Blog is also available at wordpress, address below.

http://gratiaveritaslumen.wordpress.com/

#012 Barmen, Barth and King.

Last semester I researched the relationship between Karl Barth’s rejection of natural theology and his political theology. During my excursion into this wide and wondrous theological landscape, I came across some surprising criticisms of Barth made by Martin Luther King Jnr.



 

The Princeton University Chapel, Dr. King on the Chapel steps, with Karl Barth, April 29, 1962’

King made two points. Firstly, that where the liberal theologian must part with Barth is in his rejection of natural theology. This is because ‘we find God in the beauty of the world, in the unpremeditated goodness of humanity, and in the moral order of reality. Secondly, Barth emphasises the unknowableness of God, but if God is unknowable one wonders how Barth came to know so much of the ‘’Unknown God’’ (King 1952, pp.105-106[1]). King’s pithy quip is unmistakable and insightful even if his optimism about humanity in 1952, is overshadowed by the tragic events of early April, 1968. King shows the influence of ‘19^th century liberal protestants, that viewed human culture as being endowed with revelatory potential’ (McGrath 2001, p.255)[2]. In the end King affirms Barth’s theology saying that, ‘much of what Barth has to say is good...may it not be that it will serve as a necessary corrective for liberalism that at times becomes all to shallow?’ (King 1952, p.106) [3]

1962 a stroll on campus at Princeton University,

Source: stanford.edu

When viewed through the lens of World War two and the Barmen Declaration, Karl Barth’s rejection of natural theology is understandable . The Barmen declaration was authored by Barth as part of the Confessing Churches stand against National Socialism in 1930’s Germany. For Barth, natural theology lead to the dehumanization found in Nazi gas chambers, re-education camps, human experimentation, racism and slavery. As Gene Veith points out in his 1993 book ‘Modern Fascism’, Nazism was a calculated crusade to deny the transcendence of God and usurp Christianity. This is because ‘Christianity is the protest against all the high places which human beings build for themselves’ (Barth C.D IV/II p.524). Barth asserted that theology must always critique ideology (cited by Gorringe 1999, p.3[4]). This is why Christians and theologians, both black and white, must fight side by side to avoid the misinformation mudslide pushed along by regurgitated propaganda, neo-fascism and the party line. Theology must challenge ‘the ideas that led to Auschwitz with special scrutiny. This is especially true when those ideas, often adopted uncritically, are still in vogue’ (Veith 1993, Loc.1375 [5]).

 

Despite a clear difference regarding natural theology, the Vietnam War is itself an area where Barth shared common ground with King. They met in 1962 (pictured above) and although what they discussed is left to conjecture, it is not entirely baseless to suggest that the Vietnam War was part of their dialogue. This becomes clearer when we hear echoes of Barth in King’s words to Riverside Church, New York on the 4^th April, 1967. For instance: ‘a time to break the silence’ because ‘’a time comes when silence is betrayal’’ (King). This and the overall content of King’s speech can be measured by the Barmen declaration and matched with Barth’s own opposition to the Vietnam conflict. For example: George Hunsinger reported that Barth ‘called for opposition to the Vietnam War in the 1960s, saying that “It is not enough only to say, ‘Jesus is risen,’ but then remain silent about the Vietnam War’ (cited in ‘Karl Barth and Evangelical theology 2004, p.199)[6].

The relevance of Barth’s ''no'' to natural theology can be seen in its much larger critique of modernist/post-modernist interpretations of Frederic Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud and Charles Darwin all of whom can be found to have had a direct influence on fascist ideology (Veith ‘Modern Fascism’, 1993). What Barth rejects is natural theologies autonomous rational structure’ (citing Torrance 2001, p.70)[7], and its self-determining knowledge of God which is absent of Jesus the Christ. The importance of the revelation of Jesus Christ is that He teaches us that we are‘ human beings and not pets’ (Olasky 2003, p.80)[8].Perhaps it is fitting 45 years after he was martyred, to summon all Christians to reclaim King from the left and right ideological ism’s that are increasingly binding and blurring his legacy. Whereby we then choose to stand with both Barth and King, jointly proclaiming that ‘8.15 We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords--areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him’ (Barth, second thesis, Barmen Declaration 1934).

[1] King Jnr, M.L. 1952 Karl Barth’s conception of God sourced 17^th August 2012 from http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/primarydocuments/Vol2/520102BarthsConceptionOfGod.pdf

[2] McGrath, A.E. 2001 a scientific theology: nature vol1.  T&T Clark Ltd. Edinburgh, Scotland

[3] King Jnr, M.L. 1952 Karl Barth’s conception of God sourced 17^th August 2012 from

http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/primarydocuments/Vol2/520102BarthsConceptionOfGod.pdf

[4] Gorringe, T.J 1999 Karl Barth: Against Hegemony Christian theology in context Oxford University Press New York

[5] Veith Jnr, G.E. 1993 modern fascism: the threat to the Judeo-Christian worldview Kindle for P.C. Ed.
[6] Chung, S. W. 2006 Karl Barth and evangelical theology: Convergences and divergences Milton Keynes, Paternoster Press. UK
[7] Torrance, T.F. 1994 Preaching Christ today: the Gospel and scientific thinking Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing Co. Grand Rapids, MI, USA
[8] Olasky, M 2003 Standing for Christ in a Modern Babylon Crossway Books, Good News publishers Wheaton, IL
[9] Prinston pic source: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/photos/article/Dr-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-His-life-in-pictures-956071.php#ixzz2CLX2Lgke

#011 Kyrie eleison...'Lord, have mercy'.

 
                                                                         Good Friday, 2013

 

                                                                   

#010 I know who did it....

                    The counter disturbance which made for a Good Friday.

  
'He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces  he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
 
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
 
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all'. (Is.53:3-6 ESV)

T.F Torrance wrote that ‘sinful existence is a will to isolation from God and a refusal of His grace’ (‘Incarnation’ 2008, pg 52).Within this statement we can see an idea that is stimulated by Paul in Romans 5:12-21. This is that humanity is plagued by an uncertain primal aversion to God brought on by a distortion in humanities relationship with God. This theme of primal-atheism has in impact on how the world deals with the depth and relevance of Easter. Easter disturbs us because it reminds us that our ‘elevation into union and communion with God exists because of the humiliation of Christ the Son’ (‘Incarnation’ 2008, pg 57). It does not exist because of any human effort to prove ourselves right before God.

 

This can be connected to something Paul writes about in Romans 5:12-21. Here he points to a counter disturbance whereby ‘grace does not leave humans unaffected in their consciousness and behaviour’ (Schreiner ‘Romans’ 1998, p.292; Moltmann ‘The Spirit of Life’ 1992, p.113). This provides the framework for understanding how the ‘grace of Christ conquers and subdues’ (Schreiner 1998, p.285) sin and death. The Christ-event is an act of interceding grace (Rm.5:20) from which God fulfils His promise (Rm.8:26) and brings life out of death (Rm.4:17); light out of darkness. This counter disturbance summons every human to a response of gratitude (Barth) for what has been done on our behalf. This dynamic invitation ruffles our feathers as the tradition of the Church, along with the Spirit of God calls us to remember that in Christ humanity is found, rescued and offered new Life.

 

Barth asserts this when he states that ‘the theme of the Gospel is the death of death’ (R2 1933, p.166). His emphasis here fits the literary context of Rm.5:12-21 because it points to Paul’s main theological point in Romans. This is that in Christ, God calls humanity into a newness of life. This means that in Jesus the Christ, God wills human existence (Barth C.D IV/III.1 p.362). In order to actualise this God addresses our unrighteous, ‘bleak, lifeless and unrelated existence’ (Barth 1933, p.170).Consequently righteousness becomes connected to life because ‘the victory over sin...rests in the entire accomplishment of the course of Christ’s existence’ (Pannenberg ‘Jesus-God and Man 1968, p.362). In other words Christ’s existence becomes our existence. For the biannual pilgrims of Christmas and Easter these words are a reminder that God not only gives permission for them to breathe, but that God also empowers them to do so.

 

Paul’s letter to the Church in Rome is about a ‘restoration that is outside our competence’ (Barth ‘R2’ 1933, p.168). The good news of Romans 5:12-21 is that through Christ, God recalls us to a life transformed. He takes the initiative and through his act of reconciliation ‘invades the being of man and woman, making them his saints’ (Barth C.D IV/II 1958, p.523).This is a remedy established by the free gift of grace, which is given through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Despite primal-atheism, a product of a distorted relationship God does not desire to be without humanity (Barth). Consequently humanity is delivered from the abyss (Barth 1933, p.240) bringing us to a point where we can joyfully say ‘’I know who did it’’.

                              (all the photos depicted are original designs)

#009 Deliberate ambiguity?

 

Lament.

 

What Jesus the Christ gave and what He received in return...

 

A visual reflection on a Lenten Lament: 

 

 

 

 

  

 

This bread was made from a RiverCottage recipe.
 It looked so good we decided to make a display that we could photograph  for our Lenten reflection.



#008 Requiem for Thomas

 A narrative sermon: Jn.20:24-29

I remain clear about the reality.

Some people say He deserved it, others eager for gain, simply aligned themselves with the lies. As the old saying goes, ‘’misery loves company’’ I guess.

Perhaps it was fear of disloyalty, the mob or fear of the unfettered power claimed by corrupt and cynical people. The same people who made judgements without allowing them to be questioned.

Perhaps it was fear

                                    Of

Being shamed as a supporter?

Yet.

Some of us remained. Alone, together enduring the subtle put downs, the lies whispered in the dark behind our backs. You know the types, lies that circulate like chains of smoke around the necks of accusers and prosecutors alike. Enduring the fallout, retracing our steps, persevering,  it is like being knee deep in the mud. Has it really been 8 days already?How can one group of people have so much influence, so much control and, how come so many are uncritically willing to point a finger?

Who can stand against the deviancy control techniques they employed to engineer a biased response.

*sigh*....I’m exhausted.

                                                         How infuriating this all is!

Still I remain clear about the reality.

What I saw is what I saw – there is no bias in telling the truth even when it is discounted as subjective babble.

Me, recondite?

*sigh*...perhaps, I am.

Still I remain clear about the reality.

What I felt is what I felt – there is no contradiction in the embedded data here, even though my thoughts and experiences are ridiculed as ambiguous, damned to be without meaning, tasked to be  silenced forever.

Still I remain clear about the reality.

What I heard is what I heard – there is no delusion, even when it is covered in a milieu of emotive fog. For me this is more than a memory, although it is conveniently forgotten by the elite and too easily abandoned by those who blindly followed.

Still...I remain clear about the reality.

The days darkened, hope vanished because the words were deconstructed, meaning lost meaning, the truth was reversed and those words twisted by the process of cross-examination  - our faith all but abandoned.



Feb, 2013 Easter reflection. Home made bread with a crown of thornes
 contrasts what we gave Jesus with what He gave us.
 

Belittled, embattled, bitter and cold we sat. The others knew my opinions. Understanding the past was not going to be easy. Sin appears to have been rewarded. Isn’t this the opposite of what we were told to expect?

I need to confess..*sigh*... I no longer remain clear about the reality. I need air...this is all too much.

 

Disorientated by the distortions that surround me it seems I am burdened with the task of speaking reason to my unreasonable friends. Love speaks truth, and I must speak even if it costs me. Ah, the depth of grief that engulfs them! It’s not that their optimism is foreign to me; after all we walked among the dead, we saw them return alive to their loved ones! I still rejoice about the time I witnessed a grateful father ask for help in his unbelief following his daughters impossible healing. But now that experience taunts me, I thought I was one of the strong ones, convinced beyond all question by what I had seen, felt and heard. I rose and turned towards the door, angry, disappointed and determined for this to be a final stand for reason. How could I convince them? They seem so certain...

I am especially aware of this moment of hesitation – because as I turned to unlock the door a hand reached for my shoulder. I remain clear about the reality! My heart beat faster as the anxiety overwhelmed me and I heard an unmistakable voice. With distinctive clarity I sensed a deep joy which always beamed from a transcendent understanding and compassion. This too easily forgotten energizing joy was almost always implicated by a smile engrained in the loving words I had heard spoken. Then came the words... ‘’Thomas! see?...these scars...touch them, for a Spirit does not have  flesh and bones as you see that I have...blessed are those who have not seen me yet have believed’

With a gust of contrition I looked up, and then spoke with broken and breathless words...’My Lord and my God!’

Entitled: 'Graphic Adjustment: Requiem for Thomas',
Rod Lampard 2013.
The picture of Jesus was borrowed from a sticker called ''follower.'' by World Christian Posters Inc. Canada
I morphed that with a 'Keep calm and carry on' ornamental display we picked up from Spotlight a while back.

 

#007 Grateful.bursting joy.

A Lenten Litany.

Psalm 42:1/Romans 8:15/Hebrews 12:1

 We shudder.

In loving gratitude, we are brought to our knees

Because we are reminded of whose we are,

and the who we are becoming.

Crying out, kyrie eleison we join the great cloud of witnesses, contemporary ancients participating with the Spiritual agent.

When we allow God as Father to work through His son in our lives,

The

    Spirit

        Shatters our defence mechanisms and our primal survival tactics 

He turns us away from the proverbial kill or be killed...

Allowing us to breathe,

    Allowing us to smile,

       Allowing us rest,

Allowing us to heal. 

The Spirit.

He who intervenes, 

He the chosen incarnated one removes us from perceived indelible stains,

the kind that chain us, bind us and define our identity,

and

He frees us to be free for Him.