God is Never an Echo

Hi Gang,

Here is the most recent conversation from our Adventures in Barth. I was not available so the audio is a little wonky (my bad). Suffer through it because the guys had good observations.

You can join us live tonight at 7:00 as we finish this section of Barth’s Dogmatics. Click here.

Heads up!

As the liturgical calendar begins its turn to All Saints and Advent, we will change up topics and writers. Starting next Monday, we will be discussing Robert Jenson’s chapter on “The Saints” from his Systematic Theology: The Works of God, which I will make available here on the short-stack. We will follow the “The Saints” with a discussion of a small volume Jens edited entitled The Last Things: Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Eschatology. Once again, I will share that out to anyone interested.

Show Notes

Summary

In this conversation, the speakers discuss various themes related to Karl Barth's theology, particularly focusing on the concepts of election, freedom, and the nature of God's love. They share personal updates, navigate technical difficulties with humor, and delve into the implications of Barth's ideas for understanding God's presence and action in the world. The discussion emphasizes the importance of living in the freedom of God's love and the transformative power of being in relationship with a loving God.

Takeaways

• The beauty of life is celebrated in personal updates.

• Technical difficulties can lead to humorous moments in conversation.

• Karl Barth's theology emphasizes God's personal presence.

• Election is about freedom and love, not determinism.

• Perfect love casts out fear, allowing for genuine relationships.

• The God who speaks and acts is central to understanding faith.

• Living in the light of God's love transforms our actions.

• Curiosity and wonder are essential in theological discussions.

• Community and conversation are vital for understanding theology.

• The journey of faith involves both questions and discoveries.

Sound Bites

• "It's a beautiful day to be alive."

• "God is never an echo."

• "The nature of the eternal God is that he is personally present."