Just dipping into Weinandy's book Does God Suffer? I am finding a penetrating and illuminating discussion of the 'problem' of the impassability of God. I noted this comment, on evangelism and the 'suffering God':...it should be noted that inherent within a theology of a suffering God is a feeble theology of evangelization. Those who propose that God suffers in himself speak as if this gives consolation to those who suffer. This has been shown to be a deceptive consolation. Moreover, they speak as if everyone, regardless of whether one is a Christian or not, is equally consoled by a suffering God. Thus, there is no urgent need to preach the gospel. But this too is false to the gospel. The Father does wish to console everyone, and that is precisely why he sent his Son into the world. However, the Father can only fully console those who are in union with Christ for Christ is the Father's consolation. It is only in Christ Jesus that one can come to experience fully the riches of the Father's mercy.... p. 249
It is a telling critique if he is right.
Of course, martyrdom is inevitably part of a discussion of whether God suffers, even if briefly:
While one should not seek martyrdom, yet to suffer for the sake of the gospel and even to die for the name of Jesus is a Christian's supreme honour. It is the Christian's consummate boast. p. 280
[Weinandy also reminded me that John Paul II once said this cool thing:
Martyrdom, accepted as an affirmation of the inviolabilty of the moral order, bears splendid witness both to the holiness of God's law and to the inviolability of the personal dignity of man, created in God's image and likeness.]
4 comments:
inherent within a theology of a suffering God is a feeble theology of evangelization.
I do not see that this is inherently the case. Mightn't they say that the consolation is that it is the God and Father of Jesus who suffers in his Son's death? Thus it would only be comforting for those who seek comfort in this one.
I don't know who it is who thinks that it is not necessary to preach the Gospel because God suffers in himself. Certainly one would not get this impression from Moltmann's "Crucified God." If anything, for Moltmann, it is because God reveals himself as one who suffers with his people that Christianity is given a credible voice with which to preach to a world filled with evil.
I knew this would get my 'suffering God' friends riled! How is a suffering God comforting? A suffering God cannot overcome evil because he becomes its victim...
Simplistically stated perhaps. However, the manner in which God becomes a victim is related to Paul's exposition of the Cross of Christ in 1 Cor.1 ff. As an apologetic and consequently evangelistic path, we do have to come to terms withe the counter-intuitive nature of God's exercise of power, especially in salvation.
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