Artist: Caravaggio
Here's something the great theologian, Karl Barth, said:
“This much is certain, that we have no theological right to set any sort of limits to the loving-kindness of God which has appeared in Jesus Christ. Our theological duty is to see and understand it as being still greater than we had seen before.”I would submit that this is one reason it is important to experience Christmas in a fresh way each year. Even though we may know the old story very well indeed, we have the opportunity to see and understand in a greater way every time we celebrate this great Feast of the Incarnation.
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Funny, I guess the language of "theological rights" and "theological duties" just sounds really strange to me. Somehow I don't think that kind of language would have resonated with Jesus either, anymore than did the language of the laws of God. I actually doubt if Jesus said any such thing as is recorded in the "jot and tittle" passage, Matt 5:18. He would have been playing the politician if he did because nothing else that he did or said supports that pericope.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the quote appealed to me because many people today do, indeed, claim the right to put limits on God's loving-kindness. Barth is objecting to this, as I understand what he's saying here. By "duty", I think he's saying that it is a Christian imperative to view God's compassion and loving-kindness as limitless and to keep growing beyond the ways in which our own capacity for seeing this is limited.
ReplyDeleteThat works for me.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, being a fan of nativities, I'm enjoying the various paintings of nativities you're posting. Maybe you should offer yourself as a consultant to the Post Office, which seems to be pretty well stuck in one era.
ReplyDelete"Maybe you should offer yourself as a consultant to the Post Office..."
ReplyDeleteThat gave me a little laugh! :-)