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FAULTY PREMISES OF PSA
As far as I can tell, the logic behind Penal Substitutionary Atonement goes like this: Point #1 is obviously supported by Scripture, so PSA gets off to a good start. But then the wheels come off immediately at Point #2. Can you show me where Scripture teaches that every sin must be punished by God or else his justice is compromised? (Instead, the Bible says that “mercy triumphs over judgment”, James 2:13.) Point #3 is true, but this is simply the definition of “forgiveness”! If the forgiven sin must still be punished – even vicariously as Point #4 would have…
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WHAT PSA GETS RIGHT
I have mentioned that I am not a fan of the sort of preaching which claims Jesus accomplished our reconciliation with God by suffering God’s wrath while on the cross, the punishment which we ourselves deserved. This theory about how the crucifixion worked is called Penal Substitutionary Atonement. And I think it is a distortion of the Good News. Nevertheless, the foundation of PSA is solid. Here is what Penal Substitutionary Atonement gets right about the suffering and death of Christ: 1) The concept of Jesus as the “Lamb of God” (John the Baptist’s first proclamation about Jesus is recorded…
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DID JESUS SUFFER GOD’S WRATH ON THE CROSS?
Yesterday I gave some sample hymn lyrics and Scripture which support three longstanding theories of the Atonement – Moral Influence, Ransom, and Christus Victor. Personally, I consider all three to be sound and biblical frameworks for understanding how the cross of Christ brought reconciliation between God and Man. But none of those three are currently as fashionable in American Evangelical churches as a fourth theory, namely “Penal Substitutionary Atonement” (PSA). Now that label might be unfamiliar to most Christians, but the concept is not. In fact, I feel like I need to tread lightly here because many think of PSA…
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A SAMPLING OF THEORIES OF THE ATONEMENT
Believers are united in acknowledging that the death of Christ was necessary to bring reconciliation between God and humans. Most believers have likely never given much thought to various theories about HOW Christ’s death on the cross actually accomplished that reconciliation. The CONTENTS of the various theories, though, are familiar to anyone in any church who pays attention to Scripture and sings along with the hymnal. That’s because these theories are based on the Bible (for the most part!) and, thus, they find expression in the hymns we sing. Here are three example theories of the Atonement along with illustrations…
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SERMON FOLLOW UP
When it comes to preaching, I tend to bite off more than I can chew in 20 to 25 minutes. (To the congregation: I am aware of this and I am working on it! I appreciate your patience. 😉 I will get it figured out eventually.) This morning I bit off such a big mouthful that I nearly choked. Almost required a spiritual Heimlich Maneuver! With Good Friday fast approaching, I wanted to address various theories of the atonement: HOW exactly did the death of Christ on the cross achieve our reconciliation with God? (The mechanics of the crucifixion are…
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WHO ISSUES THE PAYCHECK?
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is one of the most quoted verses in the book of Romans. (In all the Bible, for that matter.) The standard interpretation goes something like this: “When you sin, God in time will bring His punishment of death. However, He offers eternal life to those who trust in His Son.” In other words, God offers eternal life as an escape hatch from the just penalty He has decreed for all who sin. And that’s the way…
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WHO INFLICTS CHRIST’S SUFFERING?
As Holy Week approaches, I’ve been trying to get a handle on the meaning of the crucifixion this week. There’s nothing in all of theology that is more important. Or more daunting. The last thing I want to do is misrepresent the crucifixion – in particular what is happening behind the scenes in God’s economy. I’ve been hovering in the Gospel of John these past few weeks and there’s very little commentary on the Father’s direct involvement in the whole ordeal of the Son’s death beyond giving Jesus a heads up that the betrayal, the denial, and the crucifixion are…
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NO ADVANTAGE
As I have been finishing up the prospectus for my dissertation, the modern believer’s lack of discipline within the life of the spirit has been much on my mind. As Mark Twain famously noted, “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” Consistent daily Scripture study seems a habit out of reach for the majority of Christians. I asked some of the pillars of my own church what they would guess if asked what percent of the church members read their bibles on a daily basis. The consensus was 5%. That felt about…
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NOT MISSING MUCH
I accidentally watched a few minutes of NBC News on my phone tonight. We don’t have a TV set at home and sometimes I forget that people still watch television – or that it’s even still a thing! (We do have Netflix and Prime and we can stream both through a video projector in our living room, but I watch no more than one or two hours a week typically.) Anyway, the news clips I watched struck me as so ridiculous. There was stuff about President Biden and Hunter and claims of corruption. If I followed the story correctly, it…
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SUPERCOMMUNICATORS
I am nearly half way through Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg and I am finding it very useful and not at all what I expected. I thought from the title and the subtitle (How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection) that it might provide some guidance in how I might become a better Preacher. But what I am finding instead is guidance in how I might become a better Pastor. This book is not so much about speaking in order to be heard as it is about connecting with others in conversation through asking questions, listening deeply, and sharing in…
