Above: A Crucifix
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
–The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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The Assigned Readings:
Job 12:1-6, 12-25
Psalm 56 (Morning)
Psalms 100 and 62 (Evening)
John 5:30-47
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Some Related Posts:
John 5:
http://adventchristmasepiphany.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/third-week-of-advent-friday/
http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/twenty-sixth-day-of-lent/
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Job, in Chapter 12, accuses God of abusing power. This is understandable when coming from that character in the context of the narrative. And, given the contents of the first two chapters, it seems like a reasonable statement, from a certain point of view.
The abuse in John 5 is of human origin. Rather, abuse will flow from human plotting and scheming against Jesus. The refusal to accept Jesus, combined with the willingness to do or to commit or to sanction violence, will lead to our Lord’s death. And, if if one really affirms Penal Substitutionary Atonement, the death of Jesus constitutes divine abuse. The depiction of God in that theological formulation sounds to me like
I will not be satisfied until my Son is tortured then killed!
There are, fortunately, two other understandings of the mechanics of the atonement present in the writings of the Church Fathers.
I have more questions than answers regarding the abusiveness (alleged or actual) of divine actions. My goal is to be faithful, not to attempt a vain theodicy. If my explanations are wrong, so be it; I can accept that. As the Book of Job will reveal, God had only brief words for the alleged friends but a speech for Job. He who asked questions got a dialogue, if not satisfactory answers.
Until the next segment of our journey….
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
APRIL 26, 2012 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINTS REMACLUS OF MAASTRICHT, THEODORE OF MAASTRICHT, LAMBERT OF MAASTRICHT, HUBERT OF MAASTRICHT AND LIEGE, AND FLORIBERT OF LIEGE, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS; LANDRADA OF MUNSTERBILSEN, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBESS; AND OTGER OF UTRECHT, PLECHELM OF GUELDERLAND, AND WIRO, ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES
THE FEAST OF CHRISTINA ROSSETTI, POET
THE FEAST OF SAINT PASCHASIUS RADBERTUS, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT
THE FEAST OF ROBERT HUNT, FIRST ANGLICAN CHAPLAIN AT JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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