Here’s Barth’s prayer with which we ended the session:
Lord our God, you know who we are. People with good and bad consciences, satisfied and dissatisfied, sure and unsure people, Christians out of conviction and Christians out of habit, believers, half believers, unbelievers. You know where we come from, from our circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances, or from great loneliness. From lives of quiet leisure or from all manner of embarrassment and distress. From ordered, tense, or destroyed family relationships. From the inner circle or from the fringes of the Christian community. But now we all come before you and all our inequality equal in this. That we are all in the wrong before you and among each other. That we all must die someday that we all would be lost without your grace. But also in that, your grace is promised to and turned towards all of us through your son, Jesus Christ. We are here together in order to praise you, simply by allowing you to speak to us. We ask that this might happen. In the name of your son, our Lord. Amen.
For next Monday, we will read up to pages 175- 181:
Show Notes
Summary
The conversation explores the concept of election in the Christian tradition, focusing on Paul's letter to the Romans. The participants discuss the biblical basis for election and its implications for believers. They delve into the idea of predestination and how it relates to the work of Christ. The conversation emphasizes the cosmic and universal nature of God's election, highlighting the inclusion of all people and creation. They also touch on the importance of baptism and the sacraments in understanding election. The participants conclude by emphasizing the assurance and freedom that comes from trusting in God's love and mercy. In this part of the conversation, the participants discuss the concept of evil and how it fits into the narrative of God's election and predestination. They explore the tension between God's sovereignty and human agency, and the role of evil in the world. They emphasize the importance of understanding that evil is not equal to God or a force of equal power, but rather a shadow or absence of light. They also discuss the role of obedience and trust in living out the story that God is writing, and the need to avoid simplistic interpretations of events and search for meaning in the midst of trials.
Keywordselection, predestination, Romans, Paul, Holy Spirit, baptism, sacraments, assurance, freedom, evil, narrative, God's sovereignty, human agency, election, predestination, obedience, trust, meaning, trials
Takeaways
Election is a biblical concept that is often misunderstood or dismissed, but it is central to the Christian tradition.
The idea of predestination can be troubling if it is understood as excluding some people, but when seen as God's work for all of creation, it becomes a source of hope and assurance.
Baptism and the sacraments are tangible signs of God's election and should be valued as transformative acts of grace.
Trusting in God's love and mercy frees us from the anxiety of trying to prove our worthiness and allows us to live in the joy and freedom of being chosen by God.
Understanding election as a cosmic and universal reality helps us see the interconnectedness of all things and our responsibility to care for creation. Evil is not equal to God or a force of equal power, but rather a shadow or absence of light.
Obedience and trust are essential in living out the story that God is writing.
Avoid simplistic interpretations of events and search for meaning in the midst of trials.
God's sovereignty and human agency are both at play in the narrative of election and predestination.
Sound Bites
"He says to all of them, well, you were enemies. Well, you were crazy family members. Guess what? Guess what? For all of you, all of you, have done something."
"There's a problem with interpreting that in Christ so mystically that you don't know how it works. And then there's the opposite problem of treating it in a way that devalues the sac."
"If you leave us in question, you really missed the point. But when you see that he was delivered for us all, then the nature of election and God working all things out finds its proper resolution."
"The nature of evil is like darkness, a lie that brings darkness and obscures the truth."
"God's predestination can only awaken joy, pure joy, for this order is found in the divine predestination itself."
"Reality is so much bigger than what we see in the world. We are just a drop of rain compared to the immensity of God."
"The Facts are Far Outweighed by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ"