading your comments - the tone - or way you've chosen to articulate your thoughts communicates hurt, bitterness, and a hint of passive aggressiveness. You presumption that I make like of suffering or I have not experienced suffering is telling. I Between my wife and I we've dealt with an abusive family, mental health issues, been out of the family - sexual abuse, death due to cancer, Father became a drug addict lost his house. We've been jobless, homeless, and falsely accused of wrong doing. We've suffered. We've experienced suffering. As Pastor two years ago I witnessed a man in his 30's contract a tumor the size of his fist. The doctors removed it only for it grow back to its original size within a week. He had a wife and two little kids. I know you've experienced suffering so phehaps you can relate when I tell you how heart breaking it is to be the pastor sitting in the office praying for him while he spitting angry at God. I deal with people's suffering on a daily basis. So when I speak of suffering, please listen without your preconceived ideas that because I hold a more traditional Christian I am happy go lucky or be happy your not dead.
Randy Alcorn Writes
"A faith that leaves us unprepared for suffering is a false faith that deserves to be lost A lot of bad theology surfaces when we face suffering... When people lose faith beacuase of suffering it's usually a weak or nominal faith that doesn't account for or prepare them for evil and suffering I believe any faith not based on truth needs to be lost The sooner the better. Beleving God exists is not the same as trusting the God who exists A nominal Christian often discovers in suffering that his/her faith has been in his church, denomination or family tradition, but not in in Christ. As he faces suffering he may lose faith. But that actually a good thing. I have sympthaphy for people who lose faith, but any faith lost in suffering wasn't a faith worth keeping. If you base your faith on lack of affliction your faith lives on the brink of extinction and will fall apart.
Suffering and evil exert a force that either pushes us away from God or pulls toward him. If personal sufferings gives sufficient evidence that God doesn't exist then surely I shouldn't wait until I SUFFER to conclude he's a myth.....
Losing your faith may God's gift to you."
I know you haven't "lost your faith" but I know you don't trust him because of what you've seen on the mission field.
So in one sense I am really happy you're going through this, but in another I am worried for you. I'm worried for you because the way you articuale yourself sometimes makes me think that you're so hurt by what you experienced that there will never be an answer good enough for you to reconcile the idea of an all powerful all knowing God who is good. Its not that you have to reach that conclusion I just don't think you're willing to. why else would you
ReplyDeleteDo you mean to imply that my hurts should not be as I describe them due to the fact that I have not received my punishment in full? Do you mean to imply that no matter what we live, no matter how traumatizing, and no matter how mentally unstable we become as a result, suffering is not worth our attention because it is less than the death that we deserve?
I never said any of that, this blog in intended for theological debate - if thats true you need to thoughtly consider what I said instead of reading your hurt into what I said. I love this blog, I like the ideas presented here. but honestly every idea in this blog about suffering , even mine are cliche, they been around for hundreds if not thousdands of years.
I really think your issue with God is more relational than theological. If it were purely theological you'd be willing to give equal weight equal face time for "the other side" of the issue but your post do not. and because of that I don't think you'll accept any theology that "traditional/evangelical/reformed/ 2nd century/
Danielle I know you've seen suffering but don't think you're the only one whose got real estate on this issue. I don't if you have or not but I would really challenge you to ask yourself why do people who go through the kind of suffering you experienced still trust God. I think if you posted something like that - along with what you been posting it further the conversation - again I don't think you shouldn't post negative - but give a little perceptive. I write what I write because my faith has all ready been shaken
Randy Alcorn
The faith that can't be shaken is the faith has been shaken.
and for the record I would never believe that God delieghts in suffering - but then again your assuming that a God who punishes delghts in punishment.... weird
ReplyDeleteSilas,
ReplyDelete:)
No one appreciates functionality more than me and I believe most theology is functional, but when it comes to death just because its not functional/practical doesn't mean its factual or less factual. I think if you paint God as only restorative in matters such as punishment, heaven/ hell because you don't see it as pragmatic enough you have do some real leg work when you see God kill people in the bible.
I totally agree with you that God's dealings are mainly restortavive - but I would argue that is he both punitive. Listen when I read the word most of the time I see God's dealings as mainly restorative but what do you do when God kills the Jews during for making the golden calf, or Aaron's sons for not worshiping correctly or one of David's officials putting his hand on the ark or Annaisas and Sepraih for lying or Herod for claiming himself as a god. I suppose you could be allegorical and say they were all stories made to warn the people and I suppose in a sense that's true but all those people died for things that you and I blow off ad "small sins" so how do deal with that. I really like what Franchis chan said his promotional video of his new book, Erasing Hell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnrJVTSYLr8
Time index 2:00 - 5:00 is what Im getting at when it comes to this issue
ReplyDeleteDan and Danielle, I think you are missing each other. I think both of you presume too much of the other. I also think that due to the context of a blog it is incredibly hard to read the tone of the other. So let's be generous in our readings of what the others are saying. There is often more than a clash of ideas on this blog, there is a clash and disagreement on the worldview level. It usually is a postmodern clashing with a modern, and it will always be unfair because the conversation is held in a forum where modernity has defined the rules. So we must be extra cautious before attacking one another.
ReplyDeleteDan, this blog is not always about debate, but hopefully discussion. In debate one wins while the other looses. Hopefully we are more humble than that, knowing that the majority of the time we are all wrong.
Dan, thanks for the video by Francis. I thought it was largely good. My brief response on understanding God, specifically judgement and punishment, is that once again the worldview is more at play than being either right or wrong. As for the stories you cite, they appear punitive when viewed through a linear temporal worldview, but when perceived through cyclical or alternative constructs of time there are other ways to understand them. See my post on the redemption of Solomon where I explore an alternative way of viewing the world and the text. This then becomes an essential discussion for the topic of hell too.
ReplyDeleteSilas,
ReplyDeleteI think you might be right, I think I'm not totally reading what Dannielle says correctly, Dannielle, Im sorry if I've miss read you.
As am I Dan.
ReplyDelete